Shiva temple, Muscat

The Shiva temple, also known as Motishwar Mandir, is a temple complex located near the Al Alam Palace in the Muttrah area of Old Muscat, Oman. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the Middle East region.[1] The temple celebrates numerous Hindu festivals such as Vasant Panchmi, Ramnavmi, Hanuman Jayanti, Shravan and Ganesh Chaturthi. Over 20,000 Hindus visit the temple during Maha Shivaratri.[2]

Shiva temple, Muscat
Shiva temple, Muscat
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
ProvinceMuscat Governorate
DeityAdi Motishwar Mahadev, Motishwar Mahadev and Hanuman
FestivalsMaha Shivaratri, Vasant Panchmi, Ramnavmi, Hanuman Jayanti, Shravan and Ganesh Chaturthi
Location
LocationMuttrah, Old Muscat
CountryOman
Shown within Oman
Geographic coordinates23.609729°N 58.588217°E / 23.609729; 58.588217
Architecture
Completed1892-1909
Temple(s)3

History

The temple is believed to have been built 109–125 years ago by the Gujarati merchant community in Oman. The Bhatia merchant community from Kutch first settled in Muscat in 1507.[2]

Overview
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing Abhishekam in the Shiva temple in 2018

The complex contains three temples - Shri Adi Motishwar Mahadev Temple, Shri Motishwar Mahadev Temple and Shri Hanumanji Temple.[3][4] Although Muscat is a desert, the temple's well has water throughout the year.[2] There are three priests in the temple along with three support staff and four administrative staff, besides a whole gamut of volunteers rendering their services.[5]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the temple on 12 February 2018, during his state visit to Oman, and performed an abhishekam and interacted with the members of the Temple Management Committee.[6]

See also

References
  1. Report, Staff (12 February 2018). "Modi visits 125-year-old Shiva temple". GulfNews. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. "This is the temple PM Narendra Modi will visit in Oman". The Indian Express. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  3. "PM Modi visits Shiva Temple in Muscat". Business Standard India. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. "PM Modi Visits Shiva Temple In Muscat, One Of The Oldest In Gulf". Outlook India. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. https://indianexpress.com/article/world/this-is-the-shiva-temple-pm-narendra-modi-will-visit-in-oman-muscat-060333/
  6. "Narendra Modi prays at a 125-year-old shiva temple in Muscat". The Hindu. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.


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