8 Devi Temples In Uttarakhand

Mother pervades everything in this world of forms, She dances in every facet of consciousness, She is behind everything known and unknown, She is the ultimate reality before which human and divine prostrate their deepest obeisances. Let us too offer this guide of some of the most important Devi temples in Uttarakhand, the acclaimed devbhoomi, before Her benevolent grace.

1.Naina Devi Temple, Nainital

One must be aware of the legend of Shiva and Sati- the distraught Shiva dancing fierily carrying his beloved Goddess Sati’s corpse, Lord Vishnu having to cut her dead body using his Sudarshana chakra, the places wherein they fell reverberates with Shakti’s immanent pulse revered today as the Shakti peeths. It is believed that Maa’s beautiful eyes fell upon this sacred site adjacent to Nainital Lake. The popular tourist destination of Nainital is blessed with Mother Naina Devi as her guardian.

2.Dhari Devi Temple

Shakti’ fierce form as Dhari Devi is venerated as the guardian deity of the entire Uttarakhand state and of the very renowned Char Dham pilgrimage shrines. The lower half of the Shakti is worshipped in Kalimath, while the upper half worshipped at the sacred shrine is said to emulate the impermanence of human material reality by undergoing the transfiguration from a young girl to an old woman in the course of a day. The temple finds itself among the 108 venerated shakti sthals listed in Srimad Devi Bhagawat.

3.Kalimath Temple

A renowned ‘Shakti Peeth’ and ‘Siddha Peeth’, Kalimath houses the fierce form of Divine Love as Maa Kali. Another unique feature of the temple is that the trio of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kali are worshipped together in this sacred shrine. One cannot help but feel the intense spiritual magnetism this revered shrine situated along the banks of Alakananda River offers. Also, the village is supposed to have been the birthplace of Poet Kalidasa.

4.Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar

One of the Panth Teerth within the holy city of Haridwar, Mansa Devi Temple is believed to bring to fruition the wishes of every single devotee who prays sincerely in her sacred premises. In fact, there is a provision to tie a sacred thread around one of the trees inside the temple courtyard as a mark of faith that the sincere prayer would be answered by Mother. Perched on the top of Bilwa parvat within Haridwar, Mansa Devi temple worships the form of Shakti that emerged out of Lord Shiva’s mind.

5.Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar

Another Sidhha peeth located in Haridwar is on the Neel Parvat at its highly renowned Chandi Devi temple. This ancient temple is believed to have been associated with the fable of Goddess Chandi’s killing of Chanda and Munda. Maa is supposed to have rested at this very site following the fiery war. Previously both the temples of Mansa Devi and Chanda Devi were accessible only after lengthy uphill treks from Har Ki Pauri, but with the introduction of cable car ropeway service, devotees can easily go up the hills and enjoy their blissful darshan of Mother.

6.Gangotri Temple

The temple devoted to Maa Ganga at the site of her holy conception near Gaumukh glacier is one of the Char Dhams to which thousands flock during the annual pilgrim season. Hindu mythology cites the region to be where Maa Ganga descended from Shiva’s locks as Bhagirathi following King Bhagirath’s strenuous penances to bring Ganga upon earth to wash away the sins of his ancestors. The temple and its beautiful surroundings inspire seeds of spiritual serenity in everyone who visits her.

7.Yamunotri Temple

The Char Dham Yatra begins with Gangotri & Yamuntri Yatra, of which Yamunotri is the first to be visited. The perilous trek from Jankichatti to reach the actual temple is a sure test for one’s spiritual devotion and physical endurance. This eighteenth-century temple celebrates River Yamuna near the actual site of her physical origins at Champasar glacier.

8.Surkanda Devi Temple, Dhanaulti

It is believed that Goddess Sati’s head fell on this blessed land, as per the legend we elucidated in the beginning of the article. The temple’backdrop, shrouded in emerald green dense forests and a certain mysterious mist, is such a source of spiritual and aesthetic rejuvenation one has to experience its grace to know it. If you plan a trip to Dhanualti, you cannot afford to miss soaking in the spiritually serene atmosphere of Surkhanda Devi temple.