Name: Bilaspur
Rating: 3.0

Sri Naina Devi Ji, Bilaspur Overview

The Temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji is situated on a hilltop in Bilaspur Distt. Of Himachal Pradesh. Situated at a height of 1219 m above sea level, it was built by Raja Bir Chand in the 8th century. With several folklores going about the temple ever since it was built, the temple is considered very holy by the pilgrims who pay a visit regularly.

Naina Devi Temple has a lot of mystical folk tales surrounding it, which attracts various tourists travelling in this region. This temple was constructed on a triangular hillock and is considered one of the 52 Shakti Peeths of Sati. All the major festivals talked about in the Hindu mythology are celebrated at the temple with great vigour, turning it into a melting pot of festivities all around the year.

History

The most widespread story associated with the temple is stated as, "According to a legend, Goddess Sati burnt herself alive in Yagna, which distressed Lord Shiva. He picked the corpse of Sati on her shoulder and started his Taandav dance. This horrified all deities in the heaven as this could lead to the holocaust. This urged Lord Vishnu to unleash his Chakra that cut the Sati's body into 51 pieces. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where eyes of Sati fell." Hence the name, Sri Naina Devi Ji.

Festivals celebrated at the Naina Devi Temple

All the major festivals talked about in the Hindu mythology are celebrated at the temple with vigour. The most prominent ones being Navratras celebrated for 10 days at the temple in the form of a Mela in the months of October- November, and the Shri Maha Tara Jayanti, which comes around for 10 days each year for various incarnations of the deity.

Ropeways and the Palkis at the temple

Another interesting feature of the temple is the Ropeways which accommodate tourists from the bottom of the hill to the temple, for easier access. The Palkis which are used for the purpose is quite comfortable to ride in. Most pilgrims might also prefer to reach the top of the hill on foot while chanting Jai Mata Di. The distance is quite comfortable and can be covered within half an hour.

Structure of Naina Devi Ji Temple

The temple is located on the top of a hill that is to be traversed on foot or manual carriages. There is also a ropeway that can be used to reach the hilltop. After crossing the main entrance gate, visitors will notice a grand Peepal tree on the left side. Just opposite the tree, there are idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman. Upon reaching the main temple, the visitors will be greeted by two statues of lions.
The inner sanctum of the temple has three idols- Kali Devi on the left, the Eyes of the Shakti in the middle, and Lord Ganesha on the right. The entire stretch leading up to the temple is lined with small shops that sell prasad and souvenirs. The temple attracts thousands of devotees and can be very crowded on auspicious Hindu days. This temple is among the most revered temples in the country.