Unveiling our Sacred Heritage- Chhatarpur Temple
Chhatarpur Temple
Welcome back, readers! I thank everyone who appreciated my words and showered your support by viewing my blogs. My last blog on "Guru Nanak Jayanti" also did well because of you. So, with more enthusiasm, I am back with another tour for you.
This time, I visited a religious place close to my heart. It is the second-largest Temple of Delhi, named "Chhatarpur Temple." This Temple is also famous as the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir. It is dedicated to the goddess Katyayani, one of the assertive forms of Goddess Durga. Devi Katyayani is a warrior goddess who signifies wisdom, strength, and integrity. She is also known as the Mother Divine.
Sanatan religion worships the nine forms of Goddess Durga during the Navratri festival.
So, prepare to immerse yourself in the history, rituals, architecture, significance and rules of this magnificent holy shrine.
Personal Experience
The beauty of any sacred place is that its doors always remain open for devotees. The divine energies never discriminate like humans do. Their doors forever greet everyone with love, compassion and a heavenly optimistic energy. These spiritual vibrations help to connect the human soul with God.
I am a spiritual person, and I love to dive into the ocean of spirituality. I love to experience that potent invisible force that helps me spend an unflappable and joyful life. To experience more about it, I forwarded my steps towards the Chhatarpur Temple.
I visited the Chhatarpur temple on weekends. It was a preferable time for me, but devotees can choose any day of the week. The shrine remains open every day from morning 6 to night 10.
Chhatarpur Temple is located in the Mehrauli area of south Delhi. The connectivity is impressive for any mode of travel. Visitors can use personal vehicles and public transport such as rickshaws, metro, cabs, buses, etc. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is just 15km from the Chhatarpur Temple. If you land directly there, cabs and taxis are also preferable choices to reach.
I used the Delhi metro to reach the shrine. The conveniences at the DMRC(Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) were well maintained. Every installation, including maps, directions, and announcements, eases the journey. Travellers can enjoy the trip with an assortment of technology and well-maintained hygiene.
The nearest metro station is Chhatarpur on the Yellow Line. The Temple is less than a kilometre, which can be achieved by walking at a moderate speed.
I happily covered my journey, and a few minutes later, I was standing in front of the divine architecture of Delhi. I prominently felt the positive vibrations that circumlocate the Temple. Their resonance was tremendous. I was fascinated by the incredible architecture that had spoken their history itself. The brilliant design astonished me for a moment. The artists created a soulful architecture that enticed the vision. I desired to enter eagerly.
Rules and Regulations
Every sacred place follows its traditions. It is a place where a soul feels connected with God. Before entering any holy place, devotees should follow their essential instructions.
The rules of Chhatarpur temple are following.
Devotees should wear covered dresses. The traditional dresses of Indian women are the best choice. It includes suits, sarees, or any long dress, but devotees can wear any apparel that covers the body appropriately. It should be that your knees and shoulders are covered. It is a sign of regard.
Devotees should remove their shoes outside the shrine. It is a point of devotion because the Sanatan religion never accepts impurities in such a pure environment. The shoe racks are available outside the Chhatarpur temple. Devotees can take advantage of that.
Phones are allowed on the premises. But! Devotees should remember the limits of any religious place. You can decently click photos, but please avoid making it a place of reels, shorts and any video shoot. Always be aware of your limits and respect the sacred space as well.
Temples are a place for finding peace, so avoid becoming a reason for noise inside. Visit the shrine with devotion and respect for the Gods and Goddesses. Try to feel their presence inside.
I happily followed all the rules to enter the Chhatarpur Temple.
Architecture
The Temple was more exquisiting from nearby. The stunning lattice carvings on marble add this architecture to the list of incredible India. This carving is also called Vesara. Vesara is a hybrid form of Dravidian(South Indian layouts) and Nagara(detailed shape North Indian) style. The multiple floors of the shrine are identically gorgeous. The temple features several striking architectural elements, including pillars shaped like elephant heads. It gave vibes like every part of nature shows gratitude towards deities. It blows my mind how beautifully they carved. I comprehended the true colours of devotion, where every spot speaks about faith.
