Chintpurni Temple, Una, Himachal Pradesh

Chintpurni Temple, Una, Himachal Pradesh

Chintpurni Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakthi, located in Chintpurni in Una District of Himachal Pradesh, India. The temple is situated on one of the highest peaks of the Sola Singhi range of hills. Chintpurni is situated at an elevation of 940 metres. Chintpurni is a major pilgrimage Centre and one of the Shakti Peethas 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;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/chintpurni-temple-una-legends.html

History

Pandit Mai Das, a Saraswat Brahman, is generally believed to have established this shrine of Chintpurni Devi in Chhaproh Village in ancient times. This place came to be called as Chintpurni later named after the presiding deity. His descendants still live in Chintpurni and perform prayers and puja at the Chintpurni temple. These descendants are the official priests at the Temple.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/chintpurni-temple-una-temple.html

Pooja Timings

Poojas	Summer: April to October	Winter: November to March
Snana	04.00 am	05.00 am
Opens for devotees	04.30 am	05.30 am
Closed for Bhog	12.00 - 12.30 pm	12.00 - 12.30 pm
Evening Arati	08.00 pm	07.30 pm
Temple closes	10.00 pm	09.30 pm
Sankranti: Temple opens at 1.00 am; Sunday: Temple opens at 3.00 am
Langar - breakfast	06.00 - 07.00 am	07.00 - 0800 am
Langar - Noon	12.00 - 2.00 pm	12.00 - 2.00 pm
Langar - Evening	08.30 - 10.30 pm	07.30 - 09.30 pm

Festivals

The Navaratri fairs in Shrawan (July–August), Ashwin (September–October) and Chaitra (March–April) are popular with devotees. Monthly Sankranti, Sawan Ashtami and New Year are the other famous festivals celebrated here.

Prayers

It is believed that if one asks something from the Devi with an honest heart, the wish is granted. Devotees ties red crimson threads on making a wish and come back and untie when fulfilled.

Contact

Chintpurni Temple,

Chintpurni, Amb Tehsil,

Una District,

Himachal Pradesh – 177 110

Phone: +91 1976 255 818

Fax: +91 1976 255 318

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/chintpurni-temple-una-connectivity.html

Location

Bajreshwari Temple, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

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;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/bajreshwari-temple-kangra-legends.html

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

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located near Rudraprayag Town in Rudraprayag district, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is one of the famous Shiva temples in the state of Uttarakhand, situated in a cave and attracts thousands of tourists every year. One of the unique aspects of this temple is that devotees believe the idols worshipped here were formed naturally after Lord Shiva meditated here.

Legends 

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/01/koteshwar-mahadev-temple-rudraprayag-legends.html

The Temple

This is a cave temple, situated on the banks of Alaknanda River. The idols present in the cave are Lord Shiva, Parvati, Hanuman, Ganesha and Durga. The most unique aspect of this cave temple is that the cave houses many idols and it is believed that all these idols are formed naturally. Drops of water seeping through the cave drop on the Lingam. Unlike the custom followed by most of the other temples in the region, the idols are not brought out frequently or even annually. It is taken out in a procession only once in four years.

Festivals

Mahashivaratri is one of the most important festival in this Temple. The idol of Koteshwar Mahadev is brought out once every four years in a palanquin; decorated with colorful flowers, dazzling ornaments and a golden crown. The idol is provided shade under an attractive and strikingly designed golden umbrella.

Prayers

It is believed that Koteshwar Mahadev is famous for granting boons to the childless couples.

Connectivity 

The Temple is located at about 5 Kms from Rudraprayag, 5 Kms from Rudraprayag Bus Stand, 36 Kms from Karnaprayag, 46 Kms from Ukhimath, 143 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 160 Kms from Dehradun Airport and 388 Kms from New Delhi Airport. The Temple is situated on Rudraprayag to Karnaprayag Route.

Location

Kasar Devi Temple, Almora, Uttarakhand

Kasar Devi Temple, Almora, Uttarakhand

Kasar Devi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi, located in the Kasar Devi Village near Almora Town in Almora district, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This Temple is situated on top of a hillock at an altitude of 2,116 metres above sea level, overlooking the toy town of Almora. This Temple is situated on a hilltop, on the edge of a ridge off the Almora – Bageshwar highway on the Kaashay hills of Kumaon Himalayas.

History

The temple itself, dates back to the 2^nd century CE. The temple finds mention in the second chapter of the Skanda Purana. Kasar Devi first became known when in the 1890s, Swami Vivekananda visited and meditated here. He has mentioned his experience in his diaries. Walter Evans-Wentz, a pioneer in the study of Tibetan Buddhism, who later translated “The Tibetan Book of the Dead”, stayed here for some time. Then in the 1930s, Danish mystic Sunyata Baba (Alfred Sorensen) came here and lived here the over three decades, as did Ernst Hoffman, who became Tibetan Buddhist Lama Anagarika Govinda and Li Goutami. This led to a series of spiritual seekers from the west, visiting them.

In 1961, Govinda was visited by Beat poets, Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky and Gary Snyder. In later history, at the peak of the Hippie movement, the area also became a part of the Hippie trail. Crank's Ridge, colloquially known as Hippie Hill, which lies ahead of Kasar Devi became a popular destination. It became home to several bohemian artists, writers and western Tibetan Buddhists, and even visited by mystic-saint Anandamayi Ma.

The ridge got its name amongst hippy circles, after American psychologist Timothy Leary streaked here in the 1960s. Leary wrote majority of his psychedelic prayers here. Thus, through the 1960 and 1970s, the area was visited by personalities of the counter-culture, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Cat Stevens, Western Buddhist Robert Thurman, and writer D. H. Lawrence, who spent two summers here.

The Temple

Kasar Devi Temple is situated on top of a hillock at an altitude of 2,116 metres above sea level, overlooking the toy town of Almora. The place derives its name from Kasar Devi, the main deity of the temple. The Temple at the top of the hill can be accessed by climbing a long flight of stairs from the main road. It is originally a cave temple. The temple premises provide a fabulous view of the setting sun.

The serene location of the Devi’s shrine makes it a great place for meditation. It also provides views not just of Almora and the Hawabagh Valley, but also of the panoramic view of the Himalayas from Bandarpunch peak on the Himachal Pradesh border to Api Himal in Nepal. The area is home to deodar and pine forests.

Festivals

A large fair, known as Kasar Devi Fair, is held at the Kasar Devi temple on the occasion of Kartik Poornima in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to November and December.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 9 Kms from Almora, 9 Kms from Almora Bus Stand, 36 Kms from Jageshwar, 66 Kms from Bageshwar, 72 Kms from Nainital, 89 Kms from Kathgodam Railway Station, 123 Kms from Pantnagar Airport and 373 Kms from New Delhi Airport. This Temple is situated on a hilltop, on the edge of a ridge off the Almora – Bageshwar highway on the Kaashay hills of Kumaon Himalayas. As it is situated above the ridge of Almora town, it is accessible through 8 Kms hike from Almora or 9 Kms by road. 

Location