Bhuteshwarnath Temple

Bhuteshwarnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Maroda village in Gariaband district, Chhattisgarh, about 84 km from Raipur. It enshrines what is believed to be the world's largest natural Shivlinga, measuring about 18 feet high and 20 feet in circumference. The Shivlinga is naturally formed and is said to increase in size each year. The temple attracts devotees year-round, especially during Maha Shivratri and the month of Shravan.

Visitors can expect a simple open temple complex in a rural forest-edge setting centered on a massive natural Shivlinga in the sanctum. The Shivlinga is visible under an open shelter and is the main focus for darshan and prayer. The surroundings include a small temple courtyard, Nandi statue, shops selling offerings and prasad, and open grounds that become crowded during festivals. The atmosphere is devotional with chanting, bells and queues for darshan, especially on Mondays and during Maha Shivratri.

The temple enshrines a naturally formed Shivlinga that was discovered in the forests of Maroda. Local tradition attributes its discovery to a zamindar and notes that the Shivlinga has been measured annually, with records indicating a gradual increase in height. The site has developed from a small forest shrine into a prominent regional Shiva temple over recent decades.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva as Bhuteshwar Nath, the temple is an important Shaivite pilgrimage site in Chhattisgarh. It holds special significance during Maha Shivratri, Shravan Mondays and Kanwar Yatra, when devotees offer water, milk and bel leaves to the Shivlinga and participate in fairs and devotional gatherings.