Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Virbhadra Temple

Virbhadra, Rishikesh, Dehradun district, Uttarakhand · 30.0675°, 78.2801°

Shiva as VirbhadraUndetermined
Sacred since
300 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
7th–8th c.; earlier shrine 4th–5th c.
Undetermined

History & significance

An ancient Shiva site near Rishikesh where excavation revealed continuous occupation from about the 2nd to the 8th century, including a middle-phase shrine with a linga and plain facade and a later structure of the 7th to 8th centuries. Shivratri and the month of Sawan draw all-night jagran, special pujas and a fair.

Sthala katha — the legend

Virbhadra is remembered as the fierce form Shiva created out of his rage after Sati immolated herself when insulted by her father at a sacrifice.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Undetermined