Mata Chintpurni Devi Temple

Overview

Himachal Pradesh is called "Dev Bhoomi" which means abode of the Gods. There are more than 2000 temples and religious places scattered all over the state. Many of these are quite well-known and attract thousands of devotees throughout the year. Chintpurni is situated at the altitude of 940 metres and is part, Una district, Himachal Pradesh. The temple is situated on one of the highest peaks of the Sola Singhi range of hills. It is about 3 km west of Bharwain which is located on the Hoshiarpur - Dharmashala road. This road is part of the State Highway network and is normally kept in good shape throughout the year. Private vehicles are usually not allowed beyond the Chintpurni bus stand which is about 1.5 km from the Temple.

One would have to walk this distance. The temple dedicated to Mata Chintpurni Devi (also known as Shri Chhinnamastika Devi) is located in a village of the same name in District Una, Himachal Pradesh. This Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths in India. The Chintpurni Temple besides having the idols of Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi and Mata Shri Chintpurni Devi also has the idol of Chhina Mastaka, the killer of the demon Nishumbha. This temple is revered by the Hindus in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and it is believed that the Goddess Chintpurni is the remover of all troubles. Devotees have been visiting this Shaktipeeth for centuries to pray at the lotus feet of Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi and Mata Shri Chintpurni Devi. They bring with them their worldly concerns and seek blessings from the Devi.

About the temple

The Shrine of the Mata Chintpurni Temple

The structure of the temple of Mata Chintpurni Devi itself has been built by using stones. This single storeyed building has a flat base in the shape of a square and a dome in the centre of the roof. With a north facing entrance, an old banyan tree on an elevated platform stands as a guard at the entry to the temple along with statues of Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman which are placed on the opposite side of the banyan tree. The entry to the temple is also decorated with several brass bells which are hung high in the corridor just inside the doorway.

Upon entering the temple, pilgrims have to enter into the next room where there is the garbha griha. Devotees will come across the idol/image of Mata Chintpurni Devi which is also known as the ‘pindi’ (or the round stone). The statue is placed upon a palanquin of white marble and the priests who pray and worship the deity sit beside it. The roof of the Mata Chintpurni Temple is decorated with carved out stone images of Lord Bhairon and Lord Hanuman. Some additional rooms and balconies have also been constructed in the southern and western portions of the temple whereby they serve as the living quarters of the temple trust officials, the priests and the devotees at the time of fairs and festivals.

A huge banyan tree is also located inside the premises of the temple whereby the first hair cutting ceremony for the children which is also known as the ‘mundan’ ceremony is performed regularly. The devotees visiting the temple bring various offerings with them in order to worship the deity which include various types of sweets, coconut, betel nuts, a red cloth called a chunni and a small red flag. The long stairway and the pathway leading to the temple has been built upon the orders of a man called Diwan Dina Nath, who was a nobleman in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court. A deep water tank surrounded by platforms is located at the north of the Mata Chintpurni Temple at a distance of around 440 yards down the hill. A dip in the water tank is considered to be holy and is observed by several devotees visiting the temple.

Mandir and Devi Darshan

To the right of the temple main gate, there is a stone. This is the stone which Pandit Mai Das had dug out to reveal the water spring as commanded by the Devi. In the center of the Bhavan is the temple garbha griha.  The image of Mata Chintpurni Devi is installed here in the form of a pindi (a round stone). Please queue up for a darshan of the Devi and make one's offerings. Now one should make a pradakshina i.e. go around the temple in a clockwise manner. The enclosure on the eastern side is often used by bhajan mandal is singing kirtan and bhajans. Please spend a few minutes in the bhavan, listen to the bhajans or just sit down in contemplation.

