The legend of Chamunda Devi temple is one of the many in Hindu mythology. This temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi. Devi when translated in English means Goddess. The name ‘Chamunda’ is a mix of ‘Chanda’ and ‘Munda’ the two monsters Devi vanquished. This ancient temple is located on the Baner river, nearly 10 km west of Palampur.
The story goes back to 400 years. The then king and a priest sought permission from the Devi to move the temple to a place more easily accessible. They prayed to her. The priest in his dream saw the Devi giving him consent, and this was taken as a sign to move the temple.
The Devi in the priest’s dream also guided him to dig and find an idol from a specific spot. The devi wanted this idol to be established in the temple as her form to be worshipped.
The king’s men set out to locate the idol. They found it but could not lift it. The devi appeared in the priest’s dream again and enlightened him saying that the reason the men could not lift the idol was that they treated the idol as a mere stone. She asked him to wake up early in the morning, and to wear clean clothes after taking a bath. She asked him to visit the same spot with reverence for the idol. The priest did as instructed. He lifted the idol all by himself claiming that the power within him was Devi mata’s and it was because of her that the idol could be established in the temple.
Today Devi’s image in the temple is surrounded on either side by images of Hanuman and Bhairo.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links