Guru Ghasidas was a revered figure in the Satnami sect, a religious movement that emerged in the Chhattisgarh region of India. Born around 1756 in the village of Girod (now Girodhpuri) in the Bilaspur district, which is now part of Raipur district, Guru Ghasidas belonged to the chamar caste and worked as a peasant. He lived during a time marked by entrenched caste inequalities and sought to find a path towards equality and spiritual enlightenment. Guru Ghasidas was the son of Mahangu Das and Amrautini Mata. Legend has it that Guru Ghasidas embarked on a pilgrimage to the Jagannatha Temple in Puri, hoping to find answers to the societal injustices he witnessed. During his journey , he paused at Sarangarh, where he experienced a divine revelation. This profound experience led him to return to Girodh, where he dedicated himself to meditation atop a nearby hill. Over time, this hill became a sacred site and the location for the construction of Satnami temples. After spending six months...

The story of Bhakt Mata Karma Bai is one of devotion, perseverance, and divine grace. Born in 1017 in Jhansi Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, Mata Karma Bai was the daughter of Ram Shah Sahu and later married Padma Sahu. They resided in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, where they ran a prosperous oil business. Mata Karma Bai's devotion to Bhagavan Sri Krishna was profound. Legend has it that she used to feed Bhagavan Krishna "Khichdi" with her own hands, a gesture of pure love and devotion. This act of divine offering is celebrated on Mata Karma Bai's birth anniversary at the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha. However, their prosperity drew envy, particularly from Raja Nal's son Dholan, who sought to sabotage their business. Dholan ordered the kingdom's oil pond to be filled within five days, a seemingly impossible task. Despite Padma Sahu's efforts, he failed to meet the deadline, bringing shame upon their family. Upon learning of her husband's predicament, Mata Karm...

The Rajiv Lochan Temple in Chhattisgarh is devoted to Bhagvan Vishnu and stands in Rajim. It stands out as a remarkable illustration of Panchayana Shaili architecture. The temple's design relies on twelve towered columns adorned with intricate stone carvings, each featuring the visages of different Hindu mythological deities. Within the temple, distinct shrines honor various incarnations of Bhagavan Vishnu, such as Vamana and Narasimha. Let's delve into the rich history and story surrounding the Rajim Lochan Temple. History Of Rajiv Lochan Mandir The temple predates the 7th century CE, with an inscription from that era documenting its construction during the reign of King Vilasatunga. This king is likely associated with a branch of the Nala dynasty. Rajiv Lochan Temple Story The Rajiv Lochan temple story is rooted in oral traditions. According to one version, Bhagavan Vishnu tasked Bhagavan Vishwakarma, the chief architect of the universe, with building a temple cum ear...

Hareli festival is an agrarian festival observed in Shravan month in Chhattisgarh. It is the day when farmers worship their farm equipment, cows and other livestock. Hareli Festival 2026 date is August 12. On the Hareli festival day, farmers place branches and leaves of Bhelwa tree in their farm and pray for a good harvest in the coming season. People also hang neem branches in front of their home to prevent diseases as it is the peak monsoon season. Walking on bamboo known as gedi is held during the period. Children also participate in the gedi race. Hareli Festival is annually observed on Shravan Amavasya Tithi or the no moon day in Shravan month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Chhattisgarh. 

Laxmaneshwar Temple at Kharod in Chhattisgarh is dedicated to Lord and was built during the Ramayana period. This popular religious place and pilgrimage town is located in Janjgir Champa District and is 120 km from the state capital, Raipur. Kharod is known as Kashi of Chhattisgarh as the place is Moksha Dayini – that which helps in attaining liberation from the cycle of births.  Laxmeshwar Shiva Mandir attracts thousands of devotees that the numbers swell during Shivratri and in Shravan month. As per one belief, the Shivling worshipped in Laxmaneshwar Temple was installed by Bhagavan Sri Ram on the request of his brother Laxman. A unique Shivling named Lakshya Shivling believed to have installed by Laxman is also found in the temple. This Shivling is also known as Lakheshwar Mahadev. One hundred thousand (1 lakh) Shivling is engraved in this. It is also believed that the Shivling also leads the Patalpuri – the netherworld. The water poured on the Shivling never over...

At the Girijabandh Hanuman Temple located at Ratanpur in Chhattisgarh, Hanuman is worshipped in the form of a woman. This mandir is located around 25 km from Bilaspur. Hanuman is believed to have given darshan to a king of the region in this form. Story Of Hanuman Worshipped in Female Form  The king was suffering from leprosy. Once he had a dream in which Hanuman asked him to build a temple dedicated to him. He also asked to make a pond near the temple. For early cure from leprosy, Hanuman asked the king to worship in the temple and take bath in the pond. The king built the temple but could not find an ideal murti (idol) to consecrate in the temple. He then had another dream in which Hanuman told that there is a murti hidden in the pond in the Maa Mahamaya Temple. The murti that was retrieved from the Maa Mahamaya Temple was the female form of Hanuman. The murti faces south. The murti is of Hanuman defeating Ahiravana in the netherworld. There are also the face...

