6 powerful Devi temples in India

Devi, a form of ‘Shakti’ that is incomparable and undefeatable, has been protecting the Universe for centuries and yugas. She is the all-powerful, the epitome of energy, the epitome of motherly care, and also the destroyer of everything evil. The ‘Shakti’ of Devi has seldom been challenged, but when it has, it did not go well for the evil side. And Devi comes to their children in many forms. She is Brahmacharini for the pure, celibate souls, she is Maa Kali for the ones who need protection, she is Maa Durga when it comes to killing a Mahishasura, and she is Maa Dhari Devi to protect a village.

The Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu is famous for Maa Vaishno Devi and the ‘gufa’ inside the temple. Reaching the temple requires a 12-kilometre trek from Katra and a few additional steps to the Bhairon Baba temple.

Mata Vaishno Devi is believed to be a form of Goddess Mahalakshmi, who took human form to remove evil and protect dharma. The natural cave inside, the Gufa, as it is famous is the place where the Goddess is worshipped in the form of three sacred ‘Pindis’ that represent Goddess Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.

Located in Kangra, the Chamunda Devi temple is famous as the temple of Devi’s fierce form. Chamunda Devi is worshipped as the destroyer of evil forces, and her temple is a place filled with protective and powerful energies. It is believed that Maa Chamunda helps her devotees gain strength to fight evil, as she defeats the demons Chanda and Munda, and protects them from evil and negative intentions of other people.

The Jwala devi temple, as evident by the name, is dedicated to a manifestation of Shakti as a ‘fire’. Jwala, or ‘flame’ is the eternal energy that protects, nourishes and nurtures people. The Jwala Devi temple is famous for the natural flames that burn from the cracks in the rock without any apparent fuel. It is believed that the flames that one can see are the Goddess herself, guiding people through her light, and removing evil from the heat and fire.
(Representative image from CanvaAI)

The Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar is the Devi temple where people go with their wishes or ‘mansha’ as it is called in Hindi, and also for protection from snake bites. Devotees visit Mansa Devi to ask for a certain blessing or wish, and in the tree growing nearby, they tie a thread with a certain intention. It is said that once the intention or wish is fulfilled, they must go back to untie the thread and then either immerse in the Ganga river or bury it under a sacred tree.

The Kalka Devi temple in Delhi is another very famous Devi temple and is dedicated to Maa Kaali. It is one of the oldest temples in Delhi, said to be over 3000 years old, and people from all over India, and the world visit Kalkaji temple to soak in the energies of Maa Kaali and the positivity that is present all around.

(Image:Shri Kalkaji Mandir/Facebook)

The Dhari Devi temple is one of the most sacred and respected temples in Uttarakhand dedicated to a Goddess. It is an extremely old temple with many beliefs and thoughts, and she is considered to be the protector of all.
Dhari Devi temple is dedicated to Maa Kali, a fierce form of Shakti, and it is believed that if Dhari Devi is moved from her spot, it will invite great disaster into the space. The idol of Maa Kali in the temple is carved with black stone, and it is said that her face changes throughout the day.