Shakumbhri Devi
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Shakumbari Devi is a local aspect of Hindu Goddess Durga, popular in North India. Two of the temples, dedicated to this goddess, are quite famous: one is located near Saharanpur, in Uttar Pradesh, and the other near Sambhar Lake, in Rajasthan.
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[edit] Temples of Shakumbari Devi
[edit] Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Shakumbhri Devi's] most famous shrine is situated near Jasmour village, in the Shivalik mountain range 40 kilometers to the north of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. [1]
This temple is believed to have been built during the rule of the Marathas. Though it is not an ancient temple, its devotees consider it to be a Shakti Peetha, a powerful seat of Shakti, the divine feminine.[2]
During the famous 'Shakumbari Devi mela' organised during the Navratri, lakhs of Hindu devotees visit this temple for darshan.
A local legend connects Shakumbari Devi with Goddess Durga killing Daitya Mahishasura, though a more prominent story suggest that the Devi performed a penance for 100 years, having a vegetarian meal only once every month-end. Because of this, the temple was named Shakumbari Devi temple and Shakumbari Devi is hence strongly associated with vegetarianism. [3]
About one kilometer east of Shakumbari lies the Bhura Dev or Bhairav temple who is considered to be the companion of Shakumbari Devi. Because of this all the devotees to Shakumbari first visit this temple. [4]
[edit] Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
Another shrine dedicated to Shakumbari Devi is near the famous Sambhar Lake, 90 kilometers west of Jaipur, Rajasthan. [5]
According to a Hindu tradition, Shakambhari Devi - tutelary goddess of Chauhan Rajputs - converted forest to a plain of precious metals. When people worried and felt it as curse rather than blessing, and requested her to retract her favor, she converted the silver to salt, now found in the lake.
[edit] Other associations
Another temple that finds its association with Shakumbari is 'Jeen-Maa temple', near Goriya, Seekar, Rajasthan. [6]
[edit] Films on Shakumbari Devi
Jai Shakumbari Maa (2000) [7]
