Banni Mata Temple, Chamba –
Legends
As per legend, the Pandavas
ruled Hastinapur for 36 years and established a righteous kingdom. Shortly
after Lord Krishna left the Earth, they all decided that the time had
come for them to renounce the world, as the age of Kali had started.
Pandavas decided to seek liberation from their earthly lives and set out to
Himalayas to reach Swarga Loka (Hindu Heaven). While roaming in the Himalayas
in search of Swarga, they reached somewhere near the Pir Panjal range.
Spring was setting in and they
decided it was time to go a little higher and start farming for food. So, they
headed towards Charola (near Kali Chho Pass). While on their way up, they
encountered multiple obstacles. The mountains were difficult to walk on, snow
was all over. There were treacherous slopes and crevices. Suddenly, it started
snowing.
On their way, all except
Yudhishthira slipped and died one by one. Yudhishthira was accompanied by a dog
who was none other than God Yama himself. The first to die was Draupadi;
she was imperfect because she loved Arjuna more than her other husbands. Then
it was Sahadeva, imperfect because he was overconfident about his knowledge in
science.
He was followed by Nakula,
imperfect because he was over-enthusiastic about his good looks. Then
fell Arjuna, imperfect because he was proud of his skills- he
challenged Hanuman and Shiva. Next was Bhima, imperfect
because he killed his enemies brutally- thus enjoyed their sufferings. Only the
eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, reached the door of Swarga Loka (heaven),
carried on Indra's chariot.
Draupadi, whose mortal flesh is
believed to have been inhabited by Goddess Kali at times, appeared in the
incarnation of goddess Kali. It is believed a huge rock in high Pir Panjal at
Charola split vertically to reveal 3 Trishuls, which can still be seen there.
After this, the goddess found her next home at Lyundi, at the base of the Pir Panjal
and finally settled in the village of Banni. Since then, there has been a
temple dedicated to Banni Mata (an incarnation of Kali) at this village.
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