Chhatarpur Temple

Chhatarpur Temple, Delhi
A South Indian-style temple added in the complex
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictSouth Delhi
DeityKatyayani (Durga)
Location
LocationChhatarpur, South Delhi district, Delhi, India
StateUnion Territory of Delhi
CountryIndia India
Chhatarpur Temple is located in Delhi
Chhatarpur Temple
A map of Delhi which does not have anything specific marked on it.
Geographic coordinates28°30′7″N 77°10′46″E / 28.50194°N 77.17944°E / 28.50194; 77.17944
Architecture
TypeChola architecture
CreatorSant Nagpal
Completed1970
Website
www.chhattarpurmandir.org

Chhatarpur Temple (Officially: Shri Aadya Katyayani Shakti Peetham) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Katyayani. The entire complex of the temple is spread over a wide area of 28 hectares (70 acres).[1] It is located in Chhatarpur,[2] on the southwestern outskirts of the New Delhi. It is the 2nd largest temple in Delhi, after the Akshardham Temple.[3][4] This temple is constructed from marble and on all of the facets there is jaali (perforated stone or latticed screen) work. It can be classified a vesara style of architecture.

The temple was established in 1974, by Baba Sant Nagpal ji, who died in 1998. His samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex.[5]

Surroundings are an important biodiversity area within the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor stretching from Sariska Tiger Reserve to Delhi. Historical place around sanctuary are Badkhal Lake (6km northeast), 10th century ancient Surajkund reservoir and Anangpur Dam, Damdama Lake, Tughlaqabad Fort and Adilabad ruins (both in Delhi).[6] It is contiguous to the seasonal waterfalls in Pali-Dhuaj-Kot villages of Faridabad,[7] the saсred Mangar Bani and the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. There are several dozen lakes formed in the abandoned open pit mines in the forested hilly area of Delhi Ridge.

The complex

Nandi at Shiva temple, Chhatarpur temple
Laxmi Vinayaka Temple
Gauri Nageshwara Temple Main Entrance
Shri Shiv Mandir inside Chattarpur Mandir Complex
The main courtyard of Chhatarpur Temple
Main temple Gopura

The entire temple complex is spread over 24 ha (60 acres) and has over 20 small and large temples divided into three different complexes. The main deity of the temple is Goddess Katyayani, who is part of Navadurga, the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga or Shakti, worshipped during the Navratri celebrations.

A side shrine within the main temple houses a shrine of Goddess Katyayani (Durga), which opens only during the bi-annual Navratri season, when thousands of people throng the premises for darshan. One nearby room has been made as living room with tables and chairs made in silver, and another regarded as the Shayan Kaksha (bedroom), where a bed, dressing table and table are carved in silver. This shrine opens to a large satsang or prayer hall, where religious discourses and bhajans, (religious songs) are held. At the entrance to the main temple stands an old tree, where devotees tie holy threads for wish fulfillment.[8] Another shrine of Durga is open to devotees morning to evening, it lies above the shrines dedicated to Radha Krishna, and Ganesh.[9]

Apart from this, the complex also has other temples dedicated to Rama, Ganesha and Shiva. The temples have been built in both South and North Indian style of temple architecture.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Chattarpur Mandir/Temple or Sh. Adhya Katyayani Shakti Peeth". 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ not to be confused with Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh
  3. ^ "Chhatarpur Mandir | Delhi, India | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Chhatarpur Mandir". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ^ Founder of Chhatarpur temple dies[permanent dead link] Indian Express, 17 December 1998.
  6. ^ ASOLA BHATTI WILD LIFE SANCTUARY Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Forest, Delhi Government
  7. ^ "पाली गांव की पहाड़ियों पर बनेगा डैम, रोका जाएगा झरनों का पानी". Navbharat Times.
  8. ^ Chhatarpur temple durga-puja.org.
  9. ^ "Chhatarpur Temple- Chattarpur Temple Delhi, Chattarpur Temple, Chhatrapur Mandir Delhi India". www.culturalindia.net.