Chamunda devi
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The Chamunda Devi Temple in
Himachal Pradesh is located 10 km west of Palampur in the Kangra area of the
state. It stands on the banks of the famous Ban Ganga River, the temple is
housed with extremely sacred idol of Chamunda Devi, and as such the idol is
wrapped by a red cloth. The location of this sacred temple is also
significant since it is believed to be the same spot where the Mata or the
Maa Kali assassinated the demon kings Shumbh and Nisumbh. The two generals
were namely Chanda and Munda. It is their name that gave Goddess Kali, a new
name called Chamunda. She
is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses
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Camunda is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two
monsters killed by mata. Temple of mata
was situated on hill named adhi
chamunda .Around 400 years ago the king
and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for permission to move the temple to some
easily accessible location. Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her
consent. .
Inside the temple of Chamunda Devi, it is accompanied by the images of Hanuman
and Bhairo. There are inscription to be seen from the Devi Mahamaya, Ramayan
and Mahabharata. The surroundings of the Chamunda Devi temple are considered
just perfect for those who are interested to meditate and pray.The famous Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham is an abode of Shiva Shakti since the saga of
Puranas.
The goddess is
worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine and in the
ancient times, human sacrifices were offered too. Originally a tribal goddess,
Chamunda was assimilated in Hinduism and later entered the Jain pantheon too.
Though in Jainism, the rites of her worship include vegetarian offerings, and
not the meat and liquor offerings.
Research work is going on the period of construction and other mysteries
surrounding the temple.
The temple
is seven hundred years old.
Research work is going on the period
of construction and other mysteries surrounding the temple.
The Myth of the Temple
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The mythology of Maa Chamunda Devi
has been chronicled in "Durga Sapt-Shati'. The Story goes like this- the
two great demons namely the Chand and Mund led a huge army with weaponary on
being ordered by their king 'Shumb' and 'Ni-Shumb'. Both saw goddess sitting
on a peak of Himalaya and the goddess was smiling, as the goddess was
unarmed, the two demons tried to catch hold of her. Then the whole army took
up their arms and encircled goddess. The goddess got enraged and furious and
it seems that her whole body became black with anger and eyebrows raised on
forehead. Then with the Maa Amba’s austerity immediately, 'Kali-Devi'
appeared with a sword in her hand and roared violently. Maa Kali was covered
with a garland of human heads which was gracing her neck and while the body
was covered by tiger-skin. Maa Kali’s skin looked dry and her shape
ferocious. And the most important expression was that she had eyes drawn deep
and mouth wide open and tongue brandishing violently.
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Temple is the place where the two
great demons 'Chand' and 'Mund' came to fight with goddess, while goddess appeared
in the form of Kali and killed both the demons. When 'Kalika' defeated the two
demons with presenting the heads of 'Chand' and 'Mund' to the goddess Amba,
from whose prowess Kalika was created, then the goddess became happy. Later the
Goddess Amba gave a boon to Kalika that she will be remembered and worshipped
as Chamunda.
Maa Kali’s roar trembled the skies
and attacked the demon army swiftly killing the demons mercilessly and ate
them. Whosoever came in her path was killed and swallowed by her even the
bodyguards, elephants, soldiers along with their weapons. In similar fashion
Maa Kali put in her mouth, chariots along with horses and drivers and chewed
them making a horrifying noise. At some point of time she would grab people by
neck and somewhere she would catch hold of hair. She would swallow the arrows
and other weapons thrown on her by the demons. In this way the goddess Kali put
an end of the demoniac army, by killing and devouring them.
Significance
of the temple
Chamunda Devi is worshipped daily
while the sermons include ‘Aartis’ at intervals. Reciting the hymn of 'Shat
Chandi’ with devoted heart at this temple is considered auspicious. In the
corner of the temple, one can see small footsteps of the Goddess on a stone.
Besides the main shrine, there is a marble staircase that takes down to the
cave of Lord Shiva. This is a cave-like scoop where Shiva Lingam is placed.
People visit this cave and worship Lord Shiva with great devotion.
Lord Shiva is believed to be one of
the complex Gods of the Hindu pantheon, as Lord Shiva is the destroyer as well
as the restorer. Here, Lord Shiva is believed to have been present in the
strange form of death, destruction and dead bodies. The find observation is
that the ancestral worship near the banks of Ban Ganga River. In the vicinity
of the Chamunda Devi temple, there is a cremation ground that serves to 22
villages of the nearby areas.
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In the temple surroundings there
is a huge pond with images of Lords and people can take bath here. There is
sculpture of Goddess where she is garlanded with serpents, scorpions, and
skulls. During the time of Navratras, the Chamunda Devi temple is crowded by
large number of people. Pilgrims from far and near of the country come to
visit this temple of great legacy and religious importance. Chamunda Devi
blesses all her true devotees. The temple is so very auspicious that it is
situated in the picturesque beauty of lush green mountains. Many saints can
be seen here involved in penance and meditation.
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The Chamunda Devi Temple is 700
years old and is a big area of worship with even a kund (tank) where devotees
take a dip. The idol in the main temple is considered so sacred that even the
eyes of devotees who come for dashing are not allowed to touch upon it; it is
kept completely concealed beneath a red cloth. At the back of the temple is a
cave-like scoop where a stone lingam (phallic symbol of Shiva) under a boulder
represents Nandi Keshwar (Shiva).
Gods
form and explanation
Chamunda Devi Temple is a very
scared renowned holy shrine of the Hindus. This ancient temple dates back to
the 16th century and is dedicated to Chamunda Devi, mata in the form of Durga /
Shakti. Chamunda Devi Mandir is also said to be the abode of 'Shiva and
Shakti'. Such that it is also known as 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham'.
Mata Chamunda Devi is considered
like the wrathful form of Durga, but even at the same time, the Goddess is kind
to her true devotees.
Time
to Visit
In winter, the temperature can get
quite cold; it may even fall up to normal weather degree when woollens are
required. It is hot in summer and cottons are recommended. Good time to visit
Chamunda Devi is Mid June to Late October.
Other
places to Visit
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Ayurvedic dispensary, library and
a Sanskrit college situated in the temple complex.. The library comprises of
rare collection of old manuscripts, books on astrology, Hindu philosophy,
Vedas, Puranas, Upnishads, Sanskrit and History.
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Reaching the Temple
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i.
By Air: Nearest Airport is Gaggal which is connected with
New Delhi and Chandigarh by
Indian Airlines Flight.
ii.
The nearest
railhead on the narrow guage line is at Moranda near Palampur, 30 km. The
nearest railway station to the temple is Pathankot for broad gauge trains and
there is also a narrow gauge train in Kangra district for which the railway
station is Nagrota Bagwan.
iii.
Chamunda Devi
is 15 km from Dharamsala and 55 km from Jwalamukhi.Chamunda is situated 10 km
west of Palampu.
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