Kangra Devi, also known as Brajeshwari Devi, is a powerful deity worshipped in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The shrine is also referred as Nagarkot Dham – Kot Kangra The shrine is located in the Nagarkot area of Kangra town and therefore the deity is known as Nagarkot ki Rani. The temple is around 1.5 km from Bus Station and around 4 km from Kangra Railway Station.
Kangra Devi one of 51 Shakti Peethas
Kangra Devi is a Shakti Peeth. It is believed that the left breast of Goddess Sati fell here after Lord Vishnu cut the body of the Goddess into 51 pieces with his Sudarshana Chakra. Shiva was roaming in the universe with the body of Goddess Sati and this led to havoc and imbalance in the universe. The places where body parts of Sati fell came to be known as Shakti Peethas. There are 51 such temples in the world.
Butter – Makhan on the Pindi
The pindi of Mother Goddess worshipped here is covered in butter. It is believed that Mother Goddess Durga applied Makhan on the wounds on her body. The wounds were sustained when she annihilated Mahishasura and other demons. She applied butter on the wounds at Nagarkot.
Three Pindi are Worshipped
There are three Pindi (murti or idol) of Mother Goddess Shakti. The three pindis represent Maa Lakshmi, Kali Maa and Ma Saraswati. There are five aartis in a day. The day ends with Mangal Aarti.
- A unique aspect here is that the afternoon aarti and the bhog offered are kept a secret.
- The main gate of the shrine is towards south direction suggesting that the shrine was a great place of Tantra.
- Dharam Shila is located in front of the sanctum sanctorum. People take oaths here.
- Dhyanu Bhagat, an ardent devotee of Brajeshwari Devi, had offered his head at the Dharam Shila.
Founded by Pandavas
The original temple was built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. Pandavas had a dream about the presence of Goddess Durga in Nagarkot Village. They were directed by the Goddess to worship for victory in the future battles.
Pandavas reached the village and they discovered the Pindi and worshipped it. They then built a temple.
Looted – Earthquake and Rebuilt
The temple was mercilessly plundered and looted by Muslim invaders. Mahmud Ghazni attacked and plundered the temple five times.
The temple was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1905. The present structure was later built by government and people of the region.
Lal Bhairav in Kangra Devi Mandir
The murti of Lal Bhairav form of Shiva worshipped in the Kangra Devi Mandir is more than 5000 years old.
It is believed by the people here that whenever there is going to be a disaster in the region, the murti of Lal Bhairav will begin to sweat and there will tear in the eyes of the murti.
Navratri – Makar Sankranti
The Chaitra and Sharad Navratri are of great importance here. The temple attracts maximum devotees during Makar Sankranti (January 14). Special pujas, festivals, rituals and a fair are held here during the period.
Makhan or butter is applied on the pindi on Makar Sankranti.
Offerings
The main offerings in the shrine are pan, supari (areca nut), dhawaza, narela (coconut), loung (clove), elaichi (cardamom).
The shrine is around 20 km from Dharamshala and around 250 km from Chandigarh.