Ketu Shiva Temple

This Ketu Temple is situated in Sunkot, Uttarakhand, and stands as the only temple in North India dedicated to the worship of the planet Ketu. Here, the *Ketu Shila* (Ketu Stone) is worshipped alongside Lord Shiva. According to Puranic beliefs, ancient sages and ascetics performed penance at this site; furthermore, due to its location at the confluence of two rivers, it is revered as a sacred hermitage where sages once meditated. Legend has it that when Lord Vishnu severed the head of the demon Swarbhanu using his *Sudarshan Chakra*, the headless torso fell precisely at this spot, subsequently transforming into the celestial entity known as Ketu. Consequently, Puranic tradition holds that anyone who offers worship or seeks *darshan* (sacred viewing) of the *Ketu Shila* at this temple—thereby performing a ritual *Abhishekam* (sacred bathing) to the deity—is safeguarded against the malevolent influences of Ketu.