This temple is situated at a distance of forty
kilometres from Saharanpur (a city in Utter
Pradesh which is biggest state of India) city in the
Shivalik mountain range. Shakumbari Devi is one
of the famous Shakti Peeth. The head of Sati had
fallen here. On the right hand side of main idol of
goddess, is idol of Bhima and Bhramari and on the
left, idol of Shitakshi goddess. Shitakshi is also
known as Shitala Devi. During Nav-Ratra and
Durga-Ashtami the temple complex hosts large
fairs.
The History of Shakumbari Devi
Long time ago, there was a great spiritual mas-
ter named 'Durgam'. He mastered all the vedas by
the grace of Lord Brahma and received a boon
from him that he will not be defeated in a battle
even by gods. After receiving such a boon, he
went on rampage all around the earth. He de-
feated Lord Indra in a battle. Subsequently there
was no rain on earth for a century as Lord Indra,
the rain-god, was imprisoned by Durgam. The liv-
ing beings starved for water. In the absence of
vedas the Brahmans didn't perform religious rites.
Sensing the disastrous consequences of Durgam's rule, the gods took refuge with 'Maha Devi',
the great goddess. They prayed to her, "Oh
mother, the way you killed 'Shumb' and 'Nishumb'
and brought an end of the miseries of mankind, in
the same way, kindly kill Durgam." On seeing her
people in distress, the eyes of goddess were full of
tears, out of compassion. She looked at the gods
and saints through hundred eyes. The water
gushed out of her eyes and thousands of streams
overflowed with water. The forests became again
green and lands fit for tilling. Rivers, ponds and
oceans were again full of water and the gods were
again happy. The miseries of people disappeared.
As the goddess of hundred eyes looked at her sub-
jects with the eyes of pity, so the gods named her
'Shatakshi' and worshipped her. When whole
world was dry for want of rain, then goddess
'Shatakshi' created vegetation out of her body and
saved world from starvation. For this act of god-
dess she is also famous as "Shakumbari Devi'.
After restoring the order on earth, the goddess
asked gods, "How can I help you further?" The
gods prayed to her and said, "Please return us the
four vedas, which were stolen by Durgam". Then
goddess fought a fierce battle with Durgam and
killed him and restored Vedas. The goddess was
also called Durga for killing the demon Durgam. In-
fact the three different names Shatakshi, Shakum-
bari and Durga are names of the same goddess
and as such one.
Appearance of Shakumbari goddess
The splendid form of Shakumbari Devi is de-
scribed in detail in Durga Sapt-Shati in the last
chapter named 'Murti Rehasya'. According to this,
the goddess is of blue colour. Her eyes are like
lotus flower. Navel is slightly below the normal
place with three curves. She bears breasts of a vir-
gin. A lotus is carried in her hand, which is
thronged by bees. The other hand carries arrows.
Other hands carry flowers, roots, vegetables,
fruits symbolising the goddess of vegetation, who
feeds us and keeps us away from disease. One
hand is carrying a bow representing her fierce-
ness. This is the appearance of Shakumbari Devi,
Shatakshi and Durga. This goddess removes the
grief and calamities and terrorises demons. The
devotee of this goddess, worshipping mother by
hymns, meditation, Japa and bhajans, attains the
fruits of food, drink and infinite bliss.
