In the hills of Himachal Pradesh is a 400 year old temple about 15 km from Dharamshala, and 10 km from Palampur, in the Kangra District, dedicated to Goddess Chamunda Devi, Durga/ Shakti. One of the Shakti Peeths in the Dauladhars, and part of the Char Devi Yatra.
Believed to be the adobe of 'Shiva and Shakti'.
In the same temple, in a small cave underground lies a Shiva Lingam – a symbol of Lord Shiva himself as Nandikeshwar!
The temple is known for its natural beauty set against the backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountains on the banks of the Banganga (Baner) River.
North East to the existing temple, a 6 -7 hour 16km uphill trek in the Dhauladhar ranges is the ancient temple of Adi Himani Chamunda.
In 2014 this temple was struck by lightning and burned down, but miraculously Ma Chamunda's idol and Chunari were untouched! Now a new temple is constructed nearby!
As this temple is difficult to reach for all, especially in winter, when it is completely snowbound, a new temple was built near the Baner River!
Legend goes that the Chamunda Devi Temple came into being during the 1500's when goddess Chamunda appeared in the local priest's dream and urged the idol to be shifted to a specific spot which hosts the present-day temple.
The temple is most visited during the Navratri festivities and other festivals celebrated by the Hindus.
The natural beauty of the area also makes it a popular picnic place!
Apart from being a religious and spiritual destination.
The temple also has a lake with sweet water that allows the pilgrims to take a dip and refresh themselves. The water in the lake is considered holy and healing for the body, mind, and soul.
Maa Kaushiki, came to be known as Chamunda Devi after slaying the demons Chand and Mund! Legend has it that Chamunda emerged from an eyebrow of Goddess Durga with an aim to kill demons Chanda and Munda. After a fierce battle, Devi killed both these generals of demon kings Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Chamundeshwari Devi is one of the seven Matrikas. Matrikas are divine mothers.
The Matrikas assume paramount significance in the goddess-oriented sect of Hinduism and Tantricism.
Matrikas are included among the Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, in a tradition which treats the Yoginis as important deities.
The yoginis also occupy an important place in Tantra, with 64-Yogini temples across India.
The Matrika goddesses are heralded as the warriors who protect good from the forces of evil and are said to have been created by the Gods to fight demons like Nirrita and Andhaka.
In Shaktism, they are described as assisting the great Shakta Devi (goddess) in her fight with demons.
Matrikas were existent as early as the Vedic period and the Indus Valley civilization.
The architecture of the temple is not very special, and there is little to differentiate it from the other temples in the area, but what makes this temple unique is that the scenic beauty of the location and the awe-inspiring peace and calm that a devotee feels when they enter the premises.
Drive to Chamunda Devi from Mcleodganj, Dharamsala or Palampur
