>Rodw: Disambiguating links to Kangra (link changed to Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) using DisamAssist.

2021-05-30T09:10:38Z

Disambiguating links to Kangra (link changed to Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) using DisamAssist.

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{{short description|Hindu temple in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India dedicated to goddess Vajreshvari}}
{{No footnotes|date=November 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kangra Devi / Maa Vajreshwari
| image = Vajreshwari Devi.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Vajreshwari Devi Shaktipeeth Kangra
| map_type = India Himachal Pradesh
| map_caption = Location in Himachal Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|32.10183|76.26987|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| district = [[Kangra district]]
| location = [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]], Kangra Devi, 176001
| elevation_m = 738.33
| deity = [[Goddess Durga]]
| festivals=[[Navratri]]
| architecture = [[Hindu temple architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =

|native_name=माँ वज्रेश्वरी शक्ति पीठ|religious_affiliation=[[Hinduism]]}}
The '''Shree Vajreshwari Mata Mandir''' also known as '''Kangra Devi Mandir''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the goddess '''Vajreshvari''', a form of [[Durga]] located in the town [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]], in [[Himachal Pradesh]], India.

==Location==
[[File:Vajreshwari Devi ShaktiPeeth Kangra.jpg|thumb|Vajreshwari Devi ShaktiPeeth Kangra]]
The Vajreshwari temple is located in the town of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]], [[Kangra district]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]] and is 3  km away from both the railway stations of Kangra Mandir and Kangra of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|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 ) .

==Legends==

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]].

==History==
The original temple is said to have been 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. In 1905 the temple was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt by the government.

==Temple structure==
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 Vajreshvari 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.

==Temple festivals==
[[Makar Sankranti]], which comes in 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 butter on her body, in Nagarkot. Thus to mark this day, the Pindi of Goddess is covered with butter and the festival is celebrated for a week in the temple.

==Administration==
The temple is taken care of by the government of India.

==References==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110705070958/http://www.kangrapilgrimage.org/vtemple.html
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110706061601/http://www.kangrapilgrimage.org/devivd.html
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110706061531/http://www.kangrapilgrimage.org/devihow.html

{{commons category|Bajreshwari Mata Temple, Kangra}}

{{Hindu temples in Himachal Pradesh}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kangra district]]
[[Category:Durga temples]]

Bajreshwari Mata Temple, Kangra - Revision history

>Rodw: Disambiguating links to Kangra (link changed to Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) using DisamAssist.