Where Shiva plays as a child, and the forest remembers the Mahabharata
Hidden in the sacred groves of Ambota, near Gagret in Una district, the Drona Shiv Bari Temple—also known as Shivbadi or Drona Shiv Mandir—is a 5,000-year-old shrine steeped in Mahabharata lore, divine play, and ancestral reverence. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is believed to be the very place where Guru Dronacharya’s daughter, Yayati, invoked the god with such pure devotion that Shiva appeared as a child to play with her.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Ambota Village, near Gagret, Una District, Himachal Pradesh – 177203
- Altitude: ~500 meters
- By Road: 40 km from Una, 25 km from Hoshiarpur; on the Hoshiarpur–Dharamshala road
- By Rail: Amb Andaura (~15 km)
- By Air: Gaggal Airport, Kangra (~90 km)
- On Foot: A short walk from the village center through forested paths and temple steps
🕉️ Deity & Worship
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, enshrined here as a self-manifested (swayambhu) Pindi Shivlinga, believed to have emerged in response to Yayati’s heartfelt chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya”. The temple is also home to ancient idols of Virbhadra, Swami Kartikeya, Lord Kuber, and Lord Ganesha, reflecting its deep spiritual lineage.
The goddess is worshipped in the form of three pindis, representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati.
Devotees offer red flags, coconuts, and sweets, and the temple is especially known for fulfilling wishes of childless couples and those seeking justice. Rituals include abhishek with sacred Jalhari water, lighting of ghee lamps, and chanting of Shiva mantras. The trees surrounding the temple are considered holy and are used only for cremation, yajnas, and sacred fires, in accordance with divine instruction.
🏛️ Architecture & Setting
The temple is a stone-and-wood structure nestled in a dense forest, with:
- A subterranean Shivlinga, believed to be slowly sinking deeper into the earth
- A stone-paved courtyard shaded by banyan and peepal trees
- Four ancient wells, built by the kings of Jammu and Amb in gratitude for fulfilled wishes
- Samadhis of saints who meditated here, and four cremation grounds in each cardinal direction
The temple’s natural setting, beside the Swan River, creates a meditative and mystical atmosphere, especially during Shivratri, when thousands gather for darshan.
📜 Mythological Significance
According to legend, Guru Dronacharya, the martial teacher of the Pandavas and Kauravas, lived in Ambota and bathed daily in the Swan River before heading to the Himalayas to worship Shiva. His daughter Yayati, curious about his devotion, began chanting Shiva’s name with pure intent. Pleased, Lord Shiva appeared before her as a child, playing with her daily. When Dronacharya witnessed this divine play, he bowed in reverence, and Shiva agreed to stay in the village forever as a Pindi Shivlinga, thus sanctifying the site.
🎉 Festivals & Celebrations
- Mahashivratri: Celebrated with night-long bhajans, havans, and community feasts
- Baisakhi (Second Saturday): A grand fair commemorating Shiva’s promise to Yayati to appear annually on this day
- Shravan Mondays: Special abhisheks and offerings during the monsoon month
- Daily Worship: Morning and evening aartis, incense offerings, and chanting of Rudram and Shiva Stotras
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Chintpurni Temple: A Shakti Peetha dedicated to Maa Chinnamastika
- Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Amb: A riverside Shiva shrine with mythic origins
- Dera Baba Bharbhag Singh: A spiritual healing site in Mairi
- Garli & Pragpur Villages: Heritage hamlets with colonial-era charm
🙏 Spiritual Experience
The Drona Shiv Bari Temple is not just a shrine—it is a forest echo of devotion, a place where Shiva plays as a child and protects as Rudra. As you step into its shaded courtyard, with the Swan River murmuring nearby and the scent of incense in the air, you feel the presence of a god who listens, laughs, and lingers. It is a temple where myth breathes through trees, and the **soul finds peace in the play of the divine.
