Ambika Devi Temple, Nirmand, Himachal Pradesh

Ambika Devi Temple, Nirmand, Himachal Pradesh

Ambika Devi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Durga located in Nirmand Village in Nirmand Tehsil in Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh, India. Nirmand is often called as the Kashi of the Himalayas. Nirmand is one of the largest villages in Himachal Pradesh and stands overlooking the Sutlej Valley.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/08/ambika-devi-temple-nirmand-legends.html

History

Nirmand is famous for its ancient wooden and stone of the 6^th and the 7^th centuries. It has been in existence since the early Vedic period, making it one of the oldest rural settlements in India. The most notable relic from Nirmand is the copper plate grant of Raja Samudra Sen of 7^th century CE.

The Temple

The present structure of the temple is in the pent roof style, built in alternating layers of wood and stone. It is built in the traditional Pahari form. The temple is approached by a series of uneven and grassy stone steps. The entrance of the temple is decorated with geometric designs. There are figures of fighting animals on the entrance. The roof of the temple is coated with copper sheets.

The sanctum enshrines an image of Ambika Devi. The idol is about 0.75 metres tall. The idol might have been brought here from the plains. The devi has eight mohras and the main mohra is called Bhadrakali. The courtyard has several ancient sculptures, Shiva Linga, and pair of tigers. The temple is renowned for its intricately carved wooden doors and pillars that are probably the finest examples of woodcarving in the state.

Festivals

Navratra, Nirshu Mela, Kaw Chhat Mela and Budhi Diwali are the festivals celebrated here.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 750 metres from Nirmand Bus Stop, 18 Kms from Rampur Bushahr, 18 Kms from Rampur Bushahr Bus Stand, 49 Kms from Kumarsain, 52 Kms from Sarahan, 125 Kms from Shimla, 127 Kms from Shimla Railway Station, 139 Kms from Shimla Airport and 166 Kms from Kullu. Devotees need to travel from Rampur Bushahr towards Kumarsain in NH 5. After travelling for about 4 Kms, devotees need to cross the Bazir Bawli bridge over the Sutlej river and travel for another 14 Kms to reach this temple. Nirmand is well connected by a major district road with the nearby town Rampur. Regular government and private buses ply to Rampur, Shimla and Kullu.

Location

Banashankari Temple, Cholachagudda, Karnataka

Banashankari Temple, Cholachagudda, Karnataka

Banashankari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Durga located in Cholachagudda Village in Badami Taluk in Bagalkot District in the Indian state of Karnataka. The temple is situated to the south of Badami Town. The temple is also called as Shakambhari Devi Shaktipeeth.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/05/banashankari-temple-cholachagudda-legends.html

History

The original temple was built in 7^th century CE by King Jagadekamalla I of Badami Chalukyas. Badami Chalukyas worshipped goddess Banashankari as their tutelary deity. There is an inscription dating back to 1019 CE describing the Rashtrakuta King Bhimadeva in a pillar on the northern side of the temple. The Deepa Stambhas at the entrance of the temple were built by a warrior named Ketimayya. The present structure was built in 1750 CE by Parashuram Agale, a Maratha chieftain.

The Temple

The temple follows dravidian style of architecture with heavy influences from Vijayanagara architectural style. The temple is enclosed by a high wall on all sides. The main shrine consists of sanctum, ardha mandapa and mukha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines an image of Banashankari / Vanashankari / Shakambhari. She is shown seated on a lion trampling a demon under her foot. She is eight armed and holds trishul (trident), damaru (hand drum), kapala patra (skull cup), ghanta (war bell), vedic scriptures, khadga kheta (sword & shield) and severed head of demon. The sanctum is crowned by a vimana. Idols of Bhima, Bhramari, Shatakshi and Ganesha can be found in the temple.

