Sunday, March 13 2005 17:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Varanasi: Exhibiting steely resolve, a devout Muslim woman has constructed a Lord Shiva temple in this Hindu pilgrimage city as "ordained" by the God.

"The Lord appeared in my dreams late last year and asked me to undertake the project," Noor Fatima, a widow and a practising lawyer, said.

"Now my task has been accomplished, I can relax and be at peace with myself," she said.

The Redreshwar Mahadev temple in Gangeshpur locality was thrown open to faithfuls during Maha Shivratri last week.

Recalling initial hiccups in undertaking the project, Fatima said she was thankful to Hindu religious leaders and locals, who chipped in with monetary contribution, for setting up of the temple in a record three-month.

The Muslims too offered both moral and material support, she said adding she had a mere Rs 5,000 with her when she started the project.

Even the death of her husband, an employee of the Diesel Locomotive Work, last year could not weaken her resolve as her daughters whole-heartedly stood behind her in accomplishing the project, she said.