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Right next to Lal Mandir is situated this Hindu marble
temple of Gauri Shankar, that was there even before Shahjahanbad was
established in 1623. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it's home to impressive
statues of probably all the deities of the Shaiv sect. It is believed that
the patron was Sardar Ganga Appadhar, an erstwhile senior officer in the
Mughal army.
Legend Of Gauri Shankar Temple
There is a very interesting tale attached to this temple. It is believed
that the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb gave an order that the temple bells
should not be rung. But he couldn't sleep for three nights in a row
because the bells would keep ringing in his ears. At last he had to relent
and take back his orders.
It is dominated by eight 'lingam' and is Delhi's holiest Shiva temples.
Devotees enter through the marble steps, flanked by pillars carved with
chains and bells that open in a spacious courtyard. Inside the temple,
offerings for sale include bilva (wood apple), chandan (sandal wood
paste), marigolds, red powder, rice and cotton threads.
The main sanctuary holds bejewelled statues of Gauri or Goddess Parvati
and Shankar or Lord Shiva standing beneath the silver canopy and the
ancient brown stone lingam resting on a marble 'yoni' encased in silver
and draped with silver serpents. Shrines of other deities line the south
wall.
These days, major renovation work is being carried out at the temple
premises, the height of the 'shikhara' is being raised to 110ft.