Shakumbhari Devi Temple

Shakumbhari Devi Temple is an ancient shrine that is visited by numerous pilgrims round the year. This revered shrine is located in Jasmour village, which lies at a distance of 40 kms in the north of Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh). Shakumbari Devi Mandir is easily accessible from Delhi through regular buses or private taxis. Perched in the midst of Shivalik mountain range, the temple is believed to have been built by the Marathas.

There is nothing extra-ordinary about the architecture of this temple, but the divine aura makes it different from others. Many devotees believe that no one goes empty handed from the shrine of the Goddess. It is alleged that Shakumbhri Devi is the slayer of the demon king, Mahishasur. According to the legends, Shakumbhari Devi did penance (tapa) for 100 years and had vegetarian meal only once at the month end.

As the legend goes further, the Goddess helped the living beings to sustain by having plants and vegetables, when there was no water on the Earth, for about 100 years. For the period of her penance, many saints (Rishi-Munis) came to have a glimpse of the Goddess. All the saints were well treated and offered vegetarian meals. Due to the fact that the Goddess eats vegetarian food, she came to be known as Shakumbhari Devi.

As per the sayings, Sankaracharya came to this place and meditated here. He found the idols and placed them in the shrine. In the sanctum sanctorum, Shakumbhari Devi is enshrined in the company of Bhramari Devi, Bhima Devi and Sheetla Devi. In fact, all these goddesses imply the same 'Shakti' (Power) that incarnated herself in different forms at different intervals of time. In the east of this temple, there is a shrine at a distance of one kilometer. This shrine is dedicated to Bhura Dev (Lord Bhairav), who is regarded as the guard of Shakumbhari Devi. It is said that a visit to this temple is a must, in order to complete the journey to Shakumbari Devi.

Festivals Related to Shakumbhari Devi Temple
The famous Shakumbhari melas are held twice a year during the Navratras in the Ashwin and Chaitra months. These melas are celebrated with great pomp and fervor by hundreds of thousands of devotees, who flock to the temple for a glimpse of the Goddess. Measures are taken to maintain the roads and other infrastructure to facilitate the influx of visitors. Devotees who visit the temple first pay obeisance at the nearby Bhura-Dev temple. After offering prayers to Lord Bhairav, they then make their way to the Shakumbhari temple.

History of the Shakumbhari Devi Temple
It was at this very place that the Mother Goddess Shakumbhari is believed to have slain the once mighty demon king Mahishasura who terrorized the world with his evil deeds. The Goddess, while doing penance partook of only vegetarian food (Shakahari) once a month during this period and thus the temple came to be associated with vegetarianism, with many Hindu devotees following this practice till today.
Sometime during the early 1960s, a covered corridor connecting the entrance gate and outer verandah was constructed. This was of immense benefit to devotees and greatly facilitated the convenience and comfort of visitors. Work was carried out under the patronage of the Ranas of Jasmour and executed by Shri Radha Kishan, an esteemed official of the erstwhile Kalsia State.