Harshnath Temple, Sikar: History, Timings & Visitor Guide

Harshnath Temple is open every day, usually from early morning to late evening with a break in the afternoon. Darshan and aarti timings change with the season and on festival days.

• MorningOpens early morning (around 5 to 6 AM)
• AfternoonShort break around midday at many temples
• EveningEvening aarti around sunset, closes by about 8 to 9 PM

Ask the temple office on arrival for the day's aarti schedule.

Dress Code & Temple Rules

• DressModest, traditional clothes covering shoulders and knees
• FootwearRemove before entering; use the shoe stand
• PhotographyNot allowed inside the sanctum
• Not AllowedLeather items, tobacco, alcohol, non-veg food
• QueueFollow queue lines and staff instructions on festival days

This Shiva temple, according to an inscription dated 973 CE, was built by the Shaiva ascetic Bhavarakta, during the reign of the Chahamana king Vigraharaja I. It is surrounded by various shrines which lie in ruins.

Built atop an imposing mountain which was known at the time as Harṣa or Harṣagiri ("Mount Harṣa", or "the mountain of joy"), the Harshnath temple was originally dedicated to Shiva in his local form as Harṣa, "he who is full of joy", who resides on the mountain as its tutelary deity. The 973 inscription presents Harṣagiri as Shiva's second home, a terrestrial equivalent of his celestial home Mount Kailāsa, with Shiva's presence making the mountain into a sublimely beautiful place "like part of heaven" (i.e. svarga).

Harṣagiri was likely a regional religious centre even before the construction of the temple, which was completed in 956. The temple was commissioned by the Pāśupata religious leader Allaṭa (aka Bhāvarakta), who is stated to have been originally from this area, using money from pious donations. The ruling Chahamana dynasty, who also came from this region and who venerated Shiva-as-Harṣa as their family tutelary deity (kuladeva), were significant donors to the Harshnath temple, and they made it their main royal religious centre. Ordinary people were also important donors to the temple, and their donations are mentioned alongside those from the royal family.

Architecture of Harshnath Temple

The temple and its surrounding shrines are now in ruins. The main temple faces east. Its pillars are intricately carved. On the inside west wall is carved a figure of standing Parvati [labelled Vikata] in panchagnitap along with her female attendants.