The premises were a congregation of numerous temples named Shiva Temple, Laxmi Vinayaka Temple, Gauri Nageshwara Temple, and Gopura- the main temple. Many beautiful statues of deities, including Lord Ram, Krishna, Shiva and Ganesha, reside on the premises. Their essence gave me peace.
The entire Chhatarpur temple complex is scattered across 70 acres of area. The supreme deity in the temple is Goddess Katyayani.
I started my journey with the blessing of the Goddess. I moved towards her main shrine and saw her beautiful sculpture. The shrine was closed. It is only open during Navratri festivals, which means twice a year. Thousands of devotees come during these festivals to experience the presence of her divine energy.
After seizing her gorgeous appearance and divine energy inside me, I visited the prayer hall. It was a massive place with numerous pictures of deities on the wall. The beautiful religious songs filled the hall. The vibration produced by those songs shivered me. It was soothing and comfy. Sometimes, Satsang and tales of deities also echo there. Devotees should be part of these tales. They teach many life lessons. I missed that possibility because I visited the temple at noon, but you may get a chance if you add this trip during the evening or any festivals.
An old holy fig tree(peepal tree) in front of the main temple is famous for fulfilling wishes. It is believed that if you tie a thread there and wish for something, goddess Katyayani accomplishes that wish.
I also tied a thread there and wished. Then, I forwarded towards another shrine of goddess Durga, which remains open throughout the year. The statue of Goddess Katyayani can be seen here in her complete form.
Also, a room is prepared for the nine forms of the goddess Durga, such as Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri, etc. There were two heavenly paintings of the devi Katyayani in the identical room. A room holds a silver bed, jewellery, cosmetics, a sword and everything that can be devoted to the goddess. It was magical to see her lovely dresses adorned with intricately knitted designs of flowers, leaves, and lace.
Nothing can be more heartwarming than Mother Goddess. It connects with your soul and feels like she is talking through vibrations.
The serenity, cleanliness and beautiful environment made my day more beautiful. The entire complex was so calm that it relaxed me in the home of Goddess. I looked at her constantly. Then, forcefully, I moved forward.
The next, I met a Trident, just a few steps away. It is present outside the temple. The trident in the Sanatan religion plays a vital role. Their three arrows symbolize the three forms of time: the past, the present, and the future. The sculpture held Snakes, Damru, and a garland of Rudraksha.
If you ever notice the Damru, it is shaped like a sign of infinity. When you combine all of these elements, you will understand the entirety of mathematics. The time is endless. The lord who maintains the time is Lord Shiva, and he always seems to hold a trident in hand. It is the uniqueness of the Sanatan religion that their holy texts are full of mathematics and scientific facts.
The Trident is established on a tortoise, the second incarnation of lord Vishnu called Kurma. If you ever visit the temple, don't dare to miss that.
The Chhatrpur temple complex is not just a sacred site; it holds significant religious history.
On the other side, a tremendous statue of Lord Hanuman also attracts your sight. It is of red stone. This 21-year-old statue is 101 feet tall. Lord Hanuman represents devotion, respect, knowledge, and innocence. His stories impart essential lessons about life.
I was pleased to add Chhatrpur temple to my list of places to visit.
Rituals
The Aarti of deities happens twice a day. If devotees wish to be a part of these holy words, they can visit at 6.30 am or 6-8 pm. The Aarti performs every day.
The timing of Aarti is in the morning and evening when there is less noise. The prayers are more evident due to fewer distractions.
Most of the rituals in the Sanatan religion are performed in the morning and evening. It is a fact that these two times are more pleasant times on Earth.
When I visited the entire shrine, my mind felt more peaceful than I had entered. I give my regards to those who established this temple.
