Gandiveshwar Nath (Shivnagar)

Gandiveshwar Nath Temple (Shivnagar), approx. 12km from Benipatti, is a legendary site from the Mahabharata era, historically known as Gangyeya or Gandeshwar. Legend says the Pandavas hid अर्जुन's 'Gandiva' bow and weapons here in a massive Shami tree during their exile. To protect them, Nakul hung a corpse on the tree to deter people with the stench. Arjuna worshipped Shiva here to obtain the Pashupatastra and later created a spring ('Ganga') with an arrow for purification before the Viratnagar battle. The complex houses 8 temples, including the ancient west-facing Gandiveshwar Shivaling (c. 5000 BC), a unique underground Gaurishankar temple (15ft deep, often submerged), Kal Bhairav, and a Sun temple with ancient inscriptions. Locals believe Mahadev resides here for 'Sava Pahar' daily.