Shri Chamunda ji Mata Temple

Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham is a temple dedicated to Shri Chamunda Devi, a form of Goddess Durga, located at 19 km away from Palampur town in Dharamshala Tehsil of Kangra district of the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This is one of the most prominent temples in Himachal Pradesh and one of the most popular all over India. It is believed that whatever vow is prayed here manifests in reality. The much older Aadi Himani Chamunda which is also the original shrine, is situated at the hilltop, making it difficult for pilgrims to reach. Thus, this temple was constructed around 700 years ago for the ease of the believers.

This ancient temple is said to have been constructed in the 16th century and has considerable spiritual legend attached to it. According to one folklore, a 16th Century king and a priest prayed to the goddess Chamunda, asking for her consent to shift the idol to a more accessible location. The legend suggests that the goddess appeared in the priest’s dream and suggested him the exact location from where the idol would be found. The king was informed of the same and his men recovered the ancient idol and installed it at the place where the temple is built now.

The origin story of Devi Mahatmya that is going to be explained is based on “Devi Bhagwat Puran”. It considers the first and foremost authority for the origin of Chamunda Devi to be mentioned in “Durga Saptashati” in the public domain. It is a book authored by Veda Vyasa and Mahasiddha Markandeya Nath is the main protagonist of the book. He explains in the book that there was once a daitya, Sumbh, and Nisumbh. They had won the Teen Lokas. They had conquered everything and collected all the precious things in this universe. They ruled for a very long time and they were looking for new pursuits. They had to be annihilated anyhow.

As per “Devi Bhagwat Puran ”, all gods and goddesses donated their energies and all their energies fused to form Goddess Durga and Ma Parvati then fused her form to create the Durga Devi. Devi Kaushiki is also the other name of Goddess Durga. Devi Kaushiki when came to the notice of the daitya king ordered their generals to bring Kaushiki to him. The generals Chanda and Munda went to Kaushiki Devi and ordered her to accompany them. The Devi agreed but with a condition that she will only marry the person who wins her in battle.
The Chanda and Munda then attacked Devi and then she raised her eyebrows. After her eyebrows were raised, Devi Chamunda manifested. She then defeated Chanda and Munda daitya and then Devi Kaushiki gave her the name “Chamunda” or the slayer of Chanda and Munda.

As per “Devi Bhagwat Puran”, Mahaguru of Daitya, Mahasiddha Sukracharya had prepared Chanda and Munda in such a way that they defeat the gods. Chanda daitya was the epitome of Chanda vritti because gods cannot defeat extreme Chanda vritti and cannot outsmart overt Munda vritti. Sukracharya had prepared them to such extent that they do not be defeated through the hands of god at any cost and he was successful too.

When Chanda and Munda attacked Ma Parvati’s form, Kaushiki Devi. She again contracts her eyebrows and from them emerged a Shakti, Chamunda Devi. The same Chamunda who had starved herself emerges out and in the plight of that hunger, she starts to devour the daityas. She begins to consume those Daityas along with her accompanies. The Chamunda Vidhya which Devi had perfected emerged out of her body, devour Chanda and Munda and then becomes one with the body of Kaushiki Bhagawati.

•  It is a holy place for a pilgrim that sits on the bank of river Baner. This temple is just 15 km away from Dharamshala and 17 km from Palampur.
• The Chamunda Devi temple is 400 years old and has a Kund (a lake) where devotees take a dip to purify their souls.

Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham is a temple dedicated to Shri Chamunda Devi, a form of Goddess Durga, located at 19 km away from Palampur town in Dharamshala Tehsil of Kangra district of the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This is one of the most prominent temples in Himachal Pradesh and one of the most popular all over India. It is believed that whatever vow is prayed here manifests in reality. The much older Aadi Himani Chamunda which is also the original shrine, is situated at the hilltop, making it difficult for pilgrims to reach. Thus, this temple was constructed around 700 years ago for the ease of the believers.

This ancient temple is said to have been constructed in the 16th century and has considerable spiritual legend attached to it. According to one folklore, a 16th Century king and a priest prayed to the goddess Chamunda, asking for her consent to shift the idol to a more accessible location. The legend suggests that the goddess appeared in the priest’s dream and suggested him the exact location from where the idol would be found. The king was informed of the same and his men recovered the ancient idol and installed it at the place where the temple is built now.

The origin story of Devi Mahatmya that is going to be explained is based on “Devi Bhagwat Puran”. It considers the first and foremost authority for the origin of Chamunda Devi to be mentioned in “Durga Saptashati” in the public domain. It is a book authored by Veda Vyasa and Mahasiddha Markandeya Nath is the main protagonist of the book. He explains in the book that there was once a daitya, Sumbh, and Nisumbh. They had won the Teen Lokas. They had conquered everything and collected all the precious things in this universe. They ruled for a very long time and they were looking for new pursuits. They had to be annihilated anyhow.

As per “Devi Bhagwat Puran ”, all gods and goddesses donated their energies and all their energies fused to form Goddess Durga and Ma Parvati then fused her form to create the Durga Devi. Devi Kaushiki is also the other name of Goddess Durga. Devi Kaushiki when came to the notice of the daitya king ordered their generals to bring Kaushiki to him. The generals Chanda and Munda went to Kaushiki Devi and ordered her to accompany them. The Devi agreed but with a condition that she will only marry the person who wins her in battle.
The Chanda and Munda then attacked Devi and then she raised her eyebrows. After her eyebrows were raised, Devi Chamunda manifested. She then defeated Chanda and Munda daitya and then Devi Kaushiki gave her the name “Chamunda” or the slayer of Chanda and Munda.

As per “Devi Bhagwat Puran”, Mahaguru of Daitya, Mahasiddha Sukracharya had prepared Chanda and Munda in such a way that they defeat the gods. Chanda daitya was the epitome of Chanda vritti because gods cannot defeat extreme Chanda vritti and cannot outsmart overt Munda vritti. Sukracharya had prepared them to such extent that they do not be defeated through the hands of god at any cost and he was successful too.

When Chanda and Munda attacked Ma Parvati’s form, Kaushiki Devi. She again contracts her eyebrows and from them emerged a Shakti, Chamunda Devi. The same Chamunda who had starved herself emerges out and in the plight of that hunger, she starts to devour the daityas. She begins to consume those Daityas along with her accompanies. The Chamunda Vidhya which Devi had perfected emerged out of her body, devour Chanda and Munda and then becomes one with the body of Kaushiki Bhagawati.

•  It is a holy place for a pilgrim that sits on the bank of river Baner. This temple is just 15 km away from Dharamshala and 17 km from Palampur.
• The Chamunda Devi temple is 400 years old and has a Kund (a lake) where devotees take a dip to purify their souls.

1. New Year Puja: – In every Chaitra month Shukla Paksha Pratipada, flag hoisting, worship is celebrated on the occasion of establishment and beginning of summer season.

2. Navratri festival:- Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratra.

3. Gupt Navratri Festival:- Shravan Gupta Navratri.

4. Samuhik Yagyopveet Sanskar every year in March or April.

5. Shivratri festival.

Presently the following facilities are being provided to the devotees by the temple trust under the guidance of Honorable Commissioner Temple and District Collector Kangra:-

1. Free langar arrangement
2. Grant for marriage of poor girls
3. Medicine distribution to devotees
4. Operation of Sanskrit College
5. Contribution to relief fund
6. Deployment of security personnel for the safety of passengers
7. Proper arrangement of cleanliness in the temple premises
8. Water and toilet system
9. Proper Parking for vehicle.