History
The History of Chhatarpur temple is also quite interesting. The temple was established by Baba Sant Nagpal ji in 1974. Baba Sant Nagpal spent his whole life between Sages. He travelled to India to collect more knowledge about the Sanatan scriptures. His life changed the turn when he was in Kashmir, and one of the Durga temples guided him to move to Delhi. Baba Nagpal moved to Delhi and lived in the Durga Ashram near Chhatarpur village. The place was barren.
Baba Nagpal conceived the idea of transforming a barren area into a Shaktipeeth, now known as the Chhatarpur Temple. Devotees of Baba began to gather and started the construction of the temple. Baba designed the final structure and even carried bricks by hand during construction. This Shaktipeeth is dedicated to the all-powerful Goddess Maa Katyayani.
Baba Nagpal aimed to tell every devotee the power of devotion. He wanted to create an atmosphere of philanthropy. He helped the needy and spread love and brotherhood. He established the Maa Katyayani temple and never allowed a person to leave on an empty stomach. Baba Nagpal knew the true meaning of Dharma and hoped to make Sanatan Dharma a universal faith.
After spending a generous life, he left the world in December 1998. After his demise, his body was placed in the form of Samadhi in Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir, inside the complex of Chhatrpur temple.
Shiv-Gauri Nagershwar temple is just opposite the Chhatrpur temple. It is also beautifully carved latticework named Vesara. Many stunning carvings of flowers, sun and other artwork attract the eyes. Numerous gorgeous architecture like elephant statues and Nandi(Shiva's ride) can easily be visible outside the temple.
When I visited the Shiv-Gauri temple, I felt the real meaning of devotion. There is a sculpture of Nandi(Shiva's ride), which is established on the stairs. Nandi is a very adored devotee of Lord Shiva, whose unconditional devotion teaches us many lessons.
I entered the temple premises and saw Baba Nagraji ji's samadhi. Many beautiful statues of deities are also present there. They are all covered in mirrors to protect them. It was mesmerising.
Significance
The Chhatarpur Temple holds significant importance in the Sanatan religion, where devotees worship the goddess Katyayani for her qualities of bravery, strength, and protection. Goddess Katyayani is depicted with three eyes and four hands. In one of her left hands, she wields a sword, while in the other she holds a lotus. Her right hand is often shown in the varada mudra, which signifies the bestowing of boons, and the abhaya mudra, representing the removal of fear and offering protection. Adorned with a crescent moon on her forehead, Goddess Katyayani rides a lion and is traditionally associated with the colour red.
According to the Sanatan holy text Skanda Purana, Maa Katyayani was born from the collective energy of the gods to defeat the demon Mahishasur.
In the 10th Canto, 22nd Chapter of the Bhagavata Purana, the legend of Katyayani Vrata is described. In this story, young marriageable daughters of the cowherd men of Gokula in Braja worshipped Katyayani and took a fast to win Krishna as their husband.
Many sacred Sanatan scriptures validate the kindness and power of Mother Katyayani.
I visited the temple to seek the blessings of the godly mother Katyayani. After experiencing the beauty of the Chhatarpur temple, I left feeling energised by her divine presence.
Although I visited the temple on an ordinary day, there are certain occasions when the Chhatarpur temple truly showcases its splendour. Popular Hindu festivals like Dussehra, Mahashivratri, Navratri, and Janmashtami are excellent times to experience the temple at its most beautiful.
The home of God is open to everyone, at any time. There is no discrimination whether you visit today, tomorrow, or never. The atmosphere remains the same, and the purity does not change.
Now is the perfect time to leave. I hope, my experience will encourage you to visit the Chhatarpur temple at least once.
I truly appreciate your love and support. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out through comments, messages, or the contact page on the website.
Until then, I will find a new place to learn. I’ll be back soon with new experiences and knowledge. Goodbye! Have a nice day! Jai Maa Katyayani!
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
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