Bajreshwari
Temple, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Bajreshwari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Goddess Shakthi, located in Kangra Town in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh,
India. The Temple is also called as Kangra Devi Temple / Nagarkot Devi Temple.
The Temple is situated at an altitude of about 2400 feet high. The temple is considered
as one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in India subcontinent. Being one of the 51 Shakti
Peethas of Hindu Mythology, this temple is one of the holiest
sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of Hinduism.
Legends
For brief details, please
refer below link;
History
The temple was sacked by Mohammad Ghazni, the Islamic
invader, in 1009 AD. He looted this temple at least 5 times in the past. A
mosque was built on the ruins and a garrison was left behind. The local king
regained its possession after 35 years and repaired the temple. A replica of
the idol was enshrined in the temple. The temple was again ransacked in 1360 by
Firoz Tughlaq.
Later Emperor Akbar visited the shrine with his Dewan,
Todar Mal and restored it to its former grandeur. Maharaja Ranjit Singh visited
and under his orders the domes of the temples here and at Jwalamukhi were
gilded during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The temple was destroyed by a
powerful earthquake in1905 AD and was subsequently rebuilt by the government. The
temple was reopened to the public in 1920.
The Temple
The main gate entrance has a Nagarkhana or drum
house and is built similar to fort entrance. The temple is also surrounded by a
stone wall like a fort. Presiding Deity is called as Bajreshwari / Vajreshvari.
She is housed in the sanctum in the form of Pindi. There are four idols of the
lions in the front of the sanctum. The Sanctum is crowned with a tall Shikara.
There is an idol of Dhayanu Bhagat in front of the
sanctum. He had offered his head to the Goddess during the reign of Akbar. There
is a small shrine for Bhairava in the temple complex. Sculptures of four-armed Durga, seated on a lion, and Lord Vishnu
in his abode Vaikuntha can be found in the external walls. There is a huge tree
of Bargad. Devotees tie a Chunni on it to fulfil their desires.
Temple Opening Time
The temple opened for visitors every morning at 5.00
a.m. and close 9.00 p.m. in summer. The winter timing is 6.30 a.m to 8.00 p.m.
Pooja Timings
·
Morning Aarti (Summer) –
5.30 a.m.
·
Evening Aarti (Summer) –
8.30 p.m.
·
Morning Aarti (Winter) –
7.00 a.m.
·
Evening Aarti (Winter) –
7.00 p.m
Festivals
Makar
Sankranti, Deepawali, Navaratri, Holi, Kojagiri Poornima, Datta
Jayanti and Hanuman Jayanti are celebrated in the temple. A huge fair is also
organized as reverence to Goddess on Amavasya in the month of Chaitra. Next
day, a ceremonial event with a procession carrying an idol of Goddess Durga in
a Palki is observed.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
2 Kms from Kangra Bus Stand, 2.5 Kms from Kangra Railway Station, 10 Kms from Kangra
Airport, 14 Kms from Nagarkot, 33 Kms from Palampur, 85 Kms from Pathankot
and 217 Kms from Shimla. Kangra is well connected
by road to the major cities of North India.
Location
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