Monday, Mar 26, 2007
| Chamunda Devi Temple, Where Arrival of a Dead Body is a Daily Ritual
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As lakhs of Hindu devotees head towards Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra in Jammu during the ongoing Navratri or, the nine-day holy nights, the Chamunda Devi Temple in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh remains a big draw for all devotees.
Located at the Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, near Yole camp in Kangra District about 10 kilometers west of Palampur, on the River Baner, the Chamunda Devi Temple witnesses a big rush of devotees, especially during the Navratris.
Goddess Kali is believed to be present at the Temple.
"Kali had killed two notorious demons--"Chanda" and "Munda"— in a fierce battle at this place in ancient time. Hence, the place was named "Chamunda Devi", deriving its name from demons and the Goddess. It is believed that the influence of Goddess and demons still exists here, says Rajinder Pujari, the main priest at Chamunda Devi Temple.
Today, Chamunda Devi Temple is a big pilgrimage centre for lakhs of devotees who visit the place to seek blessings from Chamunda, the Goddess of Power.
"It is a feeling beyond human expression to define what comes to one's mind while visiting this divine place of mother Goddess Chamunda. I have been visiting this place for the last 25 years. It gives me immense bliss to be here," Satish Narang, an apple trader from Delhi.
The temple earns annual donations or offerings of over rupees two crore from devotees thronging the place, especially, during Navratris from across the country and world.
Many devotees offer a sacrificial Billy goat to please the Goddess at the Chamunda Devi Temple. But the temple authorities do not kill it. It is sold in the open market.
Legend has it every day two demons—Canda and Munda—used to eat living beings here. One day Lord Shiva in the disguise of a Sadhu (a Hindu holy man) decided to meditate at the same place. The presence of a Sadhu enraged both the demons that pelted large rock pieces on him. But it could not touch Shiva, as He stopped the pieces in mid-way with supernatural power. But he blessed the demons that every day they would get at least one dead body for their meal.
"Since that day the practice of a dead body's arrival to the adjoining cremation ground has never stopped. If on any particular day, the body fails to arrive, the following day two dead bodies arrive. I have been a witness of this celestial reality for nearly thirty years," says Baba Mauji Ram, the priest at the adjoining cremation ground.
People living in the vicinity, bring their dead relatives to Chamunda Devi Temple 's adjoining cremation ground.
During "Shravan Ashtami" (during July-August) a grand fair is organised here.
Besides the morning and evening prayers performed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is a divine experience, as the daily prayers are performed by locals in Sanskarit and Hindi language.
Chamunda Devi Temple, which was being looked after by Pundits for generations, is today being taken care of by a trust under the supervision of State Government. (ANI)
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