Kundeshwar

Kundeshwar शिव धाम
Religious Place
Shiva temple in Kundeshwar
Nickname(s): ShivPuri
Kundeshwar Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 24°41′28″N 78°47′49″E / 24.69111°N 78.79694°E / 24.69111; 78.79694Coordinates: 24°41′28″N 78°47′49″E / 24.69111°N 78.79694°E / 24.69111; 78.79694
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
Region	Bundelkhand
Division	Sagar
District	Tikamgarh
Elevation	427 m (1,401 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	2,500
Languages
• Official	Hindi , Bundeli , English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	4720**
Telephone code	+91 7683
Vehicle registration	MP-36
Literacy	68[1]%

Kundeshwar is a village situated in Tikamgarh District, 5 km south of Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is known for kundadev Mahadev an ancient temple on the bank of the Jamdhar river, and is the location of Kundadev Mahadev Temple.

According to ethics, Banpur was the capital of Banasur the king of demons and a great devotee of the Lord Siva Mahadev, her daughter Usha Devi was also a dedicated and regular devotee of this Shiv Linga of Mahadev in midnight. Usha Devi was married to Anirudha, the grandson of Lord Krishna and son of Pradumna. It is believed, that that Shiv Linga has emerged from the Kunda of Bagwar Kshatriya, Rajput clan landlady.

Bagwar Suryawanshi, a Bira Kshatriya was Baghwa - Lion rider in Madhya Desh called Baghroha from Banpur to the dense forest of Jamdhar river long back before Samvat 1201(1144 A.D.) as engraved footnote found below the idol of Nandi Mahadev. His descendants are Bagwar - Pandya of Kundeshwar and Kundeshwar - The Mahakaal of Bundelkhand.

Gaharwar Raja Govindachandra moved his capital from Kannauj to Varansi (1114-1154). Gaharwars were emigrated to various part of the country and their descendants are known as Danesra, Abhaipura, Kapolia, Kora, Jarkhera, Padma, Aihara, Parakh, Chandela, Bira, Beruari, Kherodia and Chandra Kamdhujs respectively. Amongst 13 sons of Punja Kamdhuj, Muktaman, who conquered possession in the north from Bhan Tuar, his descendants called Bira Kamdhuj came to occupy territory of Madhya Desh - Bundelkhand.

Raja Vir Singh Deo (r. 1605-1627), a ruler of strong principles; he was not only a great warrior but an enthusiastic builder, leaving many monuments, forts and temples; he patronised the building up of the temple and awarded with the title of Panda or Pandya of Kundeshwar Mahadev to Bagwar clan with copper plate Rajagya owing to their Rajput ancestry.

Raja Mahendra Vikramajit 1776/1817 and Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Pratap Singh Ju Deo 1874/1930 and their successors continued to patronise until merger of the State into the Indian Republic and registration of Shree Aashutosh Aparna Dharmsetu Lok Nyas, Kundeshwar on 22 February 1980.

To the south is a picnic spot known as 'Barighar' and the 'Usha Water Fall'. The village possesses an archeological museum and Vinobha Sansthan. Maharaja Birsingh Deo established the Keshva Sahitya Sansthan at Kundeshwar.

Three big Melas are held at Kundeshwar annually. A fair attended by 50,000 persons is held in Pouse/Magh in January on the occasion of Sankranti. Further fairs are held on the occasion of Basant Panchimi and on the Kartik Ekadasshi in the month of Oct./Nov.

References