Adjoining the south wall of the temple,  one can see the Vata Vriksha (banyan tree) under which Pandit Mai Das had the divine darshan of the Devi. Devotees often tie a mauli (kuccha red string) to the tree and make a wish. Moving on, towards the western side one find another branch of the same Banyan tree. Under the tree, one sees images of Bhairav and Ganesh. Bhairav can be identified as the deity with a dog as his companion. Images of Bhairav and Langur Vir (Hanuman) are also installed on the roof of the temple, next to the shikhar (dome) which was gold-plated a few years ago by a devotee. Please exit the temple bhavan from the silver-plated western gate. On a clear day, one gets an excellent panoramic view of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges. Further down the steps on the northern side is located the holy water tank. Pandit Mai Das's samadhi is situated on the eastern side of the water tank.

As per old Granths, Puranas and other Dharmic Books, it is also mentioned that Maa Chhinnmastika's Dham or place or temple will be guarded by Lord Rudra Mahadev all sides. Hence this place has a perfect reasoning to be that Dham/ Temple.

It has Mahadev's temples on all 4 sides as

• East- Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple
• West- Narahna Mahadev Temple
• North- Muchhkund Mahadev Temple and
• South- Shiv Bari Temple

About the Deity

Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi and Mata Shri Chintpurni Devi are considered to be forms of the Mother Goddess. Chintpurni Devi is regarded as the Goddess who takes away all the worries of her devotees. The term 'Chhinnamastika' suggests 'without the head'. Here, the Goddess is depicted without her head in a pindi (phallic) form. Devotees come to this temple with a perpetual faith that the Goddess would bless them and fulfill all their wishes. It is said that nobody goes empty handed from the shrine of Goddess Chintpurni / Chhinnamastika.

Legend and stories

Devi, the Goddess in Devi Mahatmya

Devi Mahatmya (or Durga Saptashati) is a capable and moving content which has a one of a kind hugeness for generally Hindus. Throughout the hundreds of years it has been presented routinely in Devi sanctuaries. Immense quantities of Hindus are acquainted with its songs which sing the gestures of recognition of Devi and her deeds wherein she vanquishes evil presences over and over. Devi Mahatmya is a piece of Markandeya Purana which was most likely formed in the 6th century.

Brief retelling of the cause of Devi from the Devi Mahatmya

Numerous years back, when Mahisha was the ruler of the Asuras and Indra, of the Gods, there was a war between the Gods and Asuras for one hundred years. At last the Asuras vanquished the Gods and Mahishasura (Buffalo-Demon) got to be Indra. The Gods were ousted from the Heavens and meandered over the earth simply like mortals.

The crushed Gods drove by Brahma went to Shiva and Vishnu. They identified with them two the exercises of Mahishasura and the affront stored upon the Gods. Becoming aware of the expressions of the Gods, Vishnu and Shiva got extremely furious, with wrinkled foreheads and bent appearances. From their countenances developed Tejas (an extraordinary blazing quality). Tejas rose too from the groups of different Gods like Indra. Every last bit of it got to be one brought together and splendid mass. It resembled a bursting mountain with flares shooting in all bearings. This Tejas then took the type of a radiant lady. The Gods were exceptionally glad and offered exclusively to her their particular weapons.

In this way regarded by the Gods with trimmings and weapons, Devi, The Goddess, thundered with chuckling over and over. This terrific thunder topped off the sky and reverberated around the whole world. The seas roared, the earth trembled and the mountains shook. Mahishasura heard this and surged towards that sound with his armed force of Asuras. At that point started the fight in the middle of Devi and Mahishasura and his gigantic armed force. Numerous different goddesses rose up out of the Devi's body to battle the Asura armed force while Devi's lion ate up the dead bodies. After an extraordinary and angry fight, Devi slaughtered Mahishasura and developed triumphant. The Gods alongside the Rishis praised Devi, lauding her as the incomparable defender and help provider. The Gandharvas sang and Apsaras moved out of appreciation for the Devi.

In this depiction of the Devi's starting point, Devi is appeared here at first as being subordinate to the Gods since she is gotten from, and obliged to each of them. In any case, in the long run it is she who restores harmony on the earth - something the Gods were not able do all alone. Toward the end of the fight, Devi does not backtrack into the collections of the Gods however she "proceeds" as a free substance. At whatever point she is called upon by enthusiasts confronting catastrophes, she will show up and rebuff the offenders.

