स्कंद पुराण में स्तंभेश्वरतीर्थ की बड़ी गाथा है । महिसागर संगम तीर्थ जैसी पवित्र पावन भूमि पर भगवान शंकर के परम पराक्रमी पुत्र कार्तिकेय स्वामी द्वारा स्थापित यह शिवलिंग-श्री स्तंभेश्वर महादेव के दर्षन मात्र से व्यक्ति सभी कष्टों से मुक्त हो जाता है । उनकी सभी मनोकामना पूर्ण होती है । यह स्तंभेश्वरतीर्थ गुजरात के भरुच जिला के जंबुसर तहसील में कावी-कंबोई समुद्र तट पर स्थित है । समुद्र दिन में दो बार श्री स्तंभेश्वर महादेव (शिवलिंग) पर स्वयं अभिषेक करता है । महिसागर संगम तीर्थ स्तंभेश्वर महादेव-कावी कंबोई पहुंचने के लिये वड़ोदरा से 53 किमी. बस, कार के द्वारा जंबुसर होकर पहुंच सकते हैं । जंबुसर से 30 किमी. दूरी पर यह स्थान है ।
ABOUT THE SHRINE
श्री स्तंभेश्वर महादेव
The Details
History Of The Temple
One of the eighteen Hindu puranas, While the deities hailed the glory of Kartikeya for having killed Tarakasur, Kartikeya himself was saddened by his act. He told the deities–‘I regret for having killed Tarakasur because he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Is there any way to atone for my sin?’Lord Vishnu consoled him—‘Killing a wicked person, who nourishes himself on the blood of innocent people, is not a sinful deed. But, still, if you feel guilty then there is no better way to atone for your sin than worshipping Lord Shiva. Install Shivalingas and worship them with deep devotion.’
Kartikeya instructed Vishnukarma to make three divine Shivalingas. Later on Kartikeya installed these Shivalingas at three different places and worshipped them with appropriate rituals. In course of time these three holy places came to be known as Pratigyeshwar, Kapaleshwar and Kumareshwar.
Kartikeya, while worshipping at Kapaleshwar sprinkled holy water on the Shivalinga and prayed so that Tarakasur’s soul rested in peace. He also offered sesame seeds to Lord Kapaleshwar and prayed –‘May my offerings made in the form of sesame seeds reach Tarak–the descendant of Sage Kashyap.’ This way, Kartikeya was absolved of his sins.