CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE
In Hinduism, Chamunda or Camunda is an aspect of Devi, the supreme mother goddess. The name is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two monsters which Devi killed.
The famous temple of Ma Chamunda is in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is around 10 km west of Palampur, on the Baner river. Around 400 years ago the king and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for permission to move the temple to some easily accessible location. Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her consent. She directed him to dig in a certain spot and an ancient idol would be found and that idol should be installed in the temple and worshipped as Her form.
The king sent out men to bring the idol. Although they were able to locate it but were not able to lift it. Again Devi appeared to the priest in a dream. She explained that the men could not lift the holy relic because they considered it an ordinary stone. She instructed him to get up early in the morning, take a bath, wear fresh clothes and go to the place in a respectful manner. He did as he was told and found that he could easily lift what a large group of men could not. He told the people that it was the power of the Goddess that brought the idol to the temple.
The temple now depicts scenes from the Devi Mahatmya, Ramayan and Mahabharata. The Devi's image is flanked by the images of Hanuman and Bhairo on either side.
The famous Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham is an abode of Shiva Shakti since the saga of Puranas. According to a legend, the Goddess Chamunda was enshrined as chief Goddess with the title of Rudra in the battle between demon Jalandhra and Lord Shiva which made this place famous as “Rudra Chamunda”. Another legend has it that “Savarni Manamantra” battle between the gods and demons, Chamunda emerged as Chandika from an eyebrow of Goddess “Kaushiki” and was assigned the task of eliminating the demons “Chand” and “Mund”. Chandika fought a fierce battle with these two demons and at last killed them. Goddess Chandika took the slain heads of the two demons “Chand” and “Mund” to the Goddess “Kaushiki” who being immensely pleased, blessed Chandika and bestowed upon her the title of “Chamunda,” the name which is famous all around the world.
NAINA DEVI TEMPLE
Lord Shiva’s consort Sati once burnt herself alive in Yagna to avenge an insult to Lord Shiva. The distraught Shiva picked her corpse and gyrated his horrified dance. Then Lord Vishnu unleashed his Chakra and cut the Sati’s body into fifty one pieces to save the earth from Shiva’s wrath. All the fifty one places - where parts of Sati's body fell, became known as Shakti Peeths. It is believed that Sati’s eyes fell at the place where this temple is situated. Therefore, this temple is called Naina Devi.
BRAJESHWARI KANGRA TEMPLE
The Brajeshwari Devi temple, located in the old Kangra Township, is said to have been built over the charred breasts of Sati. This shrine, once renown for its great wealth, has been plundered relentlessly over the ages. The first of the plunderers was Mahmud of Ghazni, who looted it in 1009. A mosque was built on the ruins and a garrison was left behind. 35 years later, the local king regained its possession. The shrine was repaired and a replica of the idol was enshrined. The temple was filled with gold, silver and diamonds only to be ransacked again in 1360 by Firoz Tughlaq. Later Emperor Akbar visited the shrine with his Dewan, Todar Mal and restored it to its former grandeur. The temple was razed to the ground by an earthquake in 1905, but a new one came up the very same year, thanks to the Kangra Restoration Committee.
JWALAMUKHI TEMPLE
The Flaming Goddess
Jwalamukhi is 34-km from Kangra and 56 km from Dharamsala. Recognised as one of the 51 Shaktipiths of India, Jwalamukhi's Devi Temple, tended by the followers of Goraknath, is set against a cliff. The picturesque temple, built against a wooded spur, in the Indo-Sikh style, has a dome that was gilded by Mughal Emperor Akbar.
An eternally burning flame that issues from a hollow rock in the sanctum is considered the manifestation of the goddess Devi. During March-April and September-October every year colourful fairs are held during the Navaratra celebrations.
THE LEGEND OF JWALAMUKHI
Jwalamukhi is a famous temple of goddess Jwalamukhi, the deity of flaming mouth, built over some natural jets of combustible gas, believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess. The building is modern with a gilt dome and pinnacles, and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates.
Under the gaze of the Dhauladhar range and set amidst the undulating hills that character sub-Himalayan Himachal Sati's tongue is believed to have fallen at Jwalamukhi and the goddess is manifest as tiny flames that burn a flawless blue through fissures in the age old rock.
Raja Bhumi Chand Katoch of Kangra, a great devotee of goddess Durga, dreamt of the sacred place and the Raja set people to find out the whereabouts of the site. The site was traced and the Raja built a temple. The burning flames and the complex have come to be known as Jwalamukhi.
The temple located on a small spur on the Dharamsala-Shimla road at a distance of about 20-kms from the Jwalamukhi Road Railway Station attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. No idol is located in the temple but only the flames, which come out from the crevices of the rock, are worshipped. They are natural jets of combustible gas.
There is a small platform in front of the temple and a(check usage) big mandap where a huge brass bell presented by the King of Nepal is hung. Usually milk and water are offered and the ahutis or oblations are offered to the sacred flames in the pit, situated in the centre of the temple in between the floor pillars supporting the roof.