The Devi Mahatmya depicts the Goddess as the Ultimate, most noteworthy reality and the incomparable maker who wills creation and sends forward the universe. She is said to be the material establishment of the universe, mulaprakriti, the fundamental material from which the universe is shaped. She is additionally epitomized as Devi, the Goddess, in which limit she is an awesome slayer of Asuras and perfect protectress.

Devi Mahatmya declares that there is one and only extreme reality and this is ladylike. She is autonomous and has matchless quality over all types of life: creature, human and awesome. The autonomous and incomparable Devi does not have a male partner.

Sheraan Wali Mata

Durga or Sheraan Wali (the Lion Rider) or basically Mata is maybe the most prevalent divinity in northwest India today. In ordinarily accessible bazaar prints, she is by and large appeared as having eight arms and as being situated on a lion. In her grasp she holds a plate (chakra), club (gada) and a conch (shankh) (given to her by Vishnu) and a trident (trishul), sword (khadga) and bow and bolt (given to her by Shiva). In one of alternate hands she holds a lotus, while the remaining hand shows the abhaya (dread not) mudra. She is for the most part wearing a dark red sari, wears gems and is wonderful and reasonable cleaned. Her free, streaming hair demonstrates an autonomous soul. She is typically indicated joined by her two bodyguards - Langur Vir (or monkey god Hanuman) and Bhairon (Bhairav, a wild type of Shiva). Hanuman symbols are generally in orange red shading while Bhairon's shading is dark.

Shakti, the Divine Power as the Goddess in Vaishnava and Shaiva connections

Shakti is the vitality which is the source and sustenance of all creation. Brahman (the Absolute) of the Vedanta and Shakti of the Tantras are indistinguishable. Whenever that "vitality" is in a static condition, when the universe to be made is not even in a seed-structure in a manner of speaking, it is called Brahman. When it begins advancing into this creation, maintains it and pulls back it back to itself, it is called Shakti. In the event that Brahman is the wound serpent in rest, Shakti is the same serpent in movement. On the off chance that Brahman is compared to the world, Shakti is its significance. In the event that Brahman is similar to flame, Shakti is its blazing force. The two are entwined.

In the Hindu fanciful writing, as likewise in the Tantras, this vitality is constantly imagined as a female divinity, as the consort of its partner male deity. Each individual from the Hindu Trinity has his Shakti as his consort: Sarasvati of Brahma, Lakshmi of Vishnu and Parvati of Shiva. However the mother-clique that has developed in the course of the most recent couple of hundreds of years, is overwhelmingly revolved around Parvati, the consort of Shiva.

The Ancient Legend of Sati

Dakshayani, one of the types of the mother-goddess, was a little girl of Daksha Prajapati, a relative of Brahma. She was hitched to Shiva however Daksha did not recognize Shiva's celestial forces. When King Daksha was commending an incredible penance (yajna) to which neither Dakshayani nor Shiva were welcomed. Dakshayani, be that as it may, went to the her dad's yajna uninvited however was incredibly offended by Daksha. As a consequence of her evil treatment, she devoted herself completely to the conciliatory fire and died. Thus she came to be known as Sati, the pure one.

Right when the news of Sati's passing reached her life partner, Shiva got the chance to be hopeless and hustled to Daksha's yajna. After the pulverization of Daksha's repentance, he wandered over the earth in the move of destruction (tandava nritya) with Sati's dead body on his shoulder. The perfect creatures now got the chance to be fretful to free Shiva from his captivation and delivered a plan to prevent him from securing his wife's dead body. Promptly Vishnu, while taking after Shiva, cut Sati's dead body on Shiva's shoulder piece by piece with his circle (chakra).

The spots where bits of Sati's body fell then got to be Shakti Peethas, i.e, sacred seats or resorts of the mother-goddess. In these peethas, mother-goddess is spoken to be continually living in some structure together with a Bhairava, i.e. a type of her consort Shiva. Bhairava is constantly present as a minor god in the Shakti-Peethas and has a pooch as his partner.

