Kundan Bisht, Kashipur: Maa Bal Sundari Temple is situated on Kundeshwari Road in Kashipur, Udham Singh Nagar. It is one of the 52 Shaktipeeths. Mother got this name because of the activities performed by her as a child. Earlier it was also known as Ujjaini and its Shaktipeeth. Chaiti fair is organized here every year during Navratri of Chaitra month. In religious and mythological times it was also known by the name Govishan. Kashipur, which has the history of Mahabharata period, had to bow down to the iconoclast ruler like Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Here, the temple of Maa Bhagwati Bal Sundari, famous as Ujjaini Shaktipeeth, is also considered as Shaktipeeth. There are legends that when Aurangzeb’s sister’s health deteriorated, Maa Bal Sundari appeared to his sister in his dreams. Then he renovated the temple.
Mother Sati’s left arm had fallen in the temple
Chief Panda Vikas Kumar Agnihotri told that after Lord Vishnu cut off the body parts of Mata Sati with Sudarshan Chakra in the Chaiti complex, the left arm of Mata Sati had fallen here. Then there is no idol of Mata here, but the shape of her left arm is carved on a rock. Whom the devotees worship.
Crowd of devotees gather on Ashtami
Chief Panda Vikas explains that fairs are organized during Navratri in most of the temples belonging to the Shakya sect. Similarly, Maa Bal Sundari Temple also attracts a huge crowd of devotees on the days of Ashtami, Navami and Dashami during Navratri. Mata reaches Pakkakot temple at midnight of Saptami.
The hollow Kadamba tree is located in the temple premises.
According to popular belief, the ancestors of the people who are the present pandas of this temple had come here during the time of Mughals, since then they have been worshiping in the Maa Bal Sundari temple. A Kadamba Vat, Peepal trees etc. are situated in this temple complex. Even the stem and thin branch of Kadamba are all hollow. Regarding the Panda tree, the belief says that once a Mahatma came and asked the Panda of the temple to show his power, then when the Panda hit mustard on the Kadamba tree, the tree immediately dried up. They then asked him to turn it green and the panda sprinkled water, after which the tree turned green, but the tree remained hollow.
Mother Baal Sundari came in Jahanara’s dreams
Aurangzeb’s sister Jahanara’s health started deteriorating. Aurangzeb called big physicians and hakims, but the medicines had no effect on his sister. After a few days, Mother Bal Sundari appeared in the form of a child in the dream of Aurangzeb’s sister. The mother came in her dream and said that if her brother Aurangzeb gets the temple renovated, she will become completely healthy. The next day Jahanara told this to Aurangzeb. After which Aurangzeb immediately sent his workers to the temple and got the temple renovated. The mosque-like shape and three domes built on top of the temple prove this.
Kuldevi of Buxa tribe
Chief Panda of Chaiti Temple explains that it is called Bal Sundari because Adi Shakti is worshiped in child form. Mother Bal Sundari is the family deity of Buxa community. Even today, people of Buxa community come once a year to worship the Mother Goddess and organize Jagran and Bhandara. Told that people of Buxa community are living in Gadarpur, Bajpur and Ramnagar. From Magh to Falgun, Chiragi (puja) is performed in every house of these villages. People of Buksha community receive blessings of the mother by offering worship on Ashtami, Navami and Dashami during Chaitra Navratri.
Dacoits from Sultana to Phulan Devi used to come to Nakhasa market to buy horses.
The Nakhasa market which is being organized in the Chaiti fair also has its own history. According to Chief Panda Vikas Agnihotri, the Panda family has been serving the mother for more than nine generations. During the tea fair held during this period, Nakhasa market was also organised. Where many types of horse breeds were brought for sale from Rajasthan, Gujarat and other places of UP. Panda Agnihotri told that famous dacoits Sultana and Phoolan Devi also used to come to Nakhasa market to buy horses.
Bareilly and Jharkhand sticks are famous in the fair
Till a decade ago, the market of sticks was very famous in Chaiti Mela. People used to wait for this the whole year. Especially the sticks of Bareilly and Jharkhand were famous. Stick traders used to bring sticks in bulk from there.
Sacrifice practice banned after High Court
In the Chaiti Mela, people who made wishes to Maa Bal Sundari used to sacrifice goats after their wishes were fulfilled, but in the year 2009, after the Uttarakhand High Court banned the practice of sacrifice, the practice of sacrifice was completely banned in the temple. Although even today people bring goats when their vows are fulfilled, but leave them behind.
The temple is being renovated with time.
As time passed, the temple also continued to be renovated. Today the form of the temple has changed to many extent. According to Chief Panda Vikas, this time with the cooperation of the devotees, two new Yatri Niwas have been built in the temple premises for the convenience of the pilgrims, where the devotees will be able to stay free of cost. Fans and other basic facilities will be provided in these passenger residences. Besides, a big hall is also being prepared for the Mundan ceremony, so that small children and their families can get an organized space away from the crowd. Along with this, a new pew is being built for the devotees near the south gate of the temple. For this, a bore of about 300 feet deep has been made.
Less land left after partition
After the distribution of land among the Panda family, there is now less land left than before for the fair to be held at the Chaiti temple. Especially the place where Nakhasa market was held. There has been almost a lot of construction there.
The administration has been organizing the fair since 2018.
Before the year 2018, the fair was organized by the pandas of the temple, but after the year 2018, the administration is organizing the fair. However, the matter of who will organize the fair is still pending in the High Court. But after the administration organizes the fair, shopkeepers have to pay heavy prices to get their shops in the fair.
12th Sub Jyotirlinga
Shivalinga of the Moteshwar Mahadev Temple of the Mahabharata period in the Chaiti Maidan complex itself is the 12th sub-Jyotirlinga. Due to the thickness of Shivlinga, it is famous by the name of Moteshwar Mahadev Temple. In Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva said that the devotee who brings Ganga water from Haridwar with Kanwar on his shoulder and offers it here will attain salvation.