The deity is- offered Bhog of Rabri or thickened milk, Misri or candy, seasonal fruits, milk and arti is done. There is a mystic Yantar or diagram of the goddess, which is covered with, shawls, ornaments and mantras are recited. The puja has different 'phases' and goes on practically the whole day. Arti is done five times in the day, Havan is performed once daily and portions of "Durga Saptasati" are recited.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid a visit to the temple in 1815 and the dome of the temple was gold-plated by him. Just a few feet above the Jwalamukhi temple there is a six-feet deep pit with a circumference of about three-feet. At the bottom of this pit there is another small pit about one and a half feet deep with hot water bubbling all the time.
CHINTPURNI
Pandit Mai Das ( ) , a Kalia Saraswat Brahman, is generally believed to have established this shrine to Mata Chintpurni Devi in Chhaproh village twenty-six generations ago. Over time this village became known as Chintpurni after the eponymous deity. His descendants still live in Chintpurni and perform archana and puja at the Chintpurni temple.
According to the Kalia family lore, Bhakta Mai Das's father lived in Athoor village in the princely state of Patiala. He was an ardent devotee of Goddess Durga. He had three sons called Devi Das, Durga Das and Mai Das. The youngest one was Mai Das. For various reasons, the family moved to village Rapoh, near Amb (now in District Una, Himachal Pradesh). Just like his father, Mai Das was an intense devotee of goddess Durga and spent much of his time in Durga puja, bhajan and kirtan. His brothers were not too happy with him as Mai Das did not spend much time on affairs of this world. However his father made sure that his worldly needs were met.
Mai Das had got married when his father was still alive. After his father died, his brothers refused to provide any financial support to him. They told him to look after himself and his immediate family. Mai Das had to face many difficulties after he separated from his brothers. However his faith and devotion to Mother Durga remained undiminished as he sincerely believed that Durgaji removes all difficulties for her devotees.
Once Bhakta Mai Das was travelling to his in-laws' place. After a long and tiring walk, he sat down to rest under a Vat tree (banyan tree, Ficus Bengalensis) in a densely forested area. He dozed off and started dreaming. A luminous and beautiful young girl appeared in his dream and said to him, " Mai Das, stay in this place and serve me. That will be best for you." Mai Das woke up with a start and looked around. He could not see any other person nearby and felt quite confused.
Bhakta Mai Das continued on to his in-laws' house. He was still thinking about his dream. Was that really the Devi? If so, how would he carry out the Devi's command? He arrived at the in-laws' house but did not stay there for long as his mind was quite unsettled.
On his way back, he sat down under the same Vat tree and began to concentrate his thoughts on Durga Mata. He prayed, "O Mother, I have but a small mind and cannot comprehend your powers. If you consider me a true devotee, please present yourself and remove all my doubts". Upon hearing Mai Das's prayer, Durga Mata appeared in front of Mai Das in her Chaturbhuj form sitting astride a lion. Mai Das fell to the Devi's feet and prayed to her, "O Bhagavati, do command me. How may I serve you that my life be best spent at your lotus feet?"
Durga Mata said, "I have been living at this very place for many, many years but in the Kali Yug people had neglected this spot. I will now appear under this tree in the form of a pindi (a round stone). Perform puja for me every day."
Mai Das was still somewhat reluctant to live there as panthers and other wild animals abounded in the dense forest. Also as that spot was on a hill-top, there was no known source of water nearby. Durga Mata pointed to a place on the northern slope of the hill and told him to dig out a stone under which he would find a spring of fresh water.
She gave him a mantra - Namaskar mantra :
"om eM kleeM hreeM shri bhayanaashini hooN hooN phaT swaha "
so that he would have no fear. She also gave him the Mool Mantra -
"om eM hreeM kleeM chamunDaay vichchayah".
She said, "In the past I have been known as Chhinnamastika. From now on people will also call me Chintapurni as I have removed all your doubts and worries. My devotees will arrange to have a temple built here. Whatever offerings are made should be sufficient for you and your descendants. " The Goddess gave him a few other instructions and disappeared.
Mai Das went to the spot to which Devi had pointed to look for water. His joy knew no bounds when he removed the stone and a stream of crystal clear and sweet water gushed forth. A water tank was built there subsequently. Water from this tank is reserved for the use of the Temple.
Bhakta Mai Das built a small hut for himself near the water tank and began regular worship of the Devi's pindi at the hill-top. A few years after, devotees built a small temple which has gradually been expanded.
Pandit Mai Das's samadhi is located a short distance away on the eastern side of the water tank.
Twenty six generations later, his descendants continue to offer worship to Shri Chintpurni Devi. The forest has more or less disappeared and the area has become more settled. Although the village is still called Chhaproh in government land records, it is generally known as Chintpurni after the Devi who resides there.
Tales about the miraculous powers of the Devi have spread far and wide. Thousand of devotees visit the temple every year and particularly so during the Navaratras in Shravan (August), Kartik (October) and Chaitra (March-April). Sankranti, Purnima and Ashtami are the other popular days.
