William Dalrymple (historian)

Ishannath Mandir
ईशाननाथ मंदिर
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Sitamarhi district
Deity	Lord Shiva
Festivals	Mahashivratri, Sawan Sombari, Basant Panchami
Location
Location	Damami Village, Mithila region
State	Bihar
Country	India
Geographic coordinates	26°27′19″N 85°26′11″E / 26.4552685°N 85.4363300°E / 26.4552685; 85.4363300
Architecture
Date established	Treta Yuga
Ancient Shiva temple related to Ramayana

Ishannath Mandir (Maithili: ईशाननाथ मंदिर) is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. It is located at Damami Village of Lohasi Panchayat in the Belsand block of the Sitamarhi district in Bihar, India.^[1] It is also known as Damami Matha. The Shivalinga of the temple is also called as Swayambhu Mahadev and Pataleshwar Mahadev.^[2] It is locally also called as Baba Ishannath Mahadev.^[3] The temple is related to Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Lord Rama's procession took rest here while going back to Ayodhya from Janakpur.^[2]

In the year 1200 BS (Bikram Sambat) or 1143 AD, the then Mahant of Jaleshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir, installed a bell at the main gate of the Ishannath Mandir. After that the temple was looked after by the descendants of that Mahant. Presently the 29th generation of the Mahant is looking after the temple.^[2]