Goddess Danteshwari is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti and is worshipped in the famous Danteshwari Temple at Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. She is worshipped widely in Mandirs in the Bastar region in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Story of Danteshwari Devi Popular belief is that Goddess Danteshwari temple is located in the spot in which the tooth of Goddess Sati fell after her body was cut into pieces by Vishnu to bring back Shiva into the world. Shiva was roaming around the world with the body of Goddess Sati who committed self immolation due to the insults hurled at Shiva by her father Daksha prajapati. This was causing great imbalance in the universe and to protect the universe the body was cut into various pieces. Story of Danteshwari Mata and King Annamdeva Another legend has it that King Annamdeva was a staunch devotee of Mother Goddess Shakti. She helped in his battles. The Goddess had set the condition that the king should never look back and should mov...

Lingai Mata Mandir is located in the dense forest on Jharkhand – Chhattisgarh border and here Bhagavan Shiva is worshipped in female form. Lingai Mata Mandir Location  The temple is located at Alor (Allur) Village in Farasgaon Tehsil of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, India. The Alor village is located around 8 km west of Farasgaon – one has to climb a mountain to reach the village. The temple is around 2 km from Alor Village on a small hilltop. Lingai Mata Mandir The temple is located on a cave in the mountain. The entrance to the cave is very small and one has to sit or crawl to enter the cave. Inside the cave nearly 25 to 30 persons can sit and meditate. The natural Shivling worshipped in the temple is found among the stone in the cave. People living in the area states that Shivling is growing slowly. Now the Shivling is around 2 feet in height. Lingai Mata Mandir Opens Only For One Day in a Year Lingai Mata Mandir opens on a Wednesday after Bhadr...

Bamleshwari Temple at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh is an important Mother Goddess Shakti Temple in the region. The temple attracts devotees from Maharashtra, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. The temple is around 110 km from Raipur. There are two Maa Bamleshwari Temple in Dongargarh. The most famous temple is known as Badi Bamleshwari and it is located on a hilltop at an altitude of 1600 feet. Once to climb 1100 steps or use the ropeway to reach the temple. The main murti of Bamleshwari worshipped here is a swayambhu pindi – that which appeared on its own. The murti is a red colored pindi (sindhoor color) with prominent eyes and crown. The other temple is known as Choti Bamleshwari and it is located on the foothills of the big temple. Scholars are of the view that the original name of the temple was Bagalamukhi and it later came to be known as Maa Bamlai and Bamleshwari. The popular belief is that Maa Bamleshwari blesses devotees with victory over enemi...

Brahmeshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at Bamhani Village in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh. The temple is around 11 km from Mahasamund. The temple is famous because it is believed that after offering prayers here couples are blessed with healthy children. The shivling worshipped in the temple is believed to be swayambhu. Legend has it that once an attempt was made to shift the Shivling to a big temple. When people tried to remove the Shivling, they could not find its end. The attempt was dropped. There is a pond in the temple complex. It is believed the pond is filled with water from Ganga River. The pond is known as Shwethganga kund. Taking bath in the pond is believed to cure skin diseases.

Dudhadhari Hanuman Temple is located in front of the Balaji Mandir at Dudhadhari Ashram in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Sankata Mochan Hanuman Mandir is unique as Hanuman murti is seen with a turned face. The murti worshipped in the temple originally belonged to Sant Dudhadhari. Legend has it that Dudhadhari Hanuman Temple existed before the Balaji Mandir. Few days after Balaji temple was constructed a miracle happened. Hanuman who is an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ram turned his face to see Sri Balaji and the body remained in the same way. The doors of the temple are facing towards the Balaji Mandir because a devotee can get glimpse of the face of Hanuman only from here. The stairs to approach the shrine are from north. Thousands of devotes visit the Dudhadhari Ashram and the Sankata Mochan Hanuman Mandir daily. Related Hanuman is Worshipped in Human Form at Harni Hanuman Temple in Vadodara

Bhadrakali Temple is located at Bhadrakali Village near Bhopalpatnam in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh attracts thousands of devotees from the states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Telangana. The temple is located around 20 km from Bhopal Patnam. The shrine, dedicated to Goddess Kali, is on the confluence of the Indravati and Godavari River. It is believed that a Kakatiya King who was a worshipper of Goddess Kali consecrated the first murti here. The spot where the temple now stands was earlier a cave. The shrine was then forgotten for a long period as it was inside dense forest. The temple was later rediscovered and pujas and rituals began once again during the 19 th century. A new murti of Goddess Kali was established here. A huge fair and festival is organized during Vasant Panchami (January or February) here. Once in three years Agnikund is organized here – people walk through a bed of red-hot coal. 

Aradhya Danteshwari Temple located in Bastar District in Chhattisgarh is famous for a Diya which has been burning non-stop for 29 years. The diya was lit in 1985 and it continues to burn thanks to the efforts of local people. The temple is dedicated to Maa Danteshwari and is located in South Bastar . News18 Chhattisgarh reports  In 1985, as a mark of their devotion to the goddess 'Aradhya', four people including the priest of this temple, decided to light up a 'diya' in Maa Danteshwari temple and not let it's flame extinguish come what may, reported Punjab Kesari.  29 years have passed by, and the diya still glows. However, they have not been able to achieve this without the help of others. The Jagdalpur's revenue department officials and locals have also contributed money to get 'ghee' for keeping the 'diya' glowing. Seeing the 'diya' glowing for decades, the devotees feel its the blessing of the goddess that she is show...