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| Chandrika Devi Temple Lucknow |
Chandrika Devi Mandir is among the top places to visit in Lucknow. Chandrika Devi Temple is a very famous spiritual place in Lucknow where Maa Chandrika Devi is prayed in the ‘Pindis Roop’ (a rock having three Pindis or heads). This temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess Chandi a form of Hindu Goddess Maa Durga. During the Navratri days, it is very crowded and lots of people come here from nearby cities to visit Maa Chandrika Devi.
The Chandrika Devi Temple and its
nearby areas have very significant religious relevance to Ramayana and are
called Mahi Sagar Teerth. There are details of this Chandrika Devi temple in
the blessed books of Skand and Karma Puran.
Chandrika Devi Temple is approximately
300 years old and it is about 28 km from Lucknow. About 6 km away from the main
road on Sitapur Road Chandrika Devi Temple, is established between distant
forests. The temple site is surrounded by the river Gomti from three sides. This
place can also be called a small island. There is a very beautiful big statue
of Lord Shiva in the middle of Chandrika Devi Kund.
At Maa Chandrika Devi temple
devotees come here and tide a Chunari for their wish fulfilled. After the wish
fulfilled they offer Prasad, Churi, Bindi, and Sindoor to Devi Maa and donate a bell
in the temple.
Mythologies of Chandrika Devi Temple
It is also believed that the
moon, which was affected by the curse of Dakshaprajapati, had to come to
Chandrika Devi Dham to take a bath in the water of this Mahisagar Sangam Tirth to
take relief from the curse of Daksha Prajapati.
There is one more legend of the period of Dwaper Yug or Mahabharata time. Lord Shri Krishna advised Barbreek
who was the son of Ghatotkach or grandson of the Bheem for the worship of Maa
Chandrika Devi for acquiring powers. So Barbreek worshiped continuously for 3 years Maa Chandrika Devi at this place.
Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir History
In the Treta era, Chandrika Devi
Temple's history is related to Lord Ram’s younger brother Laxman’s elder son
Rajkumar Chandraketu. Once he was going with Ashwamegh's horse through the Gomti River.
In the way, it wound up dull or dark, and thus he decided to take a rest in the
very dense forest. Then he prayed to Goddess Durga for his well-being. Instantly
there was cool moonlight and the Goddess Durga appeared before him for assuring Rajkumar Chandraketu. After this, the grateful Prince established this
temple There was a grand temple that was established at that time was later
destroyed by the foreign invaders in the 12th century.
In the Mahabharata time, the five
Pandavas’ son with his mother Kunti came here to this shrine during his exile.
Maharaja Yudhishthira performed Ashwamedh Yagya Yajna, whose horse was stopped
by the then King Hanshdhwaj. Then near Chandrika Devi Dham, he had to fight
with the army of Yudhisthira, in which his son Surath joined.
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| Lord Shiva at Chandrika Devi |
But the second son Sudhnava was busy in the worship of Goddess Navdurgas. Due to their absence in war, he was treated by putting into a pan of boiling oil in this Mahisagar area. Due to the grace of Maa Chandrika Devi, there was no effect on his body. From then on, this shrine started to be called Sudhwanva Kunda. The army of Maharaja Yudhishthur lived here, then this village was called Katkavasa. Today this place is called Kathwara.
As per saying there is no shortage of water in the Mahisagar Sangam Tirtha and it is directly related to the river. Even today, crores of devotees came here for the worship of Lord Maharathi Barbaric.
Renovation of Maa Chandrika Devi Temple
Approximately 250 years back some
nearby villagers during walking in the forests found this beautiful place and locate
the statue of Devi. It is said that near the Gomti River, on the banks of the
Mahisagar Sangam Tirtha, there is a very ancient tree of Neem in which Maa
Durga with their nine forms and Vediya kept safe from immemorial time.
Later on, the landlord of Kathwara
village saw a dream of Maa Chandrika Devi so he decided to build the temple at
this place. Since then people continuously visit this temple and arranged a
huge fair on each Amavasya.