It is trusted that parts of Sati's feet fell in Chintpurni.

Chhinnamastika (Chhinnamasta, Chinnamasta, Chinnamastika) - Goddess without a head

The goddess occupant in Chintpurni is likewise known by this name. As indicated by Markandeya Purana, goddess Chandi crushed the devils after a wild fight yet two of her yogini radiations (Jaya and Vijaya) were still hungry for more blood. Goddess Chandi remove her own head to extinguish Jaya and Vijaya's hunger for more blood.

She is normally demonstrated grasping her own disjoined head, drinking one stream of blood spurting from the corridors in her neck, while next to her are two exposed yoginis, each of whom beverages another stream of blood.

Chhinnamasta, the headless goddess, is the Great Cosmic Power who helps the earnest and gave yogi to break up his or her psyche, including all the assumptions, connections and propensities into the Pure Divine Consciousness. Removing the head recommends the partition of the brain from the body, that is the flexibility of the cognizance from the material bounds the physical body.

As indicated by Puranic customs, Chhinnamastika Devi will be secured by Shiva - Rudra Mahadev in the four bearings. There are four Shiva sanctuaries - Kaleshwar Mahadev in the east, Narayhana Mahadev in the west, Muchkund Mahadev in the north and Shiva Bari in the south - which are about equidistant from Chintpurni. This likewise affirms Chintpurni as the dwelling place Chhinnamastika Devi.

A History of the Shri Chintpurni Devi Temple and Bhakta Mai Das

Pandit Mai Das, a Kalia Saraswat Brahman, is by and large accepted to have built up this hallowed place to Mata Chintpurni Devi in Chhaproh town twenty-six eras prior. Over the long run this town got to be known as Chintpurni after the eponymous divinity. His relatives still live in Chintpurni and perform archana and puja at the Chintpurni sanctuary.

As indicated by the Kalia family legend, Bhakta Mai Das' dad lived in Athoor town in the regal condition of Patiala. He was an impassioned enthusiast of Goddess Durga. He had three children called Devi Das, Durga Das and Mai Das. The most youthful one was Mai Das. For different reasons, the family moved to town Rapoh Muchalian, close Amb (now in District Una, Himachal Pradesh). Much the same as his dad, Mai Das was a serious enthusiast of goddess Durga and invested quite a bit of his energy in Durga puja, bhajan and kirtan. His siblings were not very content with him as Mai Das did not invest much energy in undertakings of this world. However his dad ensured that his common needs were met.

Mai Das had got hitched when his dad was still alive. After the father kicked the bucket, the siblings declined to give any money related backing to him. They instructed him to care for himself and his prompt family. Mai Das needed to face numerous troubles after he isolated from his siblings. However his confidence and commitment to Mother Durga stayed undaunted as he truly trusted that Durgaji uproots all challenges for her devotees.

Once Bhakta Mai Das was venturing out to the town of his in-laws. After a long and tiring walk, he sat down to rest under a Vat tree (banyan tree, Ficus Bengalensis) in a thickly forested zone. He rested off and began imagining. An iridescent and lovely young lady showed up in his fantasy and said to him, " Mai Das, stay in this spot and serve me. That will be best for you." Mai Das woke up with a begin and glanced around. He couldn't see whatever other individual adjacent and felt entirely befuddled.

Bhakta Mai Das proceeded to his in-laws' home. He was all the while contemplating his fantasy. Was that truly the Devi? Provided that this is true, how might he complete the Devi's summon? He touched base at the in-laws' home yet did not stay there for long as his psyche was very unsettled. On his way back, he sat down under the same Vat tree and started to focus his musings on Durga Mata. He asked, "O Mother, I have however a little personality and can't grasp your forces. On the off chance that you think of me as a genuine devotee, please show yourself and relieve my questions". After listening to Mai Das' supplication to God, Durga Mata showed herself in her brilliant Chaturbhuj structure sitting on the back of a lion. Mai Das tumbled to the Devi's feet and asked, "O Bhagavati, do summon me. How might I serve you that my life be best spent at your lotus feet?"

