Shri Naina Devi Ji
Shri Naina Devi Temple is located on an altitude of 1177 meters in Distt. Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Several mythological stories are associated with the establishment of the temple.
According to a legend, Goddess Sati burnt herself alive in Yagna, which distressed Lord Shiva. He picked the corpse of Sati on her shoulder and started his Taandav dance. This horrified all deities in the heaven as this could lead to holocaust.
This urged Lord Vishnu to unleash his Chakra that cut the Sati’s body into 51 pieces. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where eyes of Sati fell down.
The Story Of Lord Shiva And King Daksha
The scripture of Devi Bagwati Purana reflects the conflict between Lord Shiva and King Daksha, father of Maa Sati. Once king Daksha did not invite Lord Shiva in one of the ‘Yajnas’; and Devi Sati, wife of Shiva, went to attend it without any invitation in spite of Shiva’s utterance, “don’t go, you will feel bad;” consequent upon this she felt humiliated to the extent and got too infuriated to enter the holy fire of the ‘Yajna’ and ended her life through yogic practices there and then only.
On hearing about this unfortunate incident, Lord Shiva reached the place and desperately wandered across the earth in search of her. It warned all the Gods and for ending this misery Lord Vishnu through his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ destroyed the body of Devi Sati into pieces and the places where different parts of her body fell are the present day ‘Shakti Peeths.” Her eyes fell on the Trikut Mountain and subsequently the place was named ‘Shri Naina Devi Ji.’
Mahishalya Peeth Mahatammay
According to Devi Bhagwati Purana, in ancient times, the earth was inhabited by two extremely cruel powerful but childless demons, named Rambh and Krambh. Vaaman Purana maintains that in order to be blessed with a male child both demons severely prayed in the pious land of Panjab for years and years. Lord Indra, Chief Devata (God) tried to kill them but was able to slay Krambh only, however, Rambh survived. In despair Rambh offered himself to the holy fire but ‘Agni Dev,” (God of fire), appeared and asked him not to immolate himself. Rambh prayed to Agni Dev for a child as a blessing; Agni Dev told him that he will get a son from a female creature whomsoever he will be attracted to. After receiving the boon, Rambh got attracted towards a buffalo (Mahishi); Mahishasur was named after his mother (Son of Mahishi). Mahishasura also did severe penance for Lord Brahma, who blessed him with a boon that he will not be killed by any human, demon or deity, and will be killed only by some “Ajanama” (unborn) woman. The demon ignores the possibility of being killed by any unborn woman and starts creating havoc on the earth.
The deities go to Brahma Ji in sorrow, who along with the deities goes to meet Shiva on Mount Kailasha; Shiv along with Brahma Ji and other gods narrate the story to Lord Vishnu Ji. All of them together start worshipping ‘Adishakti’ on the banks of river Sutlej. As a result, a bright beam of light appears from which Adishakti Dugra Bhavani’ emerges. All the deities offer their weapons and power to Adishakti who kills Mahisasura and his demonic army. At that time, all the gods and sages seated in the sky hail the goddess with the salutation ‘Jai Maa Naina, Jai Maa Naina. Due to this Maa Mahishasur Mardini Durga is popularly known as ‘Naina Mahish Mardini.” The place where Mahishasura was killed is known as ‘Mahishaley Peeth. This ‘Peeth’ is very significant and the popular belief is that all the wishes are fulfilled at the lotus feet of the Goddess, Shri Naina Devi Ji.
Shruti of Naina Gujjar
It is a popular belief that in the middle of the eight century, Prince Virchand of Chanderi, India established his rule in this region. Naina, an ‘Ahir’ cow herder, used to graze king’s cows in the vicinity. Every day one cow used to stand on a stone rock and a stream of milk would start pouring down.
The king had a vision of ‘Pindi’ in his dream, he goes there, and afterwards he starts worshipping the ‘Pindi’ as ‘Naina Devi Ji. Later he established a grand temple at the place. In the third chapter of the historical poem, Shivansh Vinod pens this down:
“Aayo Ek Ahir Naam Naina Jisey, Mani Nitrapt Pey Baat Sunet Achraj Jisey
Iss Parvat Key Shring Shila Shubh Ek hain, Aan Dhein Ik Tih Dhingh Mastak Tek Hain
Devei Dhudh Bahoo Taapar Nit Prati Aay Hain, Prabhu Gati Lkhi N Jaaye Hua
Vismay Hain
Sunn Bhupati Sukhnaam Sang Taako Layo, Parbat Hutu Utang Vegh Tihi Chadh Gayo
Amba Pindi Lakhi Pag Seer Nai Key, Naina Devi Naam Dharyo Harkhayi key”
This reiterates that “Naina Devi Ji’ is the form of ‘Adi Shakti’ who manifested herself for the accomplishment of the deities. The ‘Shloka’ (Couplet) of the first chapter of
Durga Saptashati enunciates:
Devna karya Sidhayth Armavibhvarti Sa Yada
Utpaneti Tada Lokey Sa Nityapybhidhytey
The original idol of Shri Naina Devi Ji emerged itself which is revered in the ‘Pindi’ ‘Roop” (form) wherein two ‘Nayans’ (eyes) are carved; on the right hand side of the ‘Pindi,’ there is another idol, much larger in size; as per localites the Pandavas had established this second idol in the ‘Dwapar Yug’ (Era); on the left hand side is the idol of Ganesh Ji.
