Naina Devi
Mata Naina Devi
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| Mata Kali Devi, Netras(eyes) is Maa Naina Devi,Lord Ganesh. (file picture) |
Mata Naina Devi Temple is situated on Naina Devi Hills which is about 100 kms from Chandigarh. Naina Devis is one of the Shakti Peetha .It is said that the eyes of Devi fell here.
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| Mata Naina Devi Temple |
As per the legends relating to Sakthi Peetha,Daksha ,Father of Sati (reincarnation of Goddess Sakthi) performed a yajna in order take revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha invited all the deities to the yajna and ignored Lord Shiva and Sati. In spite of this insult,she expressed her desire to attend the yajna.Shiva asked her not to go but Shiva half heartedly permitted her to attend.Sati went to the yajna. Sati did not get respect at the yajna. Added to that, Daksha insulted Shiva. Unable to bear her father's insults towards her husband Shiva, she jumped into the fire and immolated herself.
Anguised at the death and insult of his wife Sati, Shiva in his Virabhadra avatar destroyed Daksha's yajna, cut off Daksha's head and later replaced it with that of a male goat(and later he gave him life).Virabhadra anger did not subside. Gods prayed to lord Vishnu. He came there and started fighting him.In grief, Shiva picked up the remains of Sati's body, and performed the Rudra Tandava,(the celestial dance of destruction). All the three worlds could not bear the fury His dance. To bring Shiva back to control, Maha Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra that cut Sati's corpse into pieces.The various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the India and its subcontinent and formed sites which are known as Shakti Peethas today. Her eyes fell at the place where Naina Devi Hills are now and became to be known as Naiana Peetham.
The Temple :The temple is situated atop the Naina Devi hills above 1000 mtrs MSL.
This temple was built by Raja Bir Chand in the eight century, when he found the beautiful image of Goddess Durga on top of the hill.
The temple is built using marble and looks very grand. The doors have silver plates on which figures of deities have been carved out. The door of the sanctum is also covered with silver plating and has the figures of Lord Sun,Shakti and other Gods on it.Two marble statues of lions are seen at the main entrance of the temple.
The moolavar is Mata Naina Devi. Two black eyes made of some shining stone represents Mata Naiana Devi. To her left is Lord Ganesha and to her right is Maa Kali.
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| View from the top- Govind Sagar Lake |
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| Cable Car station |
Important Festivals The temple witnesses a huge crowd, especially during Shravan Ashtami and in the Navratri.
Temple location The temple is situated atop hills of Naina Devi 104 kms from Chandigargh and about 350 km from Delhi.
Temple Timings The temple is open from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM.During Navaratri it is open from 2:00 AM
How to reach?
The nearest Airport is Chandigarh.The temple at the top of the hill can be reached via ghat road and then by steps to reach the temple. There is a cable car facility that takes pilgrims from the base of the hill all the way to the temple at the top.
Where to Stay? There are not many hotels here. Anandpur Shahib which is 50 kms away and Chandigarh 100 kms away can offer variety of accommodation.
Shri Naina Devi Ji
Distt. Bilaspur
Himachal Pradesh
Phone numbers: +91-1978-288048, 288621
Useful data
State: HP
District: Bilaspur
Languages: Hindi,Punjabi
Best Season: March to June.
Weather: Summer 26-22°C, Winter 11-5°C.
Altitude: 3500 ft above MSL
