6 Exquisite Durga Temples Renowned Throughout India
Jagdamba, Maa Kali or Aadi Shakti are the popular names of Maa Durga who is the powerful Hindu goddess. Maa Durga is worshipped throughout the globe especially in different parts of India, Bangladesh and Nepal by Hindus. She is the sacred goddess of compassion, protection, love, care and at the same time of power, strength and positivity. She bestows her devotees with extreme strength and energy to combat evil and conquer the devil in life.
Worship of Goddess Durga is a pious culture famous amongst devotees throughout the country. Many heavy and traditional rituals are performed in the worship or celebration of festivals related to Maa Durga like Navratri or Dussehra or Durga pooja.
India is loaded with a flawless range of immaculate temples of Maa Durga situated in different corners of the country. These temples represent various phases of Maa Durga and the different forms which she took to conquer devils on earth.
Some of the most prominent temples of Maa Durga are:
1. Vaishno Devi temple: Situated amidst the Trikuta Mountains in Katra, the Vaishno Devi temple is the most prominent one dedicated to Maa Durga. The temple is located within the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 1584m above sea level. The temple is amongst the most visited by devotees at least once in a lifetime. It is believed that devotees who visit this temple with any desire or wish, return with a blessing. People can choose to do trekking and reach the temple or they can travel to the temple by air also by means of a helicopter. The deities are kept inside a cave in which devotees enter for a lifetime experience.
According to the text, Vaishno Devi was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu who then followed the path of celibacy. Bhairon Nath, the demon tantric chased Vaishno Devi who hid in the cave and came out after 9 months. Vaishno Devi then took the form of Maa Kali and killed Bhairo Nath. It is said that the pilgrimage tour is incomplete without the visit to the Bhairo Nath temple which is just a few kilometers away from the main temple. Today, those caves are famous as Garbh Joon which is a popular pilgrimage for millions of tourists.
2. Mansa Devi Temple: Mansa Devi temple is situated in a beautiful location of Badi Lambore village on Sadulpur-Malsisar-Jhunjhunu Road near Haridwar. According to the texts, the story about the existence of this temple revolves around the dream of Surajmalji, the head of the Hamirwasiya family. He was asked to build the temple by Goddess herself who appeared in his dreams. Mansa Devi is believed to fulfill all the wishes of her devotees who visit this temple with some hope.
3. Chamunda Devi Temple: Settled in the soothing location of Himachal Pradesh, near Palampur, Chamunda Devi Temple is the famous Durga temple. The temple is situated on the banks of River Baner, this temple displays the angry form of Maa Durga. It is said that people offered prayers for their ancestors and sacrificed themselves to the Goddess. The temple encompasses a deity of Goddess covered in red cloth with Lord Hanuman and Demon God Bhairo on either side. There is also a beautiful pond filled with sacred water inside.
4. Kamakhya Temple: Located in the stunning setting of Nilachal Hill, Kamakhya Temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas of Goddess Durga. According to the story, when Lord Shiva was carrying the corpse of Sati and roaming in the sky, then the Yoni (female genitalia) of Goddess fell at this place which is popularly known as the Kamakhya temple.
5. Amba Mata Temple: Nestled in the beauteous place of Junagadh, Gujarat, Amba Mata Temple attracts pilgrims from around the country. The temple flaunts the deity who is believed to be the incarnation of a mother goddess. This temple is very famous amongst newly married couples who visit it for the blessings of the mother goddess. It is believed that the mother goddess blesses her devotees with happy married life.
6. Dakshineswar Temple: Kolkata situated in the state of West Bengal is renowned for the worship of the mother goddess Durga. Durga pooja and other festivals are the major highlights of this place. Dakshineswar Temple is one of the popular temples located along the Vivekananda Bridge. According to the known facts, Ramkrishna has believed to achieve spiritual vision over here. The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in the year 1847.