The Visit of Maa Jwalaji and Maa Chintpurni Ji
The ‘Darshan’ (Vision) of Bhagwati Maa Durga is in the form of bright mesmerizing light. It is believed that in ‘Sawan’ (Monsoon) Maa Jwalaji and Maa Chintpurni Ji visit Maa Shri Naina Devi Ji, the ‘Jyotayen’ (Cold Fire Flames) amidst the lightening are visualized by the ‘Pandits and many devotees, a splendid spiritually transporting sight. In the bank of the main temple, in front of the Mahakali temple, the first natural light is seen on the iron trident installed on the rear grill. After that, as soon as the devotees raise their hands with flowers in their hands, on their fingers, flowers and ‘Peepal’ leaves, and in the sanctum sanctorum, Goddess Durga is seen in the form of light. These natural lights are serene, soothing and simply divine.
Holy Kaulsar (Kaula Wala Toba)
Ahead of Charan Ganga, at a distance of four kilometers from Sri Anandpur Sahib, comes a place called Kaulsar Wala Toobha. This Kaulsar has lotus flowers. The temple trust has made arrangements of clean water for bathing. Here the devotees of divine mother have been offering lotus flowers at the lotus feet of the mother after taking holy dip in Kaulsar. During festive fair innumerable devotees of Maa come from Kaluan Wala Toba to visit the mother on foot; many of them come all the way prostrating continuously on the ground accompanied by drums and other musical instruments. The divine Mother instills her devotees with unwavering faith, power and energy. The devotees, therefore, remain blessed by having divine vision of the Goddess. The mountain named Taralaya, the Goddess Bhagwati has established four gates around her holy abode for twelve and a half years of worship. Jatadhar Mahadev near Sutlej in the south which is presently in Jatwara (Nurpur Bedi), to the north is Akash Ganga which is now Vachretu (Across Bhakra Dam), in the west is the Mahaganga Brahmavati which is in Varamoti (Una), and in the east Bhagwati Kali adorned in Tiun (Swarghat):
ParamParmatma Shri Gobind Singh
KhiloneyhetuChandikaPrachandki
IkSaalHomkino Naina key Ird Gird
BharmanokokinodaankirtiAkhandko
Paawak key kundteyPragat Maas TejTeg
Tej Dino DaanKirtiAkhandki
Bandhi So Kamar Mai Amar Kino Sikh Pant
KativeyAurangkiShahi key Ghmandki
The inscription written by Shri Guru Gobindji at the tip of the arrow is safe with the family of ‘Acharya’ (Professor) Anand Bihari Lal Pujari ji. Professor told that in this copper plate, Guru ji had first written ‘Namo Naina’ on the top corner.
BhajiyaAsadhaParohatUss Mai Jo AuanManva
Mandir Darshan
The ‘Darshan’ (Vision) of Bhagwati Maa Durga is in the form of bright mesmerizing light. It is believed that in ‘Sawan’ (Monsoon) Maa Jwalaji and Maa Chintpurni Ji visit Maa Shri Naina Devi Ji, the ‘Jyotayen’ (Cold Fire Flames) amidst the lightening are visualized by the ‘Pandits and many devotees, a splendid spiritually transporting sight. In the bank of the main temple, in front of the Mahakali temple, the first natural light is seen on the iron trident installed on the rear grill. After that, as soon as the devotees raise their hands with flowers in their hands, on their fingers, flowers and ‘Peepal leaves, and in the sanctum sanctorum, Goddess Durga is seen in the form of light. These natural lights are serene, soothing and simply divine.
Maa Naina Devi Ji’s ‘Langar’ runs day in and day out by the Divine grace of Maa Annapurna in the Langar Bhawan at the base of the temple complex. Herein there is no shortage of any kind so as to speak off. The food offered in the prayers of the Goddess has the divine taste.
Devoted devotees experience ecstasy after receiving ‘Bhog.’ In spite of the narrow entrance of the Goddess’s Holy Cave, the devotees easily cross that path and get ‘Darshan’ of the Goddess established in the cave.
Chatvari Chatra Dev Ni Sthapani tada Maya
Jatagharo Mahadevo Dakhasnsaya Dishi Sthitn
Shatdrutiram Samasadya Dwarey Tishti Dakshine
Uttarasya Dishi Shankar Vyom Ganga Tishti
Brahmavati Mahaganga Dware Tishti Pacshmiey
Poorvasya Dishi Shankar! Kaliketi Sada Sthita