Durga Mata said, "I have inhabited this very put for some, numerous years yet in the Kali Yug individuals had disregarded this spot. I will now show up under this tree as a pindi (a round stone). Guarantee that puja is performed here consistently and frequently."

Mai Das was still to some degree hesitant to live there as pumas and other wild creatures possessed large amount of the thick wood. Additionally as that spot was on a slope top, there was no known wellspring of water adjacent. Durga Mata indicated a spot on the northern slant of the slope and instructed him to uncover a stone under which he would discover a spring of new water.

She gave him a mantra - Namaskar mantra

"om eM kleeM hreeM shri bhayanaashini hooN phaT swaha"

with the goal that he would have no apprehension. She additionally gave him the Mool Mantra -

"om eM hreeM kleeM chamunDaay vichchayah"

She said, "In the past I have been known as Chhinnamastika. Starting now and into the foreseeable future individuals will likewise call me Chintapurni as I have uprooted every one of your questions and stresses. My enthusiasts will mastermind to have a sanctuary worked here. Whatever offerings are made ought to be adequate for you and your relatives. "The Goddess gave him a couple of different guidelines and vanished.

Mai Das went to the spot to which Devi had pointed and searched for water. His satisfaction knew no limits when he evacuated the stone and a flood of completely clear and sweet water spouted forward.

A water tank was worked there accordingly. Water from this tank is saved for the utilization of the Temple. Bhakta Mai Das manufactured a little cabin for himself close to the water tank and started customary worship of the Devi's pindi at the slope top. Following a couple of year’s devotees fabricated a little sanctuary which has progressively been expanded.Pandit Mai Das' samadhi is found a short separation away on the eastern side of the water tank. Twenty six eras later, his relatives keep on offering worship to Shri Chintpurni Devi. The woodland spread has decreased impressively. Relatives of Pandit Mai Dass structure a lion's share of the occupants of Chintpurni town. In spite of the fact that the town is still called Chhaproh in government land records, it is for the most part known as Chintpurni after the Devi who dwells there. Tales about the extraordinary forces of the Devi have spread far and wide.

Festivals

The Navaratra fairs in Shravan (August), Kartik (October) and Chaitra (March-April) are very popular with devotees when accommodation is very tight. Other popular days are Sankranti, Purnima and Ashtami.

Chintpurni Fair

The Chintpurni fair, locally known as Mata Da Mela (fair of the mother Goddess), is celebrated with fervor at the temple. Held thrice a year in the months of Chet (March-April), Sawan (July-August) and Asanj (September-October). In Chet and Asanj, the fair is held in Navratras whereas in Sawan it takes place during the first ten days of shukla paksha which is the bright half of the lunar month. The fair continues day and night for nine days during the navratras and for ten days in Sawan.

Celebration of Chintpurni Fair

The celebration of the Chintpurni fair is an occasion of joy for people of the city and the entire state.  There are a lot of tourists who come to this place to take the blessings of the Goddess and also to thank her for having been so kind with them all through. There are a lot of tourists who also come to the fair to see the Chintpurni Devi temple in all it is glory.

Chintpurni temple has a very old history that talks about the request the Goddess made to Bhakt many generations ago that he had to bathe her and offer Pooja for her idol twice a day. During those days, the entire area of Chintpurni was uninhabited and there was no water at all. Only because of the grace of the Goddess, the area started being fertile and slowly inhabitation started. The Bhakt is supposedly the first citizen of the city of Chintpurni.

The village of Chintpurni is situated over a hill giving it a very scenic appearance and the fair add to the charm of the hills and the temple as such. This makes it an ideal situation for the tourists to be a part of the fair and enjoy the scenic beauty as well as the power of the Goddess in the temple. So, one can see a lot of tourists during the fair. The other thing to be noticed about the fair is that while the first two fairs are celebrated during the nights, the one in October in celebrated during the day time. In particular there is a lot of crowd that throngs the fair on the 8th day of the fair.