There is a 360 feet square water tank in the front of the temple at the entrance. The water tank is locally called as Haridra Tirtha, a corrupted version of the name Harishchandra Tirtha. The pond is enclosed with stone manḍapas (halls) on three sides. A pradakshina or circumambulatory path surrounds the tank. Deepa stambhas (Lamp towers) can be seen on the west bank of the pond and also at the entrance of the temple. The tower on the bank of the tank is also an uncommon guard tower which reflects the Vijayanagara blend of Hindu and Islamic style It is called the Victory Tower.

Temple Opening Time

The temple remains open from 06.00 am to 01.00 pm and 03.00 pm to 09.00 pm.

Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/05/banashankari-temple-cholachagudda-festivals.html

Contact

Banashankari Temple,

Cholachagudda, Badami Taluk,

Bagalkot District – 587 201

Karnataka, India

Phone: +91 8357 220 100 / 220 113

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 5 Kms from Badami Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Badami, 9 Kms from Badami Railway Station, 18 Kms from Pattadakal, 29 Kms from Aihole, 38 Kms from Bagalkote, 41 Kms from Naregal, 65 Kms from Gadag and 114 Kms from Hubbali Airport. The temple is situated to south of Badami Town on Badami to Gadag route.

Location

Jageshwari Temple, Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh

Jageshwari Temple, Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh

Jageshwari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi located at Chanderi Town in Chanderi Tehsil in Ashok Nagar District in Madhya Pradesh, India. This Temple is considered as the most revered temple of the town.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2022/02/jageshwari-temple-chanderi-legends.html

History

The temple might have been originally built in 6^th century CE and later rebuilt in 11^th century CE by Pratiharas. Chanderi was known as Chedi in the Mahabharata.

The Temple

The temple is situated on a hillside and can be accessed by climbing 90 steps from the foot of the hill. The presiding deity Jageshwari is enshrined inside a cave around which a modern temple building is constructed. The idol is Swayambhu (self-manifested). The idol has only head and is placed on a pedestal, heavily draped with cloth. The shrine is guarded by two idols of lion. There are several shrines in the temple complex housing various shivalingas.

There are three distinct shivalingas, two have 1100 shivalingas carved on their surface while one has four faces on it. The temple tank, Sagar Kund, is situated at the bottom of hill. The water from natural springs in the hills flow down and get collected in this tank. This tank was commissioned by Madho Rao Scindia in 1894 as per an inscriptional slab kept near the gateway. There is a ghat on one side and chataris on its four corners.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Chanderi Bus Stand, 38 Kms from Lalitpur, 38 Kms from Lalitpur Airport, 39 Kms from Lalitpur Junction Railway Station, 44 Kms from Isagarh, 55 Kms from Ashok Nagar, 129 Kms from Shivpuri, 106 Kms from Jhansi and 215 Kms from Bhopal. Chanderi is situated on Bhopal to Jhansi route.

Location

Mahamaya Temple, Ratanpur, Chattisgarh

Mahamaya Temple, Ratanpur, Chattisgarh

Mahamaya Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi located in Ratanpur Town in Bilaspur District in Chattisgarh State, India. Goddess Mahamaya is also known as Kosaleswari, presiding deity of old Dakshin Kosala region (modern Chhattisgarh state). The Temple is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. 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/2021/05/mahamaya-temple-ratanpur-legends.html

History

The Temple was believed to be built by Kalachuri King Ratnadeva I in 1050 CE. The Temple was renovated in 1492 AD by King Bahar Sai. The shrines for Lakshmi and Saraswathi were built by him.

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards North. The Temple follows Nagara style of architecture. There is a huge water tank situated beside the temple. The temple is surrounded by a 18 inch thick boundary wall. The main gate of the temple is adorned with large metal sculptures, one on either side. One sculpture depicts Shiva carrying dead body of Sati and another sculpture depicts Shiva gulping Halahala (poison) which came out of churning the ocean.

