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| Shri Sharda Devi Mandir Maihar |
In India, the very popular and only ancient
temple of Goddess Saraswati is situated in Maihar city. Maihar is a town of
Satna district of Madhya Pradesh, a State of India. Maihar city is mainly
famous for Maa Sharda temple in all over India. Maa Sharda Devi is another name
of Goddess Saraswati. Maa Sharda Devi is popularly known as ‘Maihar Waali Mata’
in the Maihar and called as ‘Maa Sharda Maihar wali’. Maa Sharda temple also
famous with various names in Maihar such as Maihar Devi Mandir, Maa Sharda
Mandir, Maa Sharda Mandir Maihar wali, Maa Sharda Dham, etc.
Maa Sharda temple is the Identity of Maihar
city. As per saying, Goddess Sati necklace fell down on this place on
the Trikuta Mountains so this place gets its name as Maihar. Shri Sharda Maa temple
is a very famous Hindu pilgrim place which is situated on the Trikuta Mountains
top about 238 meters (780 feet) height.
History of Maa Sharda Temple
Maa Sharda temple history is very old
and related to Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. As per Hindu mythologies mention in
Ved, Puranas. King Daksha Prajapati's daughter wanted to marry Lord Shiva but
King Daksha not like Lord Shiva and against this marriage. So against his
father's wish Goddess Sati married Lord Shiva.
Once King Daksha Prajapati organized a
huge Yagya and invited everyone but not invited to his daughter (Goddess
Sati) and Lord Shiva. So Goddess Sati was very hurt and asked for the reason
for his father's decision, King Daksha use bad words for Lord Shiva. Angry by
this insult, Sati jumped into the altar of Yagya and gave his life.
When Lord Shankar came to know about
this, his third eye opened and he lifted the body of Goddess Sati from the Yagna
Kund and lifted it on the shoulder and started dancing angrily. That time
Goddess Sati's Neckless fell down on the Trikuta Mountains in Maihar. For the
good of the universe, Lord Vishnu divided the body of Mata Sati into 52 parts.
Wherever Mata Sati's limbs fell, Shakti Peethas were formed.
As per records of Shilalekh
(Inscription) of the tenth century, Maa Sharda Devi Mandir was established by
the Adi Guru Shankaracharya about 2000 years ago in Maihar. Then Adi Guru
Shankaracharya firstly worshiped the Maa Sharda Devi in Maihar. The temple of
Maa Sharda Devi is about 522 BC and it is said that on the Chaturdasi on 522
BC, Nripal Dev had established Samavedi here, since then, the period of worshiping
began in Trikuta Mountain. In the historical documents, there is evidence of
the fact that the 539 (522 BC) Chaturdashi of the Chaitra Krishna Prabhu was
founded by Nripaldev as the Samavedi Devi.
Maa Sharda Dham and Narasimha Peeth
Maa Sharda Dham also is known as
Narasimha Peeth because there is about 1500 years old statue of Lord Narshimha
is established from 1500 years ago. But very few peoples know about that and
peoples mainly visit the Maa Sharda temple and returned back.
On the Trikuta Mountain other than
Shri Sharda Devi temple other God's temples and statues also available for the
devotees to visit. Such as Lord Hanuman, Shri Kaal Bhairav, Devi Kaali
Maa, Shri Gauri Shanker, etc.
Maa Sharda Temple is Shaktipeetha or Not?
Maa Sharda's devotees consider Maa
Sharda Temple is Shaktipeetha but it is not a Shaktipeetha. As per the description in Hindu
mythologies, a Shaktipeetha is considered the place where Goddess Sati's body
parts fell down on the Earth. But as per legends at the place of Maa Sharda
temple, Goddess Sati's neckless was fall down. You will also not found the name
of Maa Sharda temple in the list of 51 Shaktipeeths of Maa Durga. Maihar Temple
is not a Shaktipeeth, yet the belief of the people is so strong that during the
year, daily thousands to lakhs of the devotees come here for the mother's
vision.
Many peoples ask a question that
'Maihar me kitni siddhi hai'. Then as per my opinion Maa Sharda Devi temple
Maihar is not a Shaktiapeeth but also not less than a Shaktipeetha. So if you
want something from the Maihar Mai Sharda Devi and you pray for it from the
true heart then you will definitely get it very soon.