Interesting Fact about Chintpurni Fair

The tourists make use of the Chintpurni Fair to also complete any prayers that they had offered to the Goddess. There are many devotees who offer Mundan or hair tonsuring for their children at the Chintpurni fair. There are special prasad that is offered on the 8th day of the fair, a sweet called Khara being one of them.

Rituals

Just next to the temple, there is a huge tree which is covered with lot of red colored cloths (Chunnis), Sehra and choodas. Newly married couples come here to present their sehra and chooda (a set of red bangles, especially used by newly married girls in India). Folks who come to the temple with some wishes, they tie a red colored cloth on branches of this tree.

Many families come to Chintpurni Temple for Mundan Sanskar where head of children is shaved with some poojan. There is a specific section in Temple campus, where all these Poojan Sanskars are done.

Temple Timings

Summer : (April to October)

• Snana- 04.00 am
• Opens for devotees -04.30 am
• Closed for Bhog -12.00 - 12.30 pm
• Evening Arati -08.00 pm
• Temple closes- 10.00 pm
• Langar - breakfast-06.00 - 07.00 am
• Langar - Noon-12.00 - 2.00 pm
• Langar - Evening -08.30 - 10.30 pm

Winter : (November to March)

• Snana- 05.00 am
• Opens for devotees -05.30 am
• Closed for Bhog -12.00 - 12.30 pm
• Evening Arati -07.30 pm
• Temple closes- 09.30 pm
• Langar – breakfast-07.00am – 08.00 am
• Langar - Noon- 12.00 - 2.00 pm
• Langar - Evening – 07.30 - 09.30 pm

Prasad and offering

Offerings

Devotees usually bring offerings for the Devi.Sweets (eg suji halwa, laddoo, barfi), kheel (sugar-coated puffed rice), batasha, coconut (or other fruits),  chunni (red stole), dhwaja (red-coloured flag) and flowers are some of the offerings that devotees bring. One may  bring the prasad from home or one may buy it from one of the shops in the bazaar.

If the budget is on the higher side, one can always donate in cash. All offerings in cash are required to be put into the sealed donation boxes kept at Temple.

Prasad and Souvenirs

For yatries who wish to carry with them mementos of the great pilgrimage, the Temple Trust operates Souvenir Shops near Temple. Chunris, Cholas, Saris, shawls which have been offered to the Holy Goddess are available at these Souvenir Shops at nominal prices.

Pilgrims can obtain them and preserve them as souvenirs or can place them at the place of worship inside their houses. Besides, other exclusive items available at the Souvenir Shops include, audio cassettes, CDs, various publications of Temple Trust, laminated photos of the Holy Pindies, Jute Bags, Bangle Chura etc.

Accommodation

There are a number of dharamshalas, guest houses and hotels of varying quality in and around Chintpurni. Himachal Tourism runs a Yatri Niwas at Bharwain which is only 3 km from the Chintpurni temple. It has a magnificent view of the Swan valley to the south. At night to the west one can see the bright lights of the Temple and its bazaar. Looking towards the north-east are the shimmering waters of the Govind Sagar.
Chintpurni Devi trmple also provides Free Accomodation ( Sarai/Dharamshalas).

Best Places To Eat In Chintpurni

The Chaat Bazar of Thaneek Pura near Chintpurni is a favorite with the locals as well as tourists. Chaat Wala Mod is most popular for its spicy mixed fruit chaat.

Languages

Himachali, Punjabi, Hindi and English

Std Code

019766

Best time to visit

It is open all 365 days in a year. When we talk about religious month then it will be the month when Navaratri comes. The best season to visit Chintpurni is the winter season. The temperature remains cool and comfortable and is apt for sightseeing. The best months to visit are April, May, June, July, August and September.

Weather

Spring : About mid-February to mid-April. The winter starts losing its bite around mid-February.

Summer : Mid-April to end of June. It is hot in summer and light cottons are recommended.

Rainy season : July to September. Still quite warm and, of course, humid. Lots and lots of rain.

Autumn : October to November. Days are pleasantly warm, nights are cool. May need light woollens at night or early mornings.

