Maa Bajreshwari (Kangra, Himanchal Pradesh)

The Vajreshwari temple is located in the town of Kangra, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India and is 3  km away from both the railway stations of Kangra Mandir and Kangra of Kangra City . Kangra Airport is just 9 kilometers from the temple . The Kangra Fort is situated nearby. Its location on a mountain near Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir, is 16 km from Nagarkot ( Kangra ) .

A legend says that after Goddess Sati sacrificed herself in the honor of Lord Shiva in her father’s Yagya. Shiva took her body on his shoulder and started Tandav. In order to stop him from destroying the world Lord Vishnu divided the body of Sati into 51 parts with his Chakra. The left breast of Sati fell at this spot, thus making it a Shakti Peetha. The original temple was built by the Pandavas at the time of Mahabharatha. Legend says that one day Pandavas saw Goddess Durga in their dream in which she told them that she is situated in the Nagarkot village and if they want themselves to be secure they should make a temple for her in that area otherwise they will be destroyed. That same night they made a magnificent temple for her in the Nagarkot village. This temple was looted a number of time by the Muslim invaders. Md Gaznavi looted this temple at least 5 times, in the past it used to contain tonnes of gold and many ghantas made of pure silver. In 1905 the temple was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt by the government.

The main gate entrance has a Nagarkhana or drum house and is built similar to the Bassein fort entrance. The temple is also surrounded by a stone wall like a fort.

Inside the main area Goddess Bajreshvari is present in the form of Pindi. The temple also have a small temple of Bhairav. In front of the main temple an idol of Dhayanu Bhagat is also present. He had offered his head to the Goddess at the time of Akbar. The present structure has three tombs in it, which is unique in itself.

A huge fair in honour of Goddess Vajreshwari is held on Amavasya (new moon day) in the month of Chaitra. The fair commences on the 14th day of fortnight of waning moon of the month with ceremonial worship of the Goddess. On Amavasya at night, lamps are worshipped. On the next day, the first day of Hindu month Vaisakha, the ceremonial procession with a Palkhi (palanquin) carrying an image of the goddess, is taken out. Other festivals the temple celebrates are Shiva worship in Hindu month of Shravana; Kojagiri Poornima – full moon day of Hindu month Ashvin; Diwali (festival of lights); Holi (festival of colours); Datta Jayanti (birthday of the deity Datta); Hanuman Jayanti (birthday of monkey god Hanuman) and Godhadebuwa Jayanti (birthday of the saint Godhadebuwa).

Makar sakrantri, which comes on second week of January, is also celebrated in the temple. Legend says that after killing Mahishasura in the battle, devi had got some injuries. to heel those injuries Goddess had applied Makhan (butter) on her body, in Nagarkot. Thus to mark this day the Pindi of Goddess is covered with Makhan and the festival is celebrated for a week in the temple.

Place to visit in Kangra

• Gupat Ganga
• Achhra Kund
• Jayanti Mata
• Suraj Kund
• Fort Kangra
• Chakkar Kund
• Kurukshetar Kund
• Virbhadra Temple
• Lanka Kund (Lanka Garh)

How to Reach –

By Air: The nearest airport is located at Gaggal which is 8 km away from Kangra.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kangra (11 km).

By Road: Buses and other private vehicles are available to access Vajreshwari Devi temple from various towns of Himachal Pradesh.