Location : Kurukshetra, Haryana.
Dedicated To : Lord Shiva

It can be said without a doubt that the presiding deity of Thanesar is Lord Shiva. It is after the Sthanesvar Shiva Linga Temple that Thanesar gets its name. Vaman Puran categorically mentions the importance of this temple and legends tell us that Lord Brahma Himself laid the first Linga of Lord Shiva at the temple. Renovated in recent times, the temple has a white amla (fruit shaped) dome. A large water body has been designed before the temple. A Gurudwara that lies opposite the Sthanesvar temple marks the spot sanctified by the visit of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Ma Bhadra Kali temple
The famous Ma Bhadra Kali temple celebrates the legend of Sati Mata. It lies a short drive from the Sthanesar Mahadev Temple. The learned say Sati's lower limb fell here, granting the area the sanctity of a Sidh Peethor a place where wishes are fulfilled. The temple has been renovated with red stone and the inner sanctum has been beautified. At a well in the precincts, devotees offer terracotta horses as offerings in thanks-giving, each time their wishes are fulfilled. The inner sanctum of the temple houses both the awe inspiring and the sublime forms of the Mother Goddess Kali. Thousands of devotee throng the temple on the holy days of Navratre (March-April and September-October) and every Saturday.

Legend
Legend has it that the waters of the tank adjoining the temple are holy. A few drops of water cured king 'Ban' of leprosy. No pilgrimage to Kurukshetra is believed to be entirely complete without a visit to this holy temple. The tank and temple lie a short distance from Thanesar town, which gets its name from this temple.

The Presiding Deity
The temple of Sthaneshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva. It once formed an important part of the Kingdom of King Harsha Vardhan of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. The temple with a domical roof follows regional type of architecture. The façade of the roof is shaped like an 'amla' shape alongwith a tall pinnacle. The 'Linga' is ancient and worshipped still by the people.

Nearby Pilgrimage: Kamal Nabhi
Adjacent to the town of Thanesar lies the temple of Kamal Nabhi. Mythology has it that Brahma the Creator was born out of a lotus that grew from the navel of Lord Vishnu. The temple here has the images of Lord Vishnu and Brahma.

About 1½ miles from Thanesar on Kurukshetra-Pehowa Road lies a tank named Narkatari. It is believed that Bhishma Pitamah of Mahabharatha epic lay on a bed of arrows.

Legend
Legend has it that the waters of the tank adjoining the temple are holy. A few drops of water cured the King Ban of leprosy. And, no pilgrimage of Kurukshetra is believed to be entirely complete without a visit to this holy Temple. The tank and temple lie a short distance from Thanesar town, which gets its name from this temple. The temple of Sthaneswar is the abode of Lord Shiva say the devote. It once formed an important part of the kingdom of the King Harsha Vardhan of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. It isalso believed that Lord Shiva was first worshipped here in the form of a linga. The ancestor of the Mahabharata heroes, Kuru, performed penance on the banks of the Yamuna and Parshurama, the great warrior and sage killed many Kshatriyas (warriors) here.

About the Deity
The temple of Sthaneshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva. It once formed an important part of the Kingdom of King Harsha Vardhan of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. The temple with a domical roof follows regional type of architecture. The facade of the roof is shaped like an 'amla' shape along with a tall pinnacle. The 'Linga' is ancient and worshipped still by the people.

Main attraction

Kamal Nabhi
Adjacent the town of Thanesar lies the temple of Kamal Nabhi. The Nabhi Kamal is a sacred tank. Mythology has it that the tank houses a sacred lotus that happens to play abode to Lord Bramha (one of the Trinity Gods). The Lord is believed to have manifested from the navel of the lotus. The temple here has the images of Lord Vishnu and Brhama.

BHISHAM KUND NARKATARI
About one and half miles from Thanesar on Kurukshetra-Pehowa road lies a tank named Narkatari. It is here say legends, that Bhishma Pitamah of Mahabharata epic lay on a bed of arrows.