Chintpurni is a place of pilgrimage in Himalayan State of India. Chintpurni is located in Una region of Himachal Pradesh state, surrounded by the western Himalaya in the north and east in the smaller Shiwalik (or Shivalik) range bordering the state of Punjab. Chintpurni is dedicated to the temple of Chinnamastika Devi or Chinnamasta Devi. Chhinnamasta or Chinnamastika temple is one of the 7 major and 51 total Shakti Peeths.This Photo Journey shares some of the photographs from a quick visit to Chintpurni while we were in Amb for an event.
During one of the weekends last month, I had to visit Amb in Una for an event. After overnight journey in HRTC Volvo, I reached Amb at around 4:00 am. After taking some rest till 10 am, I had nothing to do as event had to start at 3:00 pm. Chintpurni Temple is 30 Kilometers form Amb and it takes around 1:15 hrs to reach there. So I thought of visiting Chintpurni Temple while it was drizzling outside...
Above photograph shows devotees buying flowers at Chintpurni Market...
Chintpurni Temple is dedicated to Mata Chintpurni Devi which is located in District Una of Himachal Pradesh. Mata Chintpurni Devi is also known as Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi. Devotees have been visiting this Shaktipeeth for centuries to pray at the lotus feet of Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi.
Post summers and during Monsoons, lot of folks from Punjab come to Chintpurni Temple. Many of them come on bicycles and others choose trackters, trucks etc... Many families plan it as a religious trip and some of them also spend holidays in surrounding hill stations like Dharmshala & Palampur.
Above photograph shows a Grandmother with her granddaughter, walking towards temple of Mata Chintpurni.
Many folks reach temple in this way... This is one of the ways to take blessings of Chintpurni Mata. People lie down, make a mark, get up and again lie down to measure next distance. Whole distance till Temple entry is covered like this only. It is hard to believe for someone who see it first time, but it's true...
Just next to the temple, there is a huge tree which is covered with lot of red colored cloths (Chunnis), Sehra and choodas... Newly married couples come here to present their sehra and chooda(a set of red bangels, especially used by newly married girls in India)... Folks who come to the temple with some wishes, they tie a red colored cloth on branches of this tree. Above photograph shows one of the newly married girl with a Sehra on left and Chooda on right...
Lot of devotees from Punjab bring with them their worldly concerns and seek blessings from the Devi. It is believed that if you ask something from the Devi with a true heart, your wish will be granted.
Apart from the holy shrine, the place is full of picturesque
surroundings. Some very nice places for sight seeing, indoor and out
door activities are situated in and around Chintpurni. Chintpurni is
very well connected through roads and with good number of hotels... You can come here for religious visit, on a holiday or
for both, you would enjoy your time there and should return with
everlasting memories.
Mangoes are found in abundance around Chintpurni and some intersting mango products can be bought from shops in Chintpurni Market.
Hindu pilgrimage and marriage records were also used to be kept at this holy place. The Genealogical Society (GSU) of Utah, USA has microfilmed Hindu pilgrimage records for Haridwar and several other Hindu pilgrimage centers. Priests (pandits) located at each site would record the name, date, home-town and purpose of visit for each pilgrim. These records were grouped according to family and ancestral home. The holdings by GSU include Haridwar, Kurukshetra, Pehowa, Chintpurni, Jawalapur and Jawalamukhi
Devotees usually bring offerings for the Devi. Sweets, Rice kheer, batasha, coconut, chunni, dhwaja (red-colored flag), flowers and ghee are some of the offerings that devotees bring. Many people still prefer to bring prasad from home, but different kinds of stuff is available in market. Above photograph shows back side of main temple where people sit and prey to the godess.
Photography session after mundan Sanskar at Chintpurni Temple, Una, Himachal Pradesh.
Many families come to Chintpurni Temple for Mundan Sanskar where head of children is shaved with some poojan. There is a specific section in Temple campus, where all these Poojan Sanskars are done.
Shehnai Team @ Chintpurni Temple, Una, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA ...
In the center of the Temple is the temple garbha griha.
The image of Mata Chintpurni Devi is installed here in the form of a round stone. People queue up for a darshan of the Devi and
make their prayers and offerings. The view of the Chintpurni town and
the far flung scenic contours is enjoyable from the back-yard of the
temple.
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