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{{Short description|Hindu temple}}

{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Chandika Devi Temple
| native_name = चंडिका देवी मंदिर
| image = Chandika Devi Mandir Juchandra.jpg
| caption = The main deities in Chandika Devi Mandir

| deity = Chandika Mata
| tradition =
| Peetham =
| functional_status = Active
| temple_board =
| festivals = [[Navratri]]
| tower =
| temple_tank =
| temple_tree =

| location = [[Juchandra railway station|Juchandra]] village
| district = [[Thane district|Thane]]
| state = [[Maharashtra]]
| province =
| country = {{IND}}
| map_type =
| map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|19|21|37|N|72|52|54|E|type:landmark_region:IN-MH|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =

| architecture_type =
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| groundbreaking =
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| facade_direction =
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| website =

| footnotes =
}}
'''Chandika Devi Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] in [[Juchandra railway station|Juchandra]] village, near [[Vasai]] and [[Naigaon]], situated on a hill 400 feet above sea level. It is dedicated to the mother goddess Chandika.<ref name=loksatta>{{cite news |title=वसईची परिक्रमा : पुरातन देवालय |url=https://www.loksatta.com/thane/old-temple-in-vasai-1654734/ |publisher=[[Loksatta]] |date=March 31, 2018 |language=Marathi}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Chandika Devi Mandir Juchandra entrance.jpg|150px|thumb|right|The entrance of Chandika Devi Temple]]
According to local beliefs, this temple dates back to the [[Pandava|Pandavas]] period. But there is no document to support the claim. There are stone idols of Chandika, Kalika, [[Mahishasuramardini]] and [[Ganesha]] in this ancient temple which is situated in a huge rock cave. According to local churches, in 2018, there was no footpath to reach the mountain 60 or 70 years ago.<ref name=loksatta/>

The temple was renovated in 2002 while constructing a five-story building for the convenience of the devotees. A lift facility has been provided for senior citizens and physically disabled people. The mother goddess Chandika is [[Kuladevata|Kuladevi]] of [[Juchandra railway station|Junchandra]] village.<ref name=loksatta/><ref>{{cite news |title=Chandika Mata Mandir |url=https://www.palghartourism.com/culture-virar-chandika.php |publisher=Palghar Tourism}}</ref> It is also said that stones were taken from here to build the [[Fort Bassein|Vasai Fort]].<ref>{{cite news |title=जूचंद्र गावाची नवसाला पावणारी चंडीका माता! |url=https://batamidar.com/web/archives/12983 |publisher=Batamidar |date=2019 |language=Marathi}}</ref>
== Festival ==
Chandika Devi Temple also conducts various social and cultural activities every year. [[Navaratri]], which falls in the month of [[Ashvin (month)|Ashvin]] and [[Chaitra]] as per [[Hindu calendar]] every year, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion. In the month of [[Chaitra]], a large [[Yatra]] takes place.<ref name=loksatta/><ref>{{cite news |title=चंडिका माता यात्रोत्सव रविवारपासून |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/thane/chandika-mata-yatra-from-sunday/articleshow/68923155.cms |publisher=[[Maharashtra Times]] |date=April 18, 2019 |language=Marathi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=चंडिका देवीची यात्रेची जोरात तयारी |url=https://prahaar.in/preparations-for-chandika-devis-yatra-are-in-full-swing/ |publisher=Prahaar |date=April 16, 2022 |language=Marathi}}</ref>

In 2020, a 115-year-old drama tradition of the temple was canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and restrictions imposed by the government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhoir |first1=Kalpesh |title=चंडिका मातेचा यात्रौत्सव साधेपणाने |url=https://www.loksatta.com/thane/chandika-devi-mata-festival-celebrated-with-simplicity-due-to-coronavirus-zws-70-2131352/ |publisher=[[Loksatta]] |date=April 14, 2020 |language=Marathi}}</ref> Dutt Prasadik Bavanchal Natya Mandal has been performing various plays for the last 115 years. In 2021, Chandika Mata Yatra was canceled due to the second wave of [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite news |title=करोनामुळे वसईतील सुप्रसिद्ध चंडिका मातेचा यात्रोत्सव रद्द |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/marathi/maharashtra/state/palghar/famous-chandika-mata-yatra-in-vasai-was-canceled-due-to-corona/mh20210430222958953 |publisher=[[ETV Network|ETV Bharat]] |date=April 30, 2021 |language=Marathi}}</ref>

== Accessibility ==
There are steps to reach the hill from the west of the temple and it takes about two hundred steps to climb. There is a road directly to the temple on one side of the hill to go up by car or your private vehicle. To reach the temple, one can either reach from [[Vasai Road railway station]] or get off at [[Juchandra railway station]] on the [[Vasai Road–Diva DEMU|Thane Vasai-Diva route]] and can reach the hill by walking for a few minutes. One can reach Chandika Devi Temple in Juchandra village by getting off the [[Naigaon railway station]] on [[Mumbai]]'s Western side of the railway line and taking a rickshaw after reaching [[Vasai]].<ref name=loksatta/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Hindu temples in Maharashtra}}
[[Category:Hindu temples in Maharashtra]]

Chandika Devi Temple, Juchandra - Revision history

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