Boriyavi, a village near Mehesana in North Gujarat, is renowned for its ancient and spiritually ‘jagrut’ (awakened) sanctuary of Lord Shiva. The Masiya Mahadev Temple, central to the hamlet’s identity, is over five centuries old and unique for its ‘Swayambhu’ (self-manifested) Shivalinga, notable for its wart-like shape or ‘Mas’. Many believe devoted worship here provides relief from warts, skin ailments, bodily cysts and other persistent maladies. Uniquely, this temple is dedicated solely to Mahadev. Unlike typical Shivalayas, it has no consecrated idols of Goddess Parvati or Nandi alongside the Shivalinga. For years, this temple has also maintained a unique tradition of serving tea as ‘Prasad’ to every devotee upon their departure.
The chronicles of the Masiya Mahadev Temple recount that a village named Khara once stood west of Boriyavi. Around five hundred years ago, a ‘Siddha Mahant’ (accomplished sage) lived there with a mare afflicted by a severe skin disease. Despite many remedies, nothing worked and the Mahant, distressed by the mare’s suffering, prayed to Lord Shiva for help. Mahadev appeared in his dream, instructing him to travel northwest of Boriyavi to a tamarind tree, clear the refuse beneath it and offer a ‘Naivedya’ of jaggery, promising this would cure the mare. Following these instructions, the Mahant found the tree, cleared the debris and unearthed the ‘Swayambhu’ Shivalinga.
Because the Shivalinga resembled a wart (‘Mas’), it became known as ‘Masiya Mahadev’. The Mahant worshipped it and offered jaggery, after which the mare was cured. 
News spread across neighbouring villages and the site became revered for healing warts and skin diseases. Since then, devotees have offered jaggery, black pepper and salt to seek relief from such ailments.
As reverence for the site deepened, the sanctuary gained prominence, prompting the temple’s formal construction. About fifty years ago, Dahyalal Bhatt, a devoted follower of Shiva, led its first restoration. More recently, a comprehensive reconstruction funded by public contributions shaped the temple’s current majestic form.
In its present form, the temple is situated a short distance from the entrance arch of Boriyavi village. Near the temple portal, shops offering ritual items and offerings are found. 
The main entrance features a central image of Lord Shiva and leads into a courtyard paved with white marble. Directly in front of the temple stands a large ‘Yagnamandapa’ (sacrificial pavilion). Constructed from pristine white marble, the temple architecture is modern, meticulously divided into a ‘Darshanmandapa’ (viewing hall), ‘Sabhamandapa’ (assembly hall), ‘Antarala’ (vestibule) and the ‘Garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum). Both the viewing and assembly halls are designed in a semi-open fashion, with pillars connected by ornate cusped arches. These pillars feature exquisite craftsmanship, with sculptures of ‘Surasundaris’ (celestial maidens) carved upon their upper sections. The ceiling of the assembly hall is also adorned with delicate carvings. Within the niches of the vestibule walls, idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman are enshrined. 
From the vestibule, one descends four steps into the slightly recessed sanctum sanctorum. At its center lies the wart-shaped Masiya Mahadev Shivalinga, sheltered by a ‘chhatra’ (canopy) of a five-hooded serpent made of ‘Panchdhatu’ (five-metal alloy). A silver mask of Lord Shiva is placed in a niche on the wall behind it. The exterior walls of the sanctum are also embellished with niches and sculptures of celestial maidens. The ‘Urushringa’ style spire of the temple tapers towards the top, adorned with numerous subsidiary spires, ‘Amalakas’ and ‘Kalashas’ (pinnacles). The spire over the assembly hall is equally distinctive, featuring hundreds of miniature replicas of the pinnacle.
Complementing the architectural splendor, for the convenience of pilgrims, a grand ‘Satsang’ hall, 
a well-equipped ‘Dharamshala’ and a community hall have been established within the premises. Free accommodation and meals are provided to those traveling from afar. Adding to the site’s spiritual grandeur is a massive natural conch shell, displayed for viewing in a separate chamber behind the temple.
Religious celebrations at the temple attain the scale of a grand fair during the month of Shravan. On Shravan Mondays, thousands of devotees from various parts of the district throng the temple to seek ‘Darshan’ and fulfill their ‘Manata’ (vows). They express their faith by offering salt, black pepper, jaggery and sweets to seek relief from skin ailments, reflecting the temple’s enduring healing traditions. The paramount attraction of the season is the grand ‘Shobhayatra’ (procession) of Masiya Mahadev, which takes place on Shravan Amavasya. This vibrant procession, accompanied by music, circles the village before returning to the temple, drawing enthusiastic participation from the residents of Boriyavi and neighboring hamlets. On Mahashivratra, long queues of devotees are seen from the early hours of the morning, underlining the temple’s continued religious prominence.
