British have ruled India for several years and never respected or believed in Indian traditions. Infact, they allowed Christian missionaries to enter India and also destroyed several monuments and temples of India.
But, in 1879, a British officer claimed that he saw Shiva like Yogi who saved his life.
Here’s the story
An officer in the British Army, Lt. Col. Martin of Agar Malva, was leading the army in the war against Afghanistan.
He would regularly send messages of his well-being to his wife. But after a few days Lady Martin stopped getting his messages which worried her.
Days passed and one day, while riding on her horse, she passed by the temple of Baijnath Mahadev.She went inside the temple as the sound of mantras and conch attracted her. There she came to know that the Brahmans were worshipping Lord Shiva.
Noticing that she was tensed Brahmanas asked her what was the matter. After she explained them everything, Brahmanas told her that Lord Shiva listens to the prayers of devotees and saves them from any difficulties
Lady Martin started the ‘Laghu-rudri Anushtthan’ of the Mantra, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, for 11 days. She prayed to Lord Shiva that if her husband reaches home safely, she would get the temple renovated.
On the last of the ‘Laghu-rudri’, a messenger came and gave her a letter which was from her husband.
In the letter, Col Martin had written that he was regularly sending messages to her from the battle grounds, but suddenly the Pathans surrounded them from all sides.
They thought that there was no escape from the trap but suddenly they saw a Yogi of India with long hair, carrying a weapon with three pointers (Trishul).
Martin described his personality and said that he was maneuvering his weapon with a magnificent style. He said that Pathans started running back after seeing this great man.
He further said that only with his grace we were able to win and escape from Pathans. Martin said the Yogi told him that he should not worry and that he had come to rescue him because he was very pleased with his wife’s prayers.
After several weeks, Col. Martin returned and visited the Baijnath Mahadev Temple along with his wife to thank Lord Shiva. It was then that he realised the striking resemblance of Lord Shiva to the Yogi who saved his life.
Col Martin and his wife became devotees of Lord Shiva and helped in rebuilding the temple premises. They also donated money for its maintenance.
Bajinath Temple is the only temple built by British and the couple’s name is engraved on the slab inside the temple premises.