Maa Chandrika Devi Temple Mela
At Maa Chandrika Devi temple
there is a huge fair that is organized every month on Amavasya and during Navratri.
During the Shardiya and Chaitra Navratri, there is a huge crowd of devotees.
Nearby cities Maa Chandrika Devi devotees come here at that time to get blessed
and pray. At the fair, every type of shop is organized by the Maa Chandrika
Devi temple committee. Lots of Jhoolas would be also there for kids at that
time.
Every Amavasya and Navratras lots
of Maa Chandrika Devi devotees came here from the nearby cities for the various
types of religious activities such as Mundan Sanskar (full hair cutting), Janeu Sanskar, Hawan or Yagya, etc.
At that time it is very tough to
visit Maa Chandrika Devi due there is the very long queue so it is better to go
temple early morning time. You would have a better experience and get easily
darshan.
At that time lots of cultural and
religious activities were also organized by the committee such as Kirtans, and Satsang.
Such as in the year 2017, there was under the Swachh Bharat Mission a cultural
activity organized in which very famous singer Malini Awasthi came here to
aware peoples about the cleanliness in the people through singing various beautiful
songs of Maa Chandrika Devi in her melodious voice.
Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir Timing
Chandrika Devi Mandir's opening
and closing times are changed as per the season. So, please check the exact
timing before reaching there.
In summer Chandrika Devi Mandir's
opening time is from 04:00 am morning to till night at 11:00 pm.
In winter Chandrika Devi Mandir's
opening time is from 05:00 am morning to night at 10:00 pm.
Chandrika Devi Mandir's closing
time is in the afternoon for one hour only from 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm. Mandir also closes for half an hour before
the Aarti starts.
Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir Aarti
Before six o'clock in the morning, the court of Matarani is decorated
with flowers. Maa Chandrika Devi is decorated with jewelry. Maa Chandrika Devi
Aarti is performed after the offering of halwa and Panchmeve to Mata Rani. Aarti
of Maa Chandrika Devi starts at 7 am every morning.
Maa Chandrika Devi Aarti is always performed with 101 Jyoti. After the
morning Matarani Aarti, the Havan program starts in the Yagyashala. The grand
Aarti of 108 Jyoti is organized at 08:00 pm in the evening of Navratri.
Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir Aarti Timing
At every temple, there is commonly a two-time morning and in the evening
Aarti of God and Goddess occurs.
- At Chandrika Devi Mandir Aarti timing is in the morning at 07:00 am and at 08:00 pm in the evening.
- During Navratri time morning Aarti is performed at 06:00 am instead of 07:00 am. But evening Aarti time would be the same.
Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir Travel Time Duration
Reaching Maa Chandrika Devi temple will take approx one hour from
Lucknow. After reaching the temple you would easily get Maa Chandrika Devi
Darsan in half an hour on normal days. If the crowd is more then, more time you
have to spend. There are many things to do at the temple and see many things.
The maximum time would be two hours but it depends on you how much time to
spend at the temple.
You Should Read: Oldest
Shiv Mandir of Lucknow
Best Time to Visit Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir
The best time to visit Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir would be on the day of
Amavasya. Amavasya comes in every month once in the Hindu calendar. If you go
to Maa Chandrika Devi temple during the Navratri then it would be more fruitful
and wishful for you. So Navratri is also the best time to go to Maa Chandrika Devi
for getting blessed and do any religious activities.
Morning is the best time for going there many temples but you can also go
in the evening also. If you go to in the evening you should participate in Maa
Chandrika Devi Aarti. Actually, many Maa Chandrika Devi devotees reached the
temple in the early morning and take a holy dip in the pond near the temple and
then get Darsan of Maa Chandrika Devi.
If you consider the season then February to March is a good and pleasant
environment to go to the temple. You can also go from September to November it
would also be the best time.
