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A Legend says that Prajapati Daksha, the father of Sati once organized a great Yajna and invited all gods except Shiva. When Sati came to know of this, she importuned Shiva to go to Yajna. Shiva maintained that they should not go uninvited. Sati argued that it was not bad to go to parents or Gurus un-invited. Shiva did not agree for himself but allowed Sati to go. On reaching her father's house, Sati saw that no seat (Assan) had been earmarked for Shiva which meant a deliberate attempt to humiliate Shiva. She was so offended that she at once plunged herself into the havankund of Yajna. On hearing this, Shiva rushed to the spot and found Sati half burnt. Distressed Shiva carried the corpse of Sati, gyrating it from summit to summit. Apprehending a great calamity befalling, the gods ran to Lord Vishnu for help who then severed Sati's body into pieces with his Sudershan Chakra. Across the land where the pieces of body are regarded to have fallen, have risen fifty-one Shaktipeeths, the centers where the power of goddess is inhert. |
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CHINTAPURNI DEVI
The Goddess who Casts-off worries |
“Chinta” Means worry. Devi Maa is believed to save her devotees from it, giving elixir of life, by fulfilling their desires. Hence known as CHINTAPURNI. |
JWALAMUKHI DEVI
(The goddess, who represents the energy of fire) |
Nine Sacred - Flames, continuously burning without any fuel or assistance may be seen erupting from a rock-side, now housed in the shape of a temple, here.This miracle of nature is worshipped as a goddess known as JWALAMUKHI.
According to legends it is believed that the tongue of ‘Sati' fell at this place when Lord - Vishnu threw his “Chakra” to cut the body of the Sati into pieces, in order to remove the attachment, Lord Shankar was displaying with her dead body.
JawalaMukhi is a famous temple of Goddess JawalaMukhi - The deity of flaming mouth. The temple is built over natural jets of combustible gas, believed to be the manifestation of goddess. The temple lies in the lap of Shivalik range of Kangra valley called "Kalidhar". This is believed to be the first ever temple built by the Pandavas. |
KALIKA DEVI
(A Symbol of death and destruction) |
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Kali is derived from the word “Kaala” which stands for two meanings - 1. time or age 2. darkness. It is believed that there was a state of total darkness before the origin of Universe; no life existed anywhere! Total Chaos! The age of death and destruction! Actually, death is the cause of a new life and destruction is the cause of a new shape. This energy is represented as the goddess “Kalika” . She produces the netherworlds and destroys them, to her desire or will. |
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MANSA DEVI
(The goddess, who fulfills the desires) |
“Mansa” means desire and the goddess who fulfills the desire of her devotees, is popularly known as Mansa Devi. Located a top the Shivalik-Hills near Hardwar the temple is easily accessible through Ropeway Trolley, as well as stairs and pedestrian path The Main - idol, enshrined in the temple, consists of 5 heads (faces) and three arms of the deity. An old tree has become an interesting feature where pilgrims tie - up a thread around its stem for the fulfillment of their desires. One can easily see hundred of knots around it. |
NAINA DEVI
(a symbol of the energy of vision) |
The devotees have a common faith that this goddess is capable enough to bless with the eyes, even to those, who can't see. The shrine is regarded as one of the foremost seats of the deity. According to the legend, eyes of Sati fell here, when lord Vishnu cut the body of sati into pieces. |
SHAKUMBHARI DEVI
(A Symbol of Botanical Energy) |
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Legend tells that this goddess helped the living creatures to survive only upon plants and vegetables, when no water was available on this earth, for full long hundred years. Hence, She was known as SHAKUMBHARI DEVI i.e. the goddess who feeded upon vegetables. |
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Stating in terms of botanical-science, there exists a form of energy behind the growth of plants and vegetables; the evolution of this energy is caused due to the multiplication and compounding of atoms. The same energy has been worshipped as goddess SHAKUMBHARI in the legends Here the goddess is represented by four idols. Bhramari and Bhima Devi are enshrined on the right side of SHAKUMBHARI DEVI is also known as Sheetla Devi. Actually all these names signify the same deity, who incarnated herself with the different names in different ages. In present context also, this aspect of worship is utmost relevant, because the world began to think about the importance of plants and trees only a few years ago, whereas, the Indian Culture had adopted the same thousand of years before, when the worship of SHAKUMBHARI DEVI was started. |
CHAMUNDA DEVI
( The vanquisher of evil ) |
Chamunda Devi is located at a spot where the famous battle described in the Devi Mahatmaya took place. It is heard that Kali killed the two generals of Shumbha and Nishumba. Their names were Chanda and Munda. As a result of this battle Kali received the name Chamunda. The temple was originally located in dangerous remote spot. It was relocated to its current location. |
VAJRESHWARI DEVI
( The Goddess of Power ) |
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Popularly known as Kangrewali Mata this seat of deity is powerful, so much so, as to conquer the enemy. Vajra means thunderbolt and Meri Maiya, who bears it is known as Vajreshwari Devi.
The Temple Popularly known as Nagarkot Dham or Kot Kangra, the temple dedicated to goddess Vajreshwari Devi was once the most renowned shrines of Northern India . It is a famous Shaktipeeth where the left breast of Pauranik Sati Parvati is stated to have fallen. The Devi is worshipped in the form of Pindi. A legend avers that the body of demon king Jalandhara is buried at this place. According to another legend, the Goddess Vajreshwari received injuries while killing the demon Mahishasur which were cured by applying butter. The tradition is still celebrated on Makar Sakranti every year.
Though the main temple was ravaged by foreign invaders and completely destroyed by the 1905 earthquake, it has been restored to its pristine glory. It was rebuilt by the Temple Restoration Committee in the existing form in 1930. The three domes of this temple depict the architecture of religions places of Hindu, Muslims and Sikhs which is quite rare. |
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Ambaji-the Origin of the Supreme Cosmic Power of the Universe is one of the fifty one 51 ancient Shakti Piths Tirth in India .
There are 12 main Shakti Pith Tirth, significant places of pilgrimage for the worship of Shakti, namely, Ma Bhagwati Mahakali Maha Shakti at Ujjan, Ma Kamakshi at Kanchi Puram, Mata Bramaramba at Malay Giri, Shri Kumarika at Kanya Kumari, Mataji Ambaji at Anartgujarat Mata Mahalaxmidevi at Kohlapur, Devi Lalita at prayag, Vindhya Vasini at Vindhya, Vishalakshi at Varansi, Mangalavati at Gaya and Sundari Bhavani at Bangal & Guhya Kesari in Nepal.
The Great Miracle of this Holy Place is that there is no idol or picture in the Nij Mandir the Temple of Shri Arasuri Mata Ambaji , but a simple cave like Gokh in the inner wall, in which A Gold Plated Holy Shakti Visa Shree Yantra , having kurma back convex shape and 51 Bij letters therein, connected with that of the original Yantras of Nepal and Ujjain Shakti Piths, is also ritually installed in such a way it can be visible for devotion, but never photographed in past nor can be so done in future.
The worship of this Visa Shree Yantra is done only after tying a bandage on the eyes. |
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