Firstly Worship of Maa Sharda by Alha
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| Shri Sharda Devi Temple Maihar view from Alha temple |
The purity and specialty of this
temple can only be estimated by the fact that even now, the Alha arrives in the
morning to worship Sharda Mai Maihar Waali. Mahant Pandit Devi Prasad of the
Maihar temple explains that still the first makeup of the mother is done by
Alha and when the doors of the Sharda temple are opened in Brahma Muhurta. Alha
already worshiped Maa Sharda and flowers of lotus found at the feet of Maa
Sharda.
That's why every night from 02:00 am
to 05:00 am Maa Sharda Devi temple closed and no one to allowed to go inside at
that time duration. As per sayings, the person who tries to stays during in
night inside the Maa Sharda temple found dead in the morning.
Timing of Maa Sharda Temple
Maa Sharda Maihar temple timings start
from 05:00 am in the morning to 08:00 pm in the evening. Temple is closed for
one hour in the afternoon and fully closed in the night from 02:00 am to 05:00
am for three hours when Maa Sharda's ultimate devotee Alha came for the worship
of Maa Maihar Devi.
Maa Sharda Maihar Temple open timings
- Morning- 05:00 am to 01:00 pm
- Evening- 02:00 pm to 08:00 pm
- Afternoon - 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
- Night- 02:00 am to 05:00 am
Maa Sharda Devi Ki Aarti Timing
Daily two times Aarti of Maa Sharda
Devi is done by the priest of the Maa Sharda Temple. In the morning at 05:00 am
and in the evening at 07:00 pm.
Best Time to Visit Maa Sharda Temple
Best time to reach Maa Sharda temple
is morning. At that time you will easily reach the temple and climb on the
stairs easily. In the morning everyone energetic and fresh. For visiting any
temple morning time is best. So devotees start climbing on the stairs in
the early morning from 04:00 and within 40 minutes they reach the Maa Sharda
Dham. At 05:00 am first Aarti of Maa Sharda starts and devotees do not want to
late for Maa Sharda Devi Darsan during the Aarti.
Best time to visit Maa Sharda Dham
Maihar with respect to the season starts from October to March which is
mainly the winter season. You can avoid also December or January due to the chilled
environment. Summer from May to June is not advisable for climbing on the
mountain where a thousand stairs are there.
As per Hindu festivals, the best time
to go to the Maa Sharda temple is during the Navratri. Chaitra Navratri, Asvin
Navratri, Diwali, Hindus New Year, Sarasvati Puja, etc. are the time when lots
of Maa Sharda Devi devotees want to Darsan of Maa Sharda. At this time devotee’s
numbers are reached up to lakhs per day.
Visiting Time Duration of Maa Sharda Temple
Last time when I visited then there is
more than 500 stairs which were now renovated and converted to 1063 new small
stairs. Every step is marked with a number. So it becomes easily climbable and
countable for those who have a problem to climb on stairs. For climbing 1063
stairs you spend maximum time 40 to 50 minutes.
If not much crowd is there at the Maa
Sharda Dham you will get Darshan in 20 to 30 minutes. If the crowd is there and
you reached there in any Hindu festival then time will be increased. If you use
ropeway time will be saved but there will be also a long queue for ropeway so
you have to also wait for your turn. I personally visited the Maa Sharda temple
during February (winter) in total 2-3 hours and in May (Summer) in 1-2 hours by
stairs.
Facilities at Maa Sharda Temple
- There is a washroom facility.
- Drinking water is available at many places. Such as on the way and near the temple.
- The ropeway is there for those peoples who are unable to go to the Maa Sharda Mandir by stairs.
- Parking space is there, you can park your two or four wheelers here.
- There are lots of permanent shops for various items mainly related to Prasad, religious and household items where you can do shopping.
How to Reach Maa Sharda Temple
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| Entry Gate of Maa Sharda Mandir Maihar |
Maa Sharda Maihar Temple is
approximately 7 km far from the Maihar bus stand. Maihar station to Maihar Devi
temple is approximately 5 km far away. If you take shared auto it will take
only 10 rupees per person for the Maihar station to Maihar temple. For reaching
up to Maa Sharda temple two ways available. First stairs and road. Second
ropeway.
