India and spirituality are the two faces of
coin and the country is widely famous for its spiritual ambiance. India is home
to numerous pilgrimages including the holy cave of Baba Barfani, high altitude
pilgrimages of Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, etc. According to Hindu
mythology, Goddess Durga is present in nine different manifestations and there
is a separate day to worship each manifestation during the festive season of
Navratri (a festival of 9 days celebration). There are seven holy shrines of
Goddess Durga located in 3 different states viz. 7 of them are located in
Himachal Pradesh, one is in Chandigarh, and the last one is in Jammu. All these
places are heavily crowded with devotees all throughout the year and during
Navratri, the charm reaches up to a next level and devotees attain the
tranquility and spirituality on the entire journey of 9 Devi Darshan.
1- Vaishno
Devi
Also known as Mata Rani, Vaishno Devi
Temple is dedicated to the manifestation of Goddess Durga. This sacred shrine
is located in the northern state Jammu and Kashmir on the Trikuta Parvat. It is
the second most heavily crowded temple in the country where devotees come from
different nooks and corners of the world. It is also believed to be the highest
Shakti Peeth in India and is also believed to be the prime destination where
the energies of the galaxy are venerated and revered. Getting there is not so
easy for old-aged people or those who are of ill health as one needs to cover a
trekking distance of almost 12 km to reach this holy shrine of Goddess Shakti.
2- Naina Devi
Located in the Bilaspur district in
Himachal Pradesh, this ancient temple is seated beautifully on a hillock and
offers the imposing and awe-inspiring view of the placid Gobind Sagar Lake.
Naina Devi is believed to be one of the prime destinations to worship in
Himachal Pradesh. This wish granting temple is devoted to Goddess Sati (an
incarnation of Goddess Durga) and is also believed to be one of the 51 Shakti
Peeths located in the country. This spiritual place witnesses a huge crowd
all-round the year especially during the Shravan Ashtami and during both the
festive seasons of Navratri Chitra Navratri and Ashwin Navratri. The origin of
this ancient temple dates back to the 8th century and is believed to be
constructed by Raja Bir Chand.
3- Mata
Mansa Devi Temple
Constructed by Karam Singh and Gopal Singh
who were the kings of Patiala and Manimajra in the year 1840 and 1815
respectively, Mata Mansa Devi Temple is located in Chandigarh, the capital city
of Punjab. Spread over a large area of around 100 acres, Mansa Devi Temple
houses 2 temples. This centuries back old temple is enlisted among the top
spiritual places to be visited in Chandigarh. The temple is dedicated to
Goddess Mansa which is the other incarnation of Goddess Durga. Goddess
Saraswati and Lakshmi are also worshipped along with Mata Mansa who is the main
deity of the temple.
4- Kangra
Devi Temple
Located behind the crowded Kangra market,
Kangra Devi Temple is believed to be self-constructed by the Goddess Kangra.
According to the mythologies, this is the same place where the popular horse-
sacrifice or the Ashwamedh took place. The echoing sound of the huge hanging
bells proves the presence of the temple from a distance only. However, the
temple is crowded all around the year and during the auspicious occasion of
Makar Sankranti, the temple witnesses a heavy crowd when a huge number of
devotees take part in this grand celebration of the Hindu festival. The
celebration continues for a week and on the day of the festival, the priests of
the temple apply ghee on the deity and then pour water for 100 times. Later on,
the idol and the temple is adorned with colorful scented flowers.
5- Chamunda
Devi Temple
Nestled beautifully on the banks of the
river Baner, Chamunda Devi Temple was constructed in the year 1762 by Raja Umed
Singh. The temple is dedicated to the goddess of war Goddess Kali and is the
only temple made up of wood and has a gabled roof in Himachal Pradesh. It
offers a beautiful view of the town and enchants the tourists visiting the
temple. However, the overall architecture of the temple is quite sober and
simple but its religious significance can’t be expressed in words and is really
overwhelming. The inner sanctum of the temple is decorated with the carvings of
silver sheets and the carvings on the temple walls are adorned with floral
paintings and also the deities are depicted and painted on the wall which is
quite appealing and inviting to the tourists.
6- Jwala
Ji Temple
Located in the Kangra district in Himachal
Pradesh, Jwala Ji Temple is famous and renowned among pilgrims for its
uniqueness as there is no idol placed inside the temple and one pays the homage
at the burning flame which glows continuously. It is enlisted among one of the
51 Shakti Peeths which are located in the different corners of the Asia
continent (South- East Asia). Hindu mythology states that at this sacred place
the tongue of Goddess Sati fell down and this is how the place got its
religious significance. Offering coconut is the main Prasad and popular culture
in the temple. There is a very popular and interesting story behind the origin
of this temple which compels the tourists to visit the temple at least once in
their lifetime.
7- Chintpurni
Temple
Situated in the Una district in Himachal,
Chintpurni Devi Temple is nestled on a high altitude on Sola Singhi Range. The
main deity of the temple is Mata Chintpurni who is known to be a goddess taking
away all the stress and worries of the devotees visiting the temple. The idol of
this temple is placed in Pindi form i.e. the idol is standing without the head.
Religious significance and its beautiful surroundings make it a perfect place
to be dipped in a spiritual as well as serenity and tranquility.
8- Sheetla Devi
Temple
Situated not so far from Chintpurni Devi
Temple, the other pilgrimage of 9 Devi Darshan in India, Sheetla Devi Temple is
a highly revered place where one can show their unflinching faith and devotion
in Goddess Sheetla and to seek her blessings to attain prosperity and success
in their life. Nestled atop the hill, the temple is thronged by a huge number
of devotees throughout the year. According to the tourists of this sacred
place, locals residing here are very kind-hearted, helpful and also welcoming.
9- Maa Bala Sundari Devi Temple
The temple which represents the beautiful
childhood image of Goddess Durga, Tripur Bala Sundri is situated in the
Trilokpur district in Himachal. The temple was constructed by Raja Dip Prakash
in the year 1573. Inside the main sanctum of the temple, there is a beautiful
statue of Mahamaya Balasundri standing where devotees come and pay a visit to
the childhood manifestation of Goddess Durga. The temple is thronged by lakhs
of devotees coming mostly from the northern parts of India especially from
Himachal and Haryana every year. The temple organizes a grand celebration and a
fair twice in a year on the auspicious occasion of Navratri.
Best Time to Visit
If you are planning to visit the temples
then it is highly recommendable to plan your trip during the festive season of
Navratri which is celebrated to show the devotion towards Goddess Durga and her
nine manifestations. The temples are decorated in a grand way during this 9
days festival and you find a different charm on the idol.
0 comments:
Post a Comment