“Laghurudra Anushtthan” “Om Namah Shivaya”

In 1879, when there was British Rule in India, Lt. Col. Martin of Agar Malva was leading the army in the war against Afghanistan.

Col. Martin used to regularly send messages of his well-being to his wife. The war continued for long, and Lady Martin stopped getting news. She was distraught.

Once riding on her horse, she passed by the temple of Baijnath Mahadev. She was attracted to the sound of conch and mantra. She went inside and learned that the Brahmins were worshipping Lord Shiva.

They saw her sad face and asked her problem. She explained everything to them. They told her that Lord Shiva listens to the prayers of devotees & takes them out of difficult situations in no time. With the advice of the Brahmins, she started the “Laghurudra Anushtthan” (ritual ceremony) of the Mantra: “Om Namah Shivaya” for 11 days.

She prayed to Lord Shiva that if her husband reaches home safely, then she would get the temple renovated.

On the last of the “Laghurudra” a messenger came and gave a letter to her. Her husband had written:

“I was regularly sending messages to you from the battlegrounds but suddenly the Patthans surrounded us from all sides. We were entrapped in a situation where there was no scope for escaping death. Suddenly I saw a Yogi of India with long hair, carrying a weapon with three-pointers (Trishul). His personality was amazing and he was manoeuvring his weapon with a magnificent style. Seeing this great man, the Patthans started running back. With his grace our bad times turned into moments of victory. This was possible only because of that man of India wearing a lion skin and carrying a three-pointer weapon (Trishul). That great Yogi told me that I should not worry and that he had come to rescue me because he was very pleased with my wife’s prayers.”

Tears of joy were falling down Lady Martin’s eyes while reading the letter. Her heart was overwhelmed. She fell into the feet of Lord Shiva’s statue and burst in tears.

After a few weeks, Col. Martin returned. Lady Martin narrated the whole incident to him. Now, both husband and wife became devotees of Lord Shiva. In 1883, they donated Rs. 15,000 for renovating the temple. The information engraved slab for the same is still in the Baijnath Mahadev Temple of Agar Malva. This is the only Hindu temple built by the British.

When Lady Martin left for Europe she said that they would make a Shiva Temple at their home and pray to Him till the end of their life