The temple of Achleshwar Mahadev, bordering Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, is the only temple in the whole world where Mahadev is worshiped, but his thumb is worshiped, here Lord Shiva sits as a thumb, as well as Shivalinga installed here changes its color three times a day.
Achleshwar Mahadev Temple is located near the fort of Achalgad on the hills of Achalgarh, about 11 km from Mount Abu. Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, is also known as “Ardhakashi”, because there are many ancient temples of Lord Shiva here. According to ‘Skanda Purana’, “Varanasi is the city of Shiva and Mount Abu is the suburb of Lord Shankar.”
In the sanctum sanctorum inside the temple is visible as the Shivalinga Hades section, on top of which the toe mark is emerged, which is worshiped as a self -proclaimed Shivling. This Devadhidev is considered to be the right thumb of Shiva. Traditional belief is that this thumb has held the mountain of the entire Mount Abu, the day the thumb mark will disappear, the mountain of Mount Abu will end.
Apart from this, there are many specialties of this temple which makes it be the most different and unique Shiva temple. The biggest feature of this temple is the Shivling here which changes its color thrice a day.
According to the report published in the state 18, the Shivling of this temple changes its color thrice a day. In the morning, the color of the Shivling installed in this temple is red. But in the afternoon its color changes completely to saffron. After that, after sunset i.e. in the evening, this Shivling turns into bright color. Then this color of Shivling lasts till night. It is said that the temple was established 2500 years ago.
In the mythological period, where the Abu Mountains are situated today, there was a Virat Brahma eaten below. Vashistha Muni lived on its banks. Once his cow Kamadhenu fell into the Brahm ditch grazing the green grass, the sage called on the Saraswati, Ganga to save him, Brahma khai filled the ground surface with water and Kamadhenu cow came out on the ground on Gomukh.
This happened once again. In view of this, Vashistha Muni went to the Himalayas to go to the Himalayas to avoid repeated accidents. The Himalayas accepted the request of the monk and ordered his favorite son Nandi Vadardhan to go. Tumru Nag Nandi Nandi Vadardhan brought to Vashistha Ashram near Brahma Khai. In the ashram, Nandi Vadardhan asked for a boon that there should be an ashram of Sapt Rishis on him and the mountain should be the most beautiful and different flora.
Vashistha gave the desired boon. Similarly, Tumud Nag asked for the bride that this mountain should be named in his name. Since then, Nandi Vadardhan became famous in the name of Abu Parvat. After receiving the boon, Nandi Vadardhan landed in the ditch, then it went away, only the nose and top of Nandi Vadardhan remained above the ground, which is the Abu mountain today. Even after this, he could not remain immovable, then on the humble request of Vashistha, Mahadev spread his right toe and stabilized it, that is, it was called Achalgarh. Since then, Mahadev’s thumb is worshiped here as Achleshwar Mahadev. No matter how much water is added to the natural Patal ravine made under this thumb, the eats do not fill it with water. Where the water offered in it goes, it is still a mystery today.