Harshnath

Located about 15 km from Sikar, Rajasthan, Harshnath is famous for its ruins of a 10th century Shiva temple. Situated on Harsh mountain in Aravali series, Harshnath is also a local picnic spot and hill station.

The temple is near a village called Harsh ( Latitude 27.52 Longitude 75.18)whose population is 6016 in 2001 cencus.
HISTORY
According to a inscription found near the temple, the foundation of temple was laid in 961 A.D. by
Singhraj, Chouhan king of Ajmer on inspiration of a priest Suvastu,who is considered a reincarnation of Nandi (mount of Lord Shiva). In between Singhraj was killed by king Vigrahraj who captured his state and queen. Vigrahraj,a descendant from solar race of Lord Rama, made the rest temple under the supervision of Chandashiva the son of Varrudra, a famous architect who belonged to village Ranapalika(today's Ranoli).the temple was completed in 973 A.D and was consecrated by priest Saindipt, a student of Suvastu.

In May 1679, the temple was destroyed by Khan Bahadur on the order of Mugal emperor Aurangjeb.All the temples were destroyed and all the sculptures were mutilated.Most of the citizens of erstwhile Harsha city were brutally killed.
In 1718, a new temple was made by Rao Shiv Singhji aside the old destroyed temple and priests were called from Pushkar.
According to legends, the old city was spread in area of 38 miles.There is a saying among locals,
"Jagmalpura Harsha Nagri,bom talb chhatri,ek bajaar mandi gudri", which means that there were a thousand shops and nine hundred wells.
MYTHOLOGY
According to mythology, Lord Shiva reincarnated gods at this place after destroying Tripura and killing danvas.
Another mythology says that in a village Ghanghu of Churu, King Ghangh loved and married an Apsara (nymph) on the condition that he would not visit her palace without prior information. King Ghangh got a son called Harsha and a daughter Jeen. Afterwards she again conceived but as chance would have it king Ghangh went to her palace without prior intimation and thus violated solemn vow he had made to the Apsara. Instantly she left the king and fled away with her son Harsha and daughter Jeen whom she abandoned at the place where presently the Jeen Mata temple stands. The two children here practiced extreme asceticism. Later a Chauhan ruler built the temple at that place.

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