Bhimakali_Temple

Bhimakali Temple

Bhimakali Temple

Temple Of Goddess Bhimakali

BhimaKali Temple is a Hindu temple at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh in India, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, presiding deity of the rulers of former Bushahr State. The temple is situated about 180 km from Shimla and it is as holy as 51 Shakti Peethas.[1]

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Intricate wood work on exterior of Bhimakali Temple

History

Bhimakali Temple in Sarahan is 800 years old and it is regarded as one of the 51 sacred Shakti peethas. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga known locally as Bhimakali. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites near Chandigarh. The present Bhimakali Temple is a new one, built-in 1927. The old temple nearby has a fascinating story to it. It got tilted slightly in the 1905 earthquake and then miraculously straightened back with a subsequent tremor. It is said that the foundations of this temple are very deep and that there is a disused tunnel that connects this to the village of Ranwin, a kilometer away. Priests would enter and leave the temple through this secret passage.

According to one legend, during Daksha Yagna, the Ear of Sati Devi fell here when Lord Vishnu cut the pieces of her body carried by heartbroken Lord Shiva. Other legend states that this area was under the rule of a Demon called Banasura, the great-grandson of king Prahlad an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Due to the Usha-Anirudh affair, Lord Krishna fought here with him, and in this battle, Lord Siva stood against the former. The legend goes that the head of the defeated king Banasura was buried in front of the entry gate now marked as a raised platform to the first courtyard. After Banasura, Pradyumna son of Lord Krishna ruled this area. Then the ruling king constructed this temple recognizing Devi Bhimakali as the presiding deity of this area.

  • Inscription on door to Bhimakali Temple - These gates were made in the reign of Raja Padam Singh 1927.
  • On one of the doors of the temple
  • Inner courtyard of Bhimakali Temple
  • Bird's eye view of Bhimakali temple during monsoon
  • Bhimakali Temple in the background
  • A temple alongside the Bhimakali temple
  • Bhimakali Temple at Sarahan

References

  1. [1]
    Prem N. Nag, Dainik Jagran, 26 August 2007
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