Winter : December - January. It is quite pleasant during the day and one may get by with one layer of woollens. The winter nights are cold and an extra layer of woollens is required.

In general, temperature in Chintpurni is about 5 degrees lower than in the Punjab and Haryana plains and in Delhi. In 2012,it had a chilling winter as there was a snowfall, reported after a period of 52 years, leading to road jams.

Do's and Don'ts

• It is customary to cover one's head with a handkerchief, shawl or cap while in the temple. Please dress in a conservative way. Adults are expected to wear ankle-length clothing.
• Leave shoes and other leather items (e.g. wallet or belt) outside the temple.
• It is extremely impolite to point feet towards the deities while sitting or lying down in the temple.
• If one wishes to make a donation, they should put it in the hundi or daan-patra which is so marked.

Nearby places of interest

Sheetla Devi temple

This temple is located in the village of Dharamsala Mahantan about 5 km west of Chintpurni. A winding, single lane road leads one there from Chintpurni.

Chamunda Devi Temple

Temple of Chamunda Devi is situated on the right bank of Baner river in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. The famous Temple is connected with Dharamshala - Palampur National Highway.

Jwalamukhi Devi temple

Goddess Jwalamukhi is the deity of the flaming mouth. The temple is built over natural jets of combustible gas, believed to be the manifestation of goddess. About 35 km northeast from Chintpurni.

Vajreshwari Devi temple

This temple, which is one of the most famous Shaktipeeths of North India, is located in Kangra town. About 50 km north from Chintpurni.

Dharamshala and McLeodganj

About 68 km north of Chintpurni is located Dharamshala, the principal township of Kangra district. Its dense pine and deodar forests, numerous streams, cool healthy air and the nearby snowline make it an attractive place. The Dalai Lama (with his government-in-exile) lives in the upper part of town called McLeodganj.

Masroor temples

Located 15 km south of Kangra, this village is known for its monolithic rock temples. There are fifteen richly carved temples in Indo-Aryan style. Only known example of rock-cut temples in North India.

Naina Devi Temple

Temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji is situated on a hill top in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh in India. About 115 km southeast from Chintpurni.

Baba Balak Nath Sidhpeeth - Deot Sidh

Located in Hamirpur district, this shrine to Baba Balak Nath is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. Guru Adi Nath, who started the Siddha tradition, is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

Significance

Chintpurni devi is the kul Devi of Many North and central Indians. It is said that Chintpurni devi always takes care of the pilgrims and all wishes are granted who comes to Chintpurni Devi temple. Goddess who fulfils all wishes and dispels the grief of devotees (Chintaa + Poorna - means getting rid of all worries by Goddess Blessings).

Hindu Records

Hindu pilgrimage and marriage records were also used to be kept at this holy place. The Genealogical Society (GSU) of Utah, USA has microfilmed Hindu pilgrimage records for Haridwar and several other Hindu pilgrimage centres. Priests (pandits) located at each site would record the name, date, home-town and purpose of visit for each pilgrim. These records were grouped according to family and ancestral home. The holdings by GSU include Haridwar, Kurukshetra, Pehowa, Chintpurni, Jawalapur and Jawalamukhi.

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest airport is at Chandigarh, which is 120 km away from Shimla that connects Una to all the major cities of Himachal Pradesh and India. From the airport, tourists can hire private taxi to reach Una city. Generally rates are fixed by the taxi union of the local region but still one can go for bargaining.

Railways

The nearest railway station is at Una, Tourists can hire private taxi or ride shared autos that frequently run between station and Una city.

Road

Una is well connected by road to major cities of Himachal Pradesh and India. State transport runs their deluxe as well as semi-deluxe buses from Shimla, Chandigarh and Pathankot to Una covering the distance of 240 km via Una - Chandigarh - Shimla. From the capital city of India, Delhi, Una is 375 km away.

Temple Address

Mata Shri Chintpurni Devi Temple,
Chintpurni, Teh. Amb, Distt. Una (H.P.),
Pin Number: 177110.