Name: Devprayag
Rating: 3.5

Chandrabadani temple, Devprayag Overview

Dedicated to Goddess of Power, Chandrabadani Temple enshrines an idol of the Goddess Sati in the sanctum along with ancient statues and iron trishuls placed outside the temple. 22 km off Devprayag in Tehri Garhwal District, the Chandrabadani temple is popular for its ancient idols and wall art.

The temple is atop the Chandrabadani Mountain, which is 2277 metres above sea level. It is dedicated to Sati, the Goddess of Power and the consort of Lord Shiva. Unlike other temples, the main shrine has no idol of the chief deity. Instead, Shri Yantra is engraved on a flat stone surface shaped like the back of a tortoise. Goddess Sati is worshipped in the form of Shri Yantra. Once a year, the temple holds a puja in the most mystifying manner. The priest is blindfolded and a cloth canopy tied on the ceiling right above the yantra.

Religious Importance of the Temple

According to Hindu legend, Mata Sati desired to have Lord Shiva as her companion in wedlock but was objected to by her father. Eventually, the two got married and lived at Kailash Parwata. Much later, King Daksh, the father of Sati performed Vishal Yagya. The occasion subjected Shiva to humiliation as he was not invited to be a part of the Yagya. Devi Sati, unable to tolerate the insult that Shiva suffered at the hands of her father, jumped into the fire and obstructed the performance of the ritual. Afterwards, an enraged Shiva picked up the burnt body of Sati and headed for their abode. At this instant, the Earth shook violently and a whole lot of Gods and Goddesses came together to stop Shiva from doing so. Unable to convince Shiva, Vishnu finally sent his chakra and destroyed the burnt body of Sati. The upper half of her body along with the weapons fell and got scattered around. The area where part of her burnt body fell is the Shakti Peeth. Even to the present day, Trishuls made of different metals along with century-old statues can be seen lying about the temple premises.

Festivals and Celebrations

Traditional music is regularly performed with the accompaniment of Dhol, Daman and Bhankora. Festivals like Chaitra Navratri, Ashwin Navratri, Dussehra, Deepawali are celebrated with great devotion. Thousands of pilgrims and believers flock to the temple to be a part of the sacred merrymaking.

Best Time to Visit

Though the temple is open throughout the year, the best time to visit would be between June to October. As the temple is perched on the top of a mountain, monsoon season should be avoided.