If you want to visit Maa Chandrika Devi temple in a peaceful and less
crowded environment then you must avoid the Amavasya, Navratri, and any Hindu
festival. It would be the best time for you Darsan of Maa Chandrika Devi and
getting blessed.
Prasad of Maa Chadrika Devi
There are lots of sweets and Prasad shops near the temple which offer
Prasad at a different price range. You will get easily Prasad from 11 ₹ to 100 ₹
and it purely depends on you what you want to offer to Maa Chandrika Devi. To
maintain hygiene and cleanliness devotees can offer only dry Prasad such as dry
fruits, Misri, dry sweets, etc.
Facilities at Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir
There are lots of facilities developed by the committee for
the devotees.
- There are lots of shops for taking sweets or dry fruits for offering to Maa Chandrika Devi with other items such as Sindoor, churi (bangles) Bindi, Chunri (cloth), etc.
- There is a facility to take breakfast, lunch, and dinner also.
- You can purchase here CDs, cassettes, religious books, and other many items related to Maa Chandrika Devi.
- There is also a CCTV facility so no one can involve in wrong activities like pocket-picking, misbehaving, etc.
- Drinking water is available for devotees.
- You can take also here holy dip in Mahi Sagar. The bathing facility is there also.
- Temple campus has good space for vehicle parking.
How to Reach Chandrika Devi Temple
Maa Chandrika Devi Mandir is
situated in the village named Kathwara near Bakshi ka Talab in Lucknow. Temple
is situated on the bank of the waterway Gomti River at the north-west of National
Highway No.24 which is popularly called Lucknow-Sitapur road in Lucknow.
Temple is approximately 28 km
from the main city and 45 km from Lucknow Airport. Maa Chandrika Devi mandir is
almost 22 km from Lucknow Engineering College Chauraha and about 11 km from the
Bakshi ka Talab town.
You will get easily prepaid Taxis,
autos, cabs, and Buses from the Lucknow railway and bus station. You can go there
by private or your own vehicle which is a better option, it will be a 40 to 45
minutes journey which ends up in a calm and peaceful environment.
Lucknow is well connected to
nearby cities and other states so reaching Lucknow is very easy. You can reach
Lucknow by Airway, railway, and roadways.
By Rail: Lucknow Charbag railway
station and Lucknow Junction is well connected to many cities in India. Bakshi
Ka Talab (BKT) railway station is the nearest railway station to the Chandrika
Devi temple. There are many local trains that run frequently from Lucknow to Sitapur
that halt at Bakshi Ka Talab railway station.
By Air: Lucknow Amausi airport
also has good connectivity and is connected to New Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Dehradun,
etc.
By Bus: Lucknow Alambag bus stand
has every facility and is connected to Uttar Pradesh cities. There are also many
interstate buses running from here such as Delhi, Dehradun, Chandigarh, etc.
TouristBug’s Recommendations
- If Amavasya falls on Saturday then Darshan of Maa Chandrika Devi is more beneficial.
- If you would like to get Darshan of Maa Chandrika Devi easily then avoid festival and Amavasya days to go temple.
- We will recommend to you, please avoid the use of polythene bags and don't carry them inside the temple campus. Polythene bags are not allowed inside the temple.
- Don't spread garbage here and there and help in the cleanliness of the temple, use dustbins.
- We advise you to be careful and keep your luggage, purse, mobile, etc. safe.
- Photography is allowed here so you can take beautiful pictures here with your loved ones.
Try to Solve: Quiz on Tourist Places of Lucknow
Nearby Places to Visit in Lucknow
There are various famous places
in Lucknow for tourists to come here. Some of the tourist places of Lucknow are listed below.
- Bara Imambara- Bhool Bhulaiya of Lucknow
- Rumi Darwaza
- Chhota Imambara
- Lucknow Residency - I am not dead but am sleeping here
- Nakshatrashala-Indira GandhiPlanetarium
- Regional Science City (AnchalikVigyan Kendra), Lucknow
- Lucknow Zoo
- Lucknow State Museum