History

Kunjapuri Devi temple most importance temple in Hindu religion. This temple is located in Kunjapuri Hill, Adali, Uttarakhand. Visitors can see the delightful scenes of the Garhwal Hills from the Kunjapuri Devi temple dedicated to Goddess Kunjapuri mother. You can see many important peaks such as the monkeypunch (6,320 m) in north-direction, heaven heir (6,248 m), Gangotri (6,672 m) and Chaukhamba (7,138 m). In the South direction, areas such as Rishikesh, Haridwar and these can be seen.
According to Skanda Purana, the daughter of King Daksh was married to Sati, Lord Shiva. After the defeat of the Asura in the Treta era, Daksha was chosen as the Creator of all the Gods. He organized yagna at Kankhal in his epic. He, however, did not invite Lord Shiva because Lord Shiva opposed the creation of Daksha. Lord Shiva and Sati saw Kailash Mountain, the dwelling place of Lord Shiva, passing through all deities and knowing that they have not been invited. When Sati heard about her husband’s insult, he went to the altar and sacrificed himself in the Havan Kund. As long as Shiva reached there, he had been sacrificed.

Lord Shiva came in anger and made a terrible and left Ganan with his hair, and ordered him to bring the head of the evil and cut it off and kill all the Gods. The repentant Gods apologized to Lord Shiva and requested him to give the sacrifice to the Yajna. But, the skillful neck was already cut off. Therefore, a sheep’s neck was cut and kept on the body of the skilled man so that they could fulfill the sacrifice.

Lord Shiva took out the body of Sati from the havan kund and kept mourning on his shoulders for many years for being sad and angry. All the Gods gathered to discuss this unusual incident because they knew that Lord Shiva can destroy the whole world in anger. After all, it was decided that Lord Vishnu will use his Sudarshan Chakra. Without Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu split Sati’s body into 52 pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra. Wherever the sati’s body piece fell on earth, those places were known as Siddha Peethas or Shakti Peethas (centers of knowledge or power). For example, Naina Devi is there, where her eyes were fallen, Jwalpa Devi is there, where she had fallen, Surakanda Devi is there, where her neck fell and Chandbadini Devi was there, where the lower part of her body was dropped.

The upper part of his body, i.e. the kunja, fell on the place which is now known as Kunjapuri. It is counted among Shakti Peeths.
This temple is one of 51 Siddha benchs located in Uttarakhand. In the simple white entrance of the temple, a board has been displayed in which it has been written that this temple has been presented by the 197th Field Regiment (Kargil). Three hundred eight concrete stairs reach the temple. The guard of the genuine entrance lion, which is riding on the Goddess, and the elephant’s head is being done. Kunjapuri temple itself is white. However, some of its parts are dyed in bright colors. This temple was renovated from 01 October 1979 to 25 February 1980 There is no statue in the temple’s womb – there is a crater – it is said that this is the place where the kunja fell. It is worshiped here, whereas a small statue of Goddess is placed in a corner.

The idol of Lord Shiva along with the idols of Bhairon, Mahakali Nagraj and Narasimha are found in the temple premises.

Aarti is organized daily at 6.30 am and 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm in the temple.

Kunjapuri’s priest Kunwar Singh Bhandari and Dharam Singh Bhandari come from the lineage that has worshiped in Kunjapuri temple for generations. Interestingly, unlike other temples of Garhwal, where the priest is always a Brahmin, Kunjapuri Pujari Rajput or Jajman is known as Garhwal in the name of him. He is taught in this temple through Brahmins of Bahuguna.
Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair is organized at Kunjapuri temple during the first Navratri every year since 1972.

It is one of the tourist attractions of the region. Along with neighboring areas, around 50,000 spectators from around the world participate in it. This fair plays a double role in promoting tourism and development. Many types of inter-cultural exhibitions and music and dance programs are organized in which artists from all over the country participate. The government also uses this festival as a means of development and uses this opportunity to give information about the techniques of crops and farming to local farmers.

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