Mahalakshmi Archives

13/Aug/2022

Location:

Mirzapur district, situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi, was once known as ‘Girjapur’ after the name of the mountain daughter. Later on, it became famous as Mirzapur. Vindhyavasini Devi Temple is in Vindhyachal and Vindhyachal is the nearest famous pilgrimage to Mirzapur. Mangalmayi Jagadamba is situated in India in twelve forms. One of them is the place “Vindhya Vindhyavasini”.

Legend:

In Satyuga, Maharaj Manu and his wife did severe penance on the banks of Mandakini out of a desire for Vindhyavasini’s vision. Pleased with the austerity, Mahamaya appeared and while blessing Manu and Satarupa said “I am happy with your sadhana. Now I am coming to Vindhya peak, where my devotees will know me as Vindhyavasini.”

In Tretayuga, Lord Rama came to this place during his exile and worshiped Mother Vindhyavasini Devi.

In the Dwapar era, the sons of Pandu, including Yudhishthira, Arjuna, and Bhima, had come to this area and had darshan of Mother Vindhyavasini Devi and offered prayers. Buddhists in the 6th century BC, in the earlier times of religion, the kingdom of Bharga caste was between Tamasa and Sonbhadra. His capital was in Pampapur i.e. present-day Vindhyachal. The Bharga capital Pampapur was extended from the bridge of Ojhala to the Shree Ashta Bhuja Mandir area.

History:

Again, in the Gupta period, beautiful temples were built in Vindhyachal. The emperors of the Pala dynasty also ‘increased’ the importance of ‘Vindhyachal’.

In the 6th century, Adiguru Shankaracharya traveled to the Vindhya region and had the darshan of Mother Vindhyavasini.

The invasions of the Yavanas began in the late 14th century. In the middle of the 15th century, Muhammad Shah captured Chunar and plundered Vindhyachal. The Yavanas like Kala Pahad, Bakhtiyar Khilji, etc. destroyed the temples here.

The temple was renovated by Seth Sangamlal in the 16th century. Ghanshyamdas Birla got the temple renovated in the 19th century and also established Birla Dharamshala at this place.

A triangle of travel in the mother’s area is mentioned in the scriptures. Trikona is the limitless fruit of the journey, which is as fruitful as a thousand Chandi recitations.

The Temple:

The Triangle of Vindhyachal is the spiritual triangle of the three goddesses. These Mahadevies are: Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Mahasaraswati. Jagdamba Vindhyavasini seated in the form of Mahalakshmi at the east angle of the mantra. They are west facing. A point in the center of the instrument on which Maa Vindhyavasini situated, adorned with costumes, ornaments, vibhushi, and various decorations. Next the triangle. The cultivation of this point the ultimate goal of life.

Most people and devotees worship Vindhyavasini and consider her the most important. It is our illusion that the three deities are different and their influence is different. In fact, these three are one and the same. Worship of the One is the worship of being all. There is no difference only in form. Mahalakshmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu and Mahalakshmi gave the Blessings to Lord Shankar and along with that the place of Vidhyavasini became famous. Due to this fame, Vindhyavasini, a resident of the banks of the Ganges, considered to be of special importance among these three.

Rituals:

The majestic archanas are of both non-veg and veg. Only the non-veg method adopted in Tamsi worship. There the importance of sacrifice and surah is there. But the tamasic system is gradually disappearing. The reason for this can also be the location of Vindhyavasini on the banks of the Ganges. Ganga is a symbol of sattvikta. Therefore, after Ganga Darshan and Ganga bath, sattvikta dominates the tamasic attitude of Vamacharis and tantriks. That is why they also perform the sacrificial rites by breaking a coconut in Devidham at the place of sacrifice. It may be that they influenced by the austerity of the sages, sages, ascetics, and veetaragis and the Siddhapeeth Vindhyaparvat, and they become compelled to renounce the left thoughts and walk on the eternal path. Whatever the reason, sattvikta has completely taken its place in the worship of the mother.

Pujas and Festivals:

Mangala Aarti performed daily in the temple from 12.30 PM to 1.30 PM, Raj Aarti, Yoga Aarti between 7.30 PM to 8.30 PM, Shayan Aarti between 9.30 PM to 10.30 PM. The form of the mother is different in all four aartis. The child form of the mother seen in Mangala Aarti, the youthful form seen in the afternoon Aarti, the middle-aged form seen in the Bhoga Aarti and the old form seen in the Shayan Aarti.

The Panda Samaj of the Vindhyavasini Devi Temple celebrates the birth anniversary of the mother on Krishna Paksha Dwitiya with great pomp, in which big artists from the country come. Padma Bhushan Shri Kishan Maharaj, Padma Bhushan Smt. Girija Devi, Padma Bhushan Shri Siyaram Tiwari attended these programs. One and a half lakh devotees come to this program. The festivals of Janmashtami, Dev Deepawali, Prabodhani Ekadashi, Basant Utsav, and Rakshabandhan are celebrated with pomp here.

The area of the temple is 1 thousand square meters. The entire temple made of the finest marble. The main shikhara of the temple is 25 feet and the other 2 shikharas made smaller. Kali, Saraswati, Shankar, Bhairavnath, Hanuman ji, Vasudev Maharaj, Sheetla ji are established on the premises of the Vindhyavasini Devi Temple. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, a silver square throne sits in the form of a two-armed mother Vindhyavasini Devi Lakshmi Mata. Gold umbrella on the head. The entrance doors very small in silver.

The devotees enter the sanctum sanctorum with their heads bowed. A lot of effort made to enlarge the door, but due to mythology, the door could not be enlarged. The color of the mother is black. This idol of Prastaka about 5 feet high. Earlier, when the Ganges River used to flow near the Vindhyavasini Devi Temple, there were many facilities for the citizens and pilgrims, but due to the shifting of the Ganges, the problems of environment etc erupted. This place 55th among 108 divine power places mentioned in Devi Bhagwat and Matsya Purana.

The name of Mother Vindhyavasini prominent among the 12 major deities of the goddess. More than 4 thousand pandas, and 58 sanitation workers and 1 chief priest, 100 other employees are serving worshiping in this temple. 175 Nai, Nagara, and 200 Shehnai player employed for shaving. Every day 15-20 thousand, 50 thousand on Sundays, 15-20 lakhs in both Navaratris, 2-3 lakhs on every full moon, and crores of devotees visit every year. The area of the Vindhyavasini Devi Temple is 5 acres. The entire market situated near the temple. Permanently 500-600 shops working for fruits, flowers, prasad, chunri, cassettes, refreshments, food, etc.

Due to the crowd of lakhs in both the Navratris, the entire fair area is divided into 9 zones and 24 sectors by the police administration. 11 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 185 Sub Inspectors, Women Sub Inspectors, 1,217 police personnel are deployed to make proper arrangements for the crowd. Special trains operated by the Railway Department from different places and buses operated by the Transport Department from different districts.

Specific Information:

More than 1 crore devotees visit every year.
This Shaktipeeth established from time immemorial.
Trikona Yatra performed at this place, the result of which considered to be equivalent to Sahastra Chandipath.

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