There are two rampant lions on either side of the entrance  gate. The gate leads to the inner courtyard. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of 16 pillared Mandapam and Sanctum. There are two idols present in the sanctum. One idol is Mahamaya in the form of Mahishasuramardhini and second idol is Saraswathi, placed behind the former idol. There are two inscriptions at the entrance of the mandapa dated to the reign of Haihaya King Vahara in 1495 CE.

The main complex of the temple houses the smaller idols of Goddess Mahakali, Bhadrakali, Sun god, Lord Vishnu, Lord Hanuman, Bhairav and Lord Shiva. Most of the idols and motifs used in the temple might have been taken from ancient temple ruins. Some of them were taken from Jain Temples. The main temple is surrounded by huge halls where Jyoti Kalashas are lit on behalf of the devotees. The Kalashas are kept alive for the entire nine days of Navratri.

Festivals

Chaitra Navratri, Ram Navami, Vasantha Navratri, Maha Navratri and Diwali are celebrated in this temple with much fanfare.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Ratanpur Bus Stand. Ratanpur is located at about 25 Kms from Bilaspur, 30 Kms from Bilaspur Junction Railway Station, 38 Kms from Bilaspur Airport, 65 Kms from Pali, 142 Kms from Raipur and 159 Kms from Raipur Airport. Ratanpur is situated on NH 130 connects Bilaspur to Ambikapur. Frequent Buses are available from Bilaspur.

Location | Photos

Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi Hills, Karnataka

Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi Hills, Karnataka

Chamundeshwari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga located in Chamundi Hills near Mysuru City in Mysuru District of Karnataka. The Temple is situated on top of 3,489 tall Chamundeshwari Hill. Chamundeshwari is considered as the tutelary deity for Mysore Maharajas. This temple is considered as one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, highly revered temples throughout South Asia that commemorate the location of fallen body parts of the Hindu deity Sati. The Temple is considered as one of the most famous temples in Karnataka.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/05/chamundeshwari-temple-chamundi-hills-legends.html

History

The original shrine is thought to have been built in the 12^th century by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana while its tower was probably built by the Vijayanagar rulers of the 17^th century. Chamundeshwari was the family deity of the Mysore Wodeyars. Chamraja Wodeyar IV is said to have worshipped here in 1573. It is believed that he was saved from a lightning hit miraculously owing to the blessing of the Goddess. Maharaja Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar set up a flight of 1000 steps up to the top of the hill in 1659 CE.

He also built the colossal Nandi at the 700^th step of the Chamundi Hill. The Mahishasura Statue was built in 1659 by Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III built the huge Gopuram and presented the Nakshatra Malika jewel with Sanskrit verses inscribed on it in 1827 CE. He also gifted Simhavahana in 1843 CE. The Temple was extensively renovated in 19^th century CE by the Wodeyar kings.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/05/chamundeshwari-temple-chamundi-hills-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 07.30 am to 02.00 pm, 03.30 pm to 06.00 pm and 07.30 pm to 09.00 pm.

Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/05/chamundeshwari-temple-chamundi-hills-festivals.html

Contact

Chamundeshwari Temple,

Chamundi Hill, Mysuru

Karnataka – 570 010

Phone: +91 821 259 0027 / 259 0127

Fax: +91 821 2590082

Email: eochamunditemple@gmail.com

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 300 meters from Chamundi Hill Bus Stop, 14 Kms from Mysuru, 15 Kms from Mysuru Bus Stand, 15 Kms from Mysuru Airport, 16 Kms from Mysuru Junction Railway Station, 27 Kms from Nanjangud, 154 Kms from Bengaluru and 195 Kms from Bengaluru Airport. The temple  is located on a hill in the vicinity of Mysore and is accessed through a motorable road. There is also a different route to the temple through the Nanjangud side. There are buses available to the temple from all parts of the Mysore City. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) plies buses to the temple every day with a time gap of 30 minutes from the City Bus Stand.

Location | Photos