Sarangnath mahadev temple

There's a temple in Sarnath that is literally called "Shiva's in-laws' house" — and the story behind it is so human, so relatable, that it feels like it could happen in any family today. Sarangnath Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Sage Sarang — the elder brother of Goddess Parvati — who missed his sister's wedding to Lord Shiva because he was away on a pilgrimage. When he returned and found out his sister had married an "Aughad" (an ascetic who lived in cremation grounds, wore tiger skins, and had snakes for ornaments), he was furious. Sarang gathered gold, jewels, and coins and set out for Kashi, determined to rescue his sister from this "unsuitable" marriage. But when he reached Sarnath, exhaustion overcame him and he fell asleep. In his dream, he saw Kashi as a city of pure gold — a vision so humbling that he woke up ashamed of his materialism. He realized that his brother-in-law, Shiva, was not a beggar but the lord of the universe itself. He decided to stay and perform penance — not to rescue his sister, but to earn Shiva's forgiveness. For years, Sarang meditated. Gum oozed from his body like lava, but he didn't stop. Finally, Shiva appeared with Parvati and offered to take him along. But Sarang refused — he had fallen in love with Sarnath. So Shiva blessed him: "You shall be known as Sarangnath, and I shall reside here with you every year during the month of Sawan." Today, the temple has two Shiva Lingas in a single sanctum — one established by Sarang Rishi himself, the other by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Devotees believe that skin diseases are cured by applying the gum (guggul) offered here, and that childless couples who visit during Sawan are blessed with offspring. And the in-law relationship? It's celebrated every year when Shiva "visits" his brother-in-law during the monsoon.