Saharanpur, March 17 (). Navratri, the nine-day long festival of goddess worship, is starting from March 19. During this time, devotees across the country worship various forms of Mother Goddess. There are many temples of Mata in the country and the world, which tell wonderful stories with the power of devotion. One such Divya Dham is located in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, which is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths.
Maa Shakumbhari Devi temple is situated in Saharanpur. Here the head of Mother Sati had fallen, and she resides as the goddess of food and provides welfare to the devotees. This temple is situated near Jasmaur village of Behat tehsil at the foothills of Shivalik Hills. The temple is full of natural beauty and spiritual energy. Devotees believe that Mother Shakumbhari herself protects them and fulfills the wishes of those who visit with full devotion.
According to Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, that place of faith, where Mother Goddess herself protects the devotees. Maa Shakumbhari Devi Temple located in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh is a supernatural abode of power, devotion and compassion of the mother.
According to beliefs, Mother gave life to the world by taking care of the creation in difficult times, hence every devotee coming here bows at the feet of Mother with full faith and deep devotion. Surrounded by natural beauty and spiritual energy, this place fills the mind with peace, faith and new strength.
According to the religious legend, when the demons Shumbha-Nishumbha, Mahishasura and Raktabeej attacked the gods, the gods went to the Shivalik Hills to hide. On the suggestion of Narada Muni, the gods sought help from the mother. During this time, Bhuradev along with his five companions came to the mother’s shelter and sought permission to join the war. Mother blessed and the war started. The special quality of the demon named Raktabeej was that if a drop of his blood fell on the ground, a new demon was born. The mother assumed a monstrous form and killed the demons with the Chakra.
Mother Kali cut Raktabeej’s head with a mallet and drank his blood, so that new demons could not be created. At the end of the war, Shumbh-Nishumbh shot arrows at Bhuradeva and he fell down. After the war ended, mother brought Bhuradev back to life and asked him to ask for a boon. Bhuradev asked for service at the feet of his mother. Mother gave a boon that whoever visits me will have to have darshan of Bhuradev first, only then the journey will be complete, hence Bhuradev is seen first in the temple.
The temple of Bhuradeva is about one kilometer away from the main temple. Near the temple there is a rainy river course, which remains dry and fills with water only during the rainy season. A huge fair is held here during Navratri. Devotees reach here in large numbers for darshan.
There is a religious belief that the name of Shakumbhari Devi is associated with the killing of Durgamasura. When Durgamasura captured the Vedas and spread famine, the Goddess shed water from her eyes. Streams emerged from that water and the vegetation became green. He was called Shatakshi because he looked with compassion from a hundred eyes. During the famine, he nurtured the earth by producing vegetables from his body, hence the name Shakumbhari. In the temple, Bheema and Bhramari are seated on the right side of the main idol and Shatakshi or Shitala Devi is seated on the left side.
It is believed that the houses that worship Goddess Shakumbhari are always stocked with food and vegetables. This Dham is also worshiped as Annapurna.
To reach here, one can go by bus or private vehicle from Saharanpur Railway Station or Behat Bus Stand. The nearest airport for air travel is Dehradun or Delhi.
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MT/DKP
