Shri Naina Devi Temple

Naina Devi, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh

Traditions differ: Lists differ on this peeth. The Tantra Chudamani calls it Karavir, which many lists identify with the Mahalakshmi temple at Kolhapur in Maharashtra; some read the name as Sharkarar and place it near Sukkur in Sindh (Pakistan). The Naina Devi temple at Nainital in Uttarakhand, by Naini lake, is also linked by tradition with the eyes of Devi Sati. Devotees honour all these places.

About

Shri Naina Devi temple stands on a hilltop of the Shivalik range in Bilaspur district, about 1,100 metres high, looking down on the Gobind Sagar lake of the Bhakra dam. By tradition it is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, where the eyes (naina) of Devi Sati fell. In the sanctum Maa Naina Devi is worshipped as a pindi, with Maa Kali and Ganesh ji on either side. An old peepal tree, centuries old, stands in the courtyard; Hanuman ji and Ganesh ji greet pilgrims near the main gate, and two stone lions stand at the inner door. The temple is a main stop on North India's 'nau devi' yatra.

The story

In the Shakti Peeth tradition, after the sorrowful events at King Daksha's yagya, Shiv ji carried the body of Devi Sati in his grief, and Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra divided it; the places where its parts fell became Shakti Peeths. Devotees believe her eyes fell on this hill. Here the Devi is honoured as Mahishamardini, with Krodhish as her Bhairav.

A local story tells how the shrine was found again. A Gujjar boy named Naina, grazing his cattle, saw a white cow pour her milk on a stone day after day. The Devi then told him in a dream that the stone was her pindi. Raja Bir Chand heard the boy, saw the cow with his own eyes, built a temple at the spot and named it after Naina. Another story links the name with the Devi's victory over Mahishasur: in the battle she took out his eyes, and the gods cheered 'Jai Naina'. For this reason the place is also called Mahishapeeth.

Visiting

October to March is pleasant; Navratri and the Shravan Ashtami mela bring very large crowds. A road climbs most of the way, then steps lead to the top; the cable car is easier for elders. The temple is about 100 km from Chandigarh. Gobind Sagar lake and the Bhakra dam are nearby, and many families go on from here to Chintpurni and Jwala Ji.

Festivals

Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri melas
Shravan Ashtami mela (Sawan Navratri)

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources