Thousands of devotees visit the presiding goddess Maa Lalita at Naimisharanya Dham in Uttar Pradesh every day. This temple is counted among the Siddha Shakti Peethas (powerful sacred sites of the Goddess). It is considered a highly revered temple. A verse in the Devi Bhagavat also mentions:
"Vārāṇasyāṁ Viśālākṣī Naimiśe Liṅga Dhāriṇī, Prayāge
Lalitā Devī Kāmakā Gandha Mādanē..."
This means the Goddess Lalita of Naimisharanya is mentioned
among the 108 Shakti Peethas.
Naimisharanya Lalita Devi Temple Story
According to the Devi Bhagavat, Goddess Sati could not bear
the insult of her husband Lord Shiva by her father, King Daksha. Deeply hurt,
she immolated herself by jumping into the sacrificial fire of Daksha’s yajna.
When Lord Shiva heard the news, he picked up her burnt body and wandered across
the three worlds in grief.
To bring Shiva back to consciousness, Lord Vishnu used his
Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati’s body into 108 pieces. Wherever these pieces fell
on earth, a Shakti Peetha (sacred site of the Goddess) was established. It is
believed that Sati's heart fell at Naimisharanya. Hence, she is worshipped here
in her tender form, and came to be known as Lalita Devi – ‘Lalita’ meaning
‘gentle’ or ‘graceful’.
Lalita Devi’s Role in Supporting Lord Brahma
According to the Puranas, when the gods and sages, troubled
by demons, approached Lord Brahma under the leadership of Lord Shiva, Brahma
released his divine chakra (disc) and instructed them to meditate wherever the
chakra landed.
The chakra fell at Naimisharanya, which is why this place is
still known as Chakrateerth (the holy site of the disc). However, the force of
the chakra broke through six levels of the underworld (Paatal), and no one
could stop its momentum.
On Brahma's instructions, the gods and sages went to Goddess
Lalita, who then held back the rushing water emerging from the chakra’s force.
She controlled the energy and made the site suitable for penance.
Every Wish is Fulfilled At Naimisharanya Lalita Devi Temple
The temple of Maa Lalita Devi at Naimisharanya Dham remains
crowded with devotees throughout the year. Those who have her darshan (sacred
viewing) consider themselves truly blessed. The number of visitors increases
especially during Navratri.
In the temple, saints, sages, and devotees perform
continuous recitations of Durga Saptashati (a sacred text of Goddess Durga).
Many also come here to perform important rituals such as Mundan (child’s first
haircut) and Annaprashan (first solid food ceremony).
Devotees visit not just from Uttar Pradesh but from across India and even abroad. In the sanctum sanctorum, the idol of the Goddess faces the east. According to scriptures, the darshan of the Mother Goddess here is believed to fulfill all desires.