Overview of Himachal Pradesh - Temple

About 15 km from Dharamshala and 10 km west from Palampur, lies the Chamunda Devi temple. The temple is 55 km from Jwalamukhi. The lush green Dhauladhar mountains in Himachal Pradesh form an arresting backdrop for this ancient temple which is 700 years old. It is dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, a form of the supreme mother goddess Durga and one among the seven Matrikas.

Though there are many temples in the same area, the Chamunda Devi temple is definitely one of the most important. Thousands of devotees come here from all over India, daily. The idol in the temple is very sacred is wrapped in a red cloth. Several legends and myths have come up around the idol and the deity here. It is believed that reciting the Shat Chandi mantras here can bring one good luck and prosperity. There is also a small underground cave here housing a Shiva Lingam. The temple sees huge crowds during the Navratri festivities. The structure has been renovated many times. The natural beauty of this place also makes it a popular spot for picnics.

Temple history

The temple lay in ruins until 1991. It had been damaged by lightning and fires, and had not been maintained properly. In 1992, a man called P D Saini, took sole responsibility for its restoration. Over the next 20 years, he along with a group of devotees, worked tirelessly to restore the temple to its former glory. Today the government takes care of its maintenance, though Saini continues to be involved.

Goddess Chamunda is a form of Goddess Durga and also one of the seven Matrikas. The Matrika goddesses are warriors who were supposedly created by the Gods to slay demons. The Goddess’ name comes from Chanda and Munda, two demons who were the army generals of the demon kings, Shumb and Nishumb. The temple stands on the very spot where the two demon generals were killed by the goddess. Offerings include animal sacrifices. As she is a goddess of tribal origin, meat and liquor are also offered. This temple is one among the Shakti Peeth temples. It has great historical significance and is one of the few popular temples for tribal goddesses.

Legends of the temple

There is a myth behind the construction of the temple. Four centuries ago, the King of the area prayed to the goddess asking permission to shift the temple from the dense, hilly terrain to a more accessible place. The Goddess appeared in a Brahmin priest’s dream and gave permission. She told him to dig a certain area where her idol would be found. The King and the Brahmin did as she said, and found the idol. But the idol was too heavy to be lifted. The Brahmin prayed to the goddess again, and she again appeared to him and scolded him for treating the idol like a mere stone. She ordered him to wake up at sunrise, bathe, and wear fresh clothes. Then he was to go to the idol and pray with devotion. If he did so, he could lift the statue with ease. The Brahmin did as she said and lifted the idol with ease. After this, the temple that stands today was built.

One legend says that she was enshrined as the chief deity Rudra Chamunda in the war between the demon Jalandhara and Shiva. Another legend says that in the Savarni Manamantra battle between the gods and the demons, Chamunda emerged as Chandika from the eyebrow of Goddess Kaushiki. She was asked to slay the demons, Chanda and Munda. After she slew them, Chandika took their heads to Goddess Kaushiki. The pleased Kaushiki blessed her and gave her the title, Chamunda.

Special features

The temple is situated on the banks of the Ban Ganga river and offers picturesque views. Many saints and pilgrims perform penance and meditation here, as the temple’s idyllic and peaceful environment is ideal for it. There is a pond, too, in the temple, where pilgrims can take a dip. The water here is considered holy and can heal the body, mind, and soul. The idol is so holy that even the eyes of the devotees are not allowed to fall on it. Hence, it is completely covered by a red cloth. A sculpture of the goddess wearing garlands of skulls, scorpions, and serpents can be found here.

Temple architecture

The temple construction is the Tantric style that one can see in most of the Shakti Peeth temples. Images from Hindu mythology based on the Devi Mahatmya, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, and legends, can be found here. The goddess’ idol is flanked by statues of Bhairav and Hanuman, who are said to be her guards. A small scoop-like cave beneath the main temple which can be accessed by going down a marble staircase houses a Shiva Lingam, which is worshipped by visitors. In a corner of the temple, one can see small footsteps of the goddess on a stone. The architecture of the temple is simple but what makes it unique is the natural beauty of the location and the absolute peace and calm that one feels here.

How to reach

By Air

The nearest airport is Guggal. It is connected with Chandigarh and New Delhi.

By Rail

Moranda, near Palampur, is the nearest railhead on the narrow guage line. It is 30 km away. The nearest railway station is Pathankot (for broad guage trains). There is a narrow guage train in Kangra from the Nagrota Bagwan railway station.

By Road

Tourists can hire cabs from Palampur or Dharamshala. State transport buses also ply to the temple.

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