Crowd of devotees thronging to visit Maa during Navratras
Haridwar. There are many temples of Maa Durga in Dharmanagari Haridwar. The famous Maa Chandi Devi’s temple is also on Neel Parvat. Maa Chandi sits in the form of a pillar on Neel Parvat. This temple is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas present in the country. There is an influx of devotees throughout the year to visit the mother in the temple. A huge crowd gathers here during Navratras. There is a long line for many kilometers to see the mother.
Religious beliefs associated with the temple
Maa Chandi’s court located on Neel Parvat, adjacent to the Ganges, is from ancient times. It is believed that when Shumbha, Nishumbha and Mahisasura created holocaust on the earth, the gods tried to kill them. But when the gods did not succeed, they pleaded for destruction in the court of Lord Bholenath. That’s why Maa Chandi incarnated with the glory of Lord Bholenath. Taking the form of Chandi, he made the demons run away. Shumbha and Nishumbha escaped from Maa Chandi and hid on Neel Parvat. That’s why the mother killed both the demons by taking the form of a pillar.
It is believed that after this the mother asked the deities to ask for a boon. All the gods of heaven asked the mother to stay at this place for the welfare of mankind. Since then, the mother sits here and does welfare of the devotees. The Supreme President of the temple, Rohit Giri, says that Maa Chandi Devi Temple is one of the major five pilgrimages of Haridwar. It is believed that by worshiping the mother in Chandi Devi temple, the devotees get freedom from untimely death, diseases, fear of enemies etc.
Adi Shankaracharya had done the renovation
Maa Chandi Devi Temple was duly renovated by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century. After this, King Suchet Singh of Kashmir renovated the temple again in 1872. Mother Rudra Chandi is self-incarnated in the form of a pillar.
way to reach the temple
Maa Chandi Devi Temple is about five kilometers from Haridwar Railway Station and Bus Station on Najibabad-Haridwar Highway. Apart from autos, battery rickshaws, taxis, it can be reached by private vehicles. There is a difficult climb of about three feet from the road to the temple. While rope-ways are also operated till the court of Maa
