कैसे पड़ा उत्तराखंड के विभिन्न जगहों का नाम : GOPESHWAR, GARWAL REGION
Gopeshwar is referred to as Gosthal (the place of the cows) in the Kedar Khand of the Skand Puran. It is said that the ancient swyambhu (that which emerged from the earth on its own) shivling at the Gopinath Temple has been there since time immemorial. This area was a thick jungle at that time, used only by herdsmen to graze their cattle. One particular cow would come and give up her milk at the shivling every day. Its herdsman was baffled that it should not produce milk. He followed it one day and discovered that it was voluntarily giving up its milk to Lord Shiv. This is possibly why the place was called Gosthal, which was later changed to Gopeshwar after the Gopinath Temple.
This is also said be the place where Lord Shiv reduced Kamdev (the god of love) to ashes when the latter dared to disturb him while in meditation. Kamdev had been sent by the gods and goddesses to disrupt Lord Shiv’s meditation because they knew only Lord Shiv’s son could slay the dreaded demon Tarakasur. Lord Shiv had been in meditation since his consort Sati had immolated herself at her father’s havan. The gods and goddesses wanted him to marry Pravati so that a son could be born to him. Rati, bereft of her husband Kamdev, prayed to Lord Shiv in the form of a fish barely a kilometre away at Vaitarani Kund, also known as Ratikund after her. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiv returned her husband’s life.
Another common myth, also associated with the Gopinath Temple, says that the temple structure was constructed by a King Marut. He put in hundreds of workers to build the temple. However, everyday whatever had been constructed would sink into the ground and they would start over everyday. This carried on for some time and the king was at his wits’ end. To test his steadfastness of purpose, Lord Shiv appeared in his dream and told him that the temple would only be constructed if he sacrificed his oldest son and heir by burying his alive in the foundations of the temple. The king did just that. Pleased, Lord Shiv breathed life into his son again, and the temple was constructed. One of the statues in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is also worshipped, is said to be that of King Marut’s son.
