Brajeshwari Temple, aka Vrajeshwari Temple, is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths in the town of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
Legends
The story of Shaktipeeth revolves around the Goddess Sati, a form of Goddess Durga. Salty sacrificed her body in her father’s Yagya in honor of Shiva. Shiva was enraged by this, so he placed the body on her shoulder and began performing Tandav. To stop him from destroying the world, Lord Vishnu spun his chakra and divided the body of satin into parts. The left breast of Sati’s body is said to have fallen at this location, making it Shakti Peeth.
History
The original temple was built during the Mahabharata era. According to legend, the Pandavas saw the dream of Goddess Durga, she told them that she lived in the area and that if they wanted to be safe, they should make a temple for her in the region. So, therefore, they built a temple on the same night. In the 1905 earthquake, the temple suffered damage that the government subsequently rebuilt.
Architecture
The temple is surrounded by a long stone wall similar to a fort. The main entrance to the gate is built in the style of a drum house. The temple has three tombs, one for each of the world’s major communities: Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim.
The sanctum has the Pindi of Maa Brajeshwari, Maa Bhadrakali, and Maya Ekadashi.
Invasion
The temple has gone through various attacks. Ghazni attacked and looted the temple in 1029, though it was restored. In 1360, Firoz Shah attacked the temple. The great Mughal emperor restored the temple again in his time.
Festival
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the temple. Devi was injured after killing Mahishasura, according to legend. So to heal those injuries, butter is applied to the Pindi and the festival is celebrated for a week.
Timing
Summer – 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
Winter – 6:30 am to 8:00 pm
Aarti timing
Summer- 5:30 am and 8:30 pm
Winter- 7:00 am and 7:00 pm
How to reach Brajeshwari Temple
By Air: The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport in Kangra, which is about 14 km away from the temple.
By Road: The temple is 1.5 km from the Kangra bus stand. Kangra is well-connected by road to major cities in North India. One can take a taxi or a bus from nearby towns like Dharamshala, Pathankot, and Chandigarh.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Kangra Railway Station, which is about 5 km away from the temple. Alternatively, one can take a train to Pathankot Railway Station, which is about 85 km away, and then take a taxi or a bus to Kangra.