Vindhyachal

Description

The Place Vindhyachal, as well as Goddess Vindhyavasini, has been liberally mentioned in many ancient scriptures of India. Some of them are Mahabharat, Vaaman Puran, Markandeya Puran, Matsya Puran, Devi Bhagavat, Harivansh Puran, Skand Puran, Raja Taranginee, Brihat Katha, Kadambaree and many Tantra scriptures.The very famous war between Goddess Durga and Demon King Mahishasur, which has very deeply spiritual, metaphysical as well as contemporary meanings, is supposed to have occurred at Vindhyachal. This is the reason that another name of Goddess Vindhyavasini is ‘Mahishasur Mardini’ (Killer of Demon Mahish– Literal Meaning Buffalo, since Mahishasur used to take the guise of a Buffalo). So, next time, in Durga Puja festival or anywhere else, you see the image of Goddess Durga killing Demon Mahishasur, just remember that this Great War happened at Vindhyachal; and the temple of Vindhyachal commemorates this great victory of divine female power over malefic forces of the society.

Lord Ram had visited this place and surrounding areas, along with wife Sita and brother Lakshman in his period of exile. The places Sita Kund, Sita Rasoi, Ram Gaya Ghat, Rameshwar temple are a testimony to the journey of this great Hero of Humanity to this divine place.

In the ancient times, the temple of Vindhyachal was surrounded by thousands of temples and other religious places of ‘Shakti’ cult; however, in the reign of fanatic Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb, many were razed to the ground.

The literal meaning of word ‘Vindhyachal’ (Vindhya + Achal) is ‘Mountain (Achal) named Vindhya’, and literal meaning of ‘Vindhyavasini’ is ‘Goddess having dwelling in Vindhya Mountains’.

The uniqueness of this divine place is derived from the fact that this is the only place in the world, where ‘Devi’ (Goddess) is worshipped as per tenets of ‘Vaam maarg’ as well as ‘Dakshina Maarg’ of ‘Shakti’ cult of Hinduism.

Furthermore, in the ‘Shakti’ cult of Hinduism, Goddess transforms herself into three forms, Lakshmi, Kali, and Saraswati. Vindhyachal is the only place in the world, where all these three forms of Goddesses have specific temples dedicated to them, strategically located for creating highly energetic and spiritually very potent ‘Trikona’ (Trine).

As described in the ancient scriptures, the surrounding area of Vindhyachal was engulfed with thick forests, which were inhabited by Lions, Elephants and other animals. However, in the present time, all the forests have eloped with the passage of time; and except areas of Kali Khoh, Sita Kund and Ashta Bhuja, where you can see remnants of ancient Jungles, the entire Vindhyachal zone has converted into a modern mid Size Township.

In the middle ages, notorious and murderous Pindari thugs, Hindus as well as Muslims, as described in the memoirs of Col. Sleeman, used to worship Goddess ‘Vindhyavasini’ of Vindhyachal.

Although, the idol of Goddess ‘Vindhyavasini’ in the ‘Vindhyavasini’ temple is very ancient; however, the structure of the Vindhyachal temple does not appear to be from time immemorial.

Interestingly, Current Indian Standard TimeLine, which decides time zone of whole India, passes through idol of Goddess ‘Vindhyavasini’.

 

Vindhyachal Temple, or as popularly called Vindhyachal Dham, is located at a small township Vindhyachal in the District Mirzapur of the state Uttar Pradesh in the North India.

Maa Vindhyavasini Vindhyachal Mai is the presiding deity of Vindhyachal Dham, Mirzapur. Maa Vindhyavasini is a manifestation of Maa Durga and is Family Goddess (Kul Devi), Protecting Goddess (Rakshak Devi) as well as Regional Goddess (Kshetra Devi) of Eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as Bihar. Besides this, Crores of Hindus, settled around the world have faith in blessings of Maa Vindhyachal wali, and they visit Vindhyachal Mandir for the blessings of Maa Vindhyavasini.

Maa Vindhyavasini is Mahishasur Mardini (Slayer of demon Mahishasur), as described in Durga Saptashati. The divine city Vindhyachal is exactly on the banks of river Ganges, and strategically located exactly between two highly divine Hindu cities Prayag (Allahabad) and Kashi (Varanasi).

Interesting Facts about Vindhyachal

• Current Indian Standard Time Line, which decides time zone of whole India, passes through idol of Goddess ‘Vindhyavasini’.
• Lord Ram had visited this place and surrounding areas, along with wife Sita and brother Lakshman in his period of exile.
• In the ancient time, Vindhyachal area was inhabited by Lions, Elephants and other animals.
• In the middle ages, notorious and murderous Pindari thugs, Hindus as well as Muslims, used to worship Goddess ‘Vindhyavasini’ of Vindhyachal.
• Vindhyachal is the only place in the world, where all the three forms of Goddesses, Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati have specific temples dedicated to them.
• Vindhyachal is the only place in the world, where ‘Devi’ (Goddess) is worshipped as per tenets of ‘Vaam maarg’ as well as ‘Dakshina Maarg’ of ‘Shakti’ cult of Hinduism.
• The very famous war between Goddess Durga and Demon King Mahishasur, took place at Vindhyachal.

 

 

Mangala Aarati or Pratah Aarati- 4:00 AM to 5:00 AM

Rajashree Aarati or Madhyanha Aarti- 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Chhoti Aarati or Sandhya Aarti- 7:15 PM to 8:15 PM

Badee Aarati or Shayan Aarti- 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM