MALWA, INDIA, January 17, 2018 (Hindu Existence): The British ruled the Indian subcontinent for hundreds of years, and built many churches and cathedrals. But in the 1880s, a Shiva temple in Agar Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, was renovated by Lt. Col. Martin as per the wish of his wife — the only Shiva temple ever made by an Englishman in India. In 1879, when there was British were ruling in India, Lt. Col. Martin of Agar Malwa was leading the British army in the war against Afghanistan. Col. Martin used to regularly send messages of his well-being to his wife. The war continued for long & Lady Martin stopped getting messages. She was very upset in the vicinity of Malwa far away from Kabul or Afghanistan.
Once riding on her horse, she was to pass by the temple of Baijnath Mahadev. She was quite attracted to the sound of conch and mantra. She went inside the temple and came to know that the brahmanas were worshipping Lord Shiva. They told her that Lord Shiva listens to the prayers of devotees and takes them out of difficult situations in no time. With the advice of the Brahmanas she started the Laghurudri Anushtthan of the Mantra: “Om Namah Shivaya” for 11 days. She prayed to Lord Shiva that if her husband reaches home safely, then she would get the temple renovated. After a few weeks Col. Martin returned, recounting a miraculous escape attributed to a trident wielding sadhu. Now both husband & wife became devotees of Lord Shiva. In 1883 they donated US$225 for renovating the temple. The information engraved slab for the same is still there in the Baijnath Mahadev Temple of Agar Malwa. This is the only Hindu temple built by the British.
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