By Trains
Maihar is about 350 km from the
Lucknow and approx 800 km far away. I visited Maihar many times by train
Chitrakut Exp. (15205) from Lucknow. Train Chitrakut Exp. starts in the evening
at 17:30 from Lucknow and reached Maihar at 04:05 am which is the best time to
reach there. If you want to go from Delhi then you will get a direct train
Mahakosal Exp. from H Nizamuddin station at 16:00 pm and you will reach Maihar
at 07:00 am next day morning. Maihar railway station is located at Mumbai
Howrah main broad gauge railway line and has good connectivity between other
Indian cities such as Satna, Jabalpur, Annuppur, etc. by trains. From Mumbai,
there are seven trains that stop at Maihar railway station at different time
intervals.
By Bus
If you want to go by bus then you will
get a direct bus for Maihar from nearby main cities such as Jabalpur, Satna,
Katni, Nagpur, Rewa, etc. You will get also Valvo Bus from major cities such as
Allahabad, Varanasi, etc. Some of the Buses do not go to direct Maihar so you
can go to Satna then from Satna to Maihar many buses available. Satna to Maihar
is only 40 km and one hour journey.
By Airplanes
Maihar is approx 140 km from Khajuraho
Airport and about 170 km from the Jabalpur but I will recommend that if you
want to come by flight you come to Jabalpur. You will easily get flights for
Jabalpur city than Khajuraho.
By own Vehicle
If you are living in the nearby area
then going to Shri Sharda Maa Maihar Temple by own vehicle will be also a good
idea.
Where to stay near Maa Sharda Temple
There are lots of hotels and
Dharamshalas near the railway station and the Maa Sharda temple area. You can
pick anyone as per your pocket. There are lots of Sulabh Shauchalaya near the
temple area where devotees take bath and get fresh. Maihar city is a total
tourist base place so you will get lots of lodges and hotels at reasonable
prices.
Mundan at Maa Sharda temple
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| Mundan Ceremony at Maa Sharda Temple Maihar |
Local and nearby cities Maa Sharda
Devi devotees come here for Mundan of their small kids. In Hindus, the Mundan
ceremony is very special and celebrated at mainly religious places. The
facility of Mundan is organized by the Maa Sharda Devi Mandir Prabandh Samity.
They charge 100 rupees per person for Mundan.
Address of Maa Sharda Temple
Maa Sharda Temple
Sahilara, Maihar, Dist. Satna
Madhya Pradesh, India. Pin–485771
Shri Sharda Devi Temple Ropeway
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| Ropeway at Maa Sharda Mandir Maihar |
The ropeway starts in the morning
after 07:00 am but the queue for ropeway starts earlier. Maa Sharda temple
ropeway ticket price is 83 rupees for adult and 71 rupees for kids up to 10
years. The time will be in ropeway to reach the Shri Sharda Devi temple is
about 7 to 9 minutes only. If the weather is not good and bee attacked, then
ropeway service will stop and no refund will be given.
TouristBug’s Recommendations
- There are many water taps on the way to the temple. But I will recommend you must carry a water bottle with you.
- Carry Prasad in your hands carefully, monkeys can snatch your edible items or Prasad.
- Purchase the Prasad as per your wish and don't purchase many unnecessary items recommended by local Prasad sellers.
- Don't trust blankly on the auto drivers. They send you their particular shops, lodge, hotels, and Prasad shops.
- Whole coconuts not allowed in Prasad. You can use crushed coconut in Prasad to offer Maa Sharda Mai. At the starting point of temple stairs, the temple's persons will break your coconut by the machine.
- Be careful in the queue of the temple, from the pocket pickers and chain snatchers.
- Footwear or slippers not allowed in the temple. Devotees go there barefoot from the starting point of the stairs of the temple. But you can use socks.
- If you want to purchase Maihar temple's images then there are many Prasad shops that have various types of Maa Sharda temple images available they sell it at a reasonable price.
- Camera and photography not allowed inside the Maa Sharda temple.
- Food items are not available at the Maa Sharda Dham campus. If you want to take some snacks after Darshan of Maa Sharda you have to carry it.
Nearby Tourist Destinations to Maa Sharda Dham Maihar
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| Tourist Places in Maihar |
Maihar city is full of tourist
place and religious tourist spot famous in all over India some of its major
tourist places are listed below you can visit them if you have sufficient time.
- Alha Udal Akhada
- Alha Mandir
- Bada Akhada Mandir
- Gola Math Mandir
- Badi Maai Mandir
- Oyila Mandir
- Rampur Baag Mandir
- Chandi Mata Ka Prachin Mandir
- Gayetri Saktipeetha
- Baba Talab
- Bhadanpur Hanuman Mandir
- Dulha Dev Mandir
- Baba Allauddin Khn Makbara