Durgiana Temple in the city of Amritsar

Good morning.

Durgiana Temple is an important Hindu temple situated in the city of Amritsar, Durgiana Temple is devoted to Goddess Durga. It is also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple and was built during the 16th century. Similar to the sarovar in Golden Temple, there is also a water tank or lake similar to the golden temple. It has carved silver gates and so


metimes is also called as the silver temple. There are also idols of Lord Krishna, and Lord Vishnu enshrined in the temple.

The original temple is reported to have been built in the 16th century.
It was rebuilt in 1921 by Guru Harsai Mal Kapoor in the architectural style of the Sikh Golden Temple.The newly built temple was inaugurated by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Even though Amritsar is not declared a Holy city, restrictions are in force prohibiting sale of tobacco, liquor and meat within a radius of 200 metres (660 ft) around this temple and the Golden Temple.

According to legend, the sacrificial horse was set loose following the Ashwamedha Yajna which Rama performed to stake claim over territories through which the stallion passed. It was here in Amritsar, at the site of the present Durgiana temple, that Luv and Kush, twin sons of Rama living in exile with their mother, Sita, captured the steed. Hanuman who came to defend the captured horse, was taken prisoner by the boys, and tied to a banyan tree. This event, centuries later, prompted the construction of the temple around the tree.

The tree is deemed to be a wish-fulfilling one that remains green throughout the year. Devotees go around it, offering flowers, applying turmeric and vermilion paste on it, seeking a host of favours.

Kali Devi Mandir, Patiala

Good morning.

Kali Devi Mandir, Patiala


One of the consecrated place of worship for the Hindus, the Kali Devi Mandir in the city of Patiala, Punjab, is devoted to the Hindu goddess Durga – an incarnation of Kali Mata (Mother Kali). Located on the Mall Road of this city, the magnificent temple lies just in front of the Baradari Garden next to the Rajendra Tank. The Patiala Kali Mata Mandir was built by the late Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1936. The Maharaja brought the six-foot idol of Kali Devi and the “pawan jyoti” (sacred flame) from the East Indian city of Calcutta. The temple is an architectural wonder from the great days gone by when the city was ruled by the great Patiala Maharajas, who were great promoters of art and culture.


TEMPLE HISTORY

Kali Puja is celebrated with a lot of gusto and fanfare in Bengal after Durga Puja during the time of Diwali. It is believed that Maharaja Krishnan Chandra of Nawadweep was the first to celebrate Kali Puja in his territory. Everyone was ordered to celebrate Kali Puja and thus 10,000 images of Kali were worshipped. Ratanti Kali Puja was celebrated in ancient times before the present Kali Puja. It is believed that the present form of Kali is due to a dream by a distinguished scholar of Indian charms and black magic (‘Tantra’) and the author of Tantric Saar, Krishnananda Agambagish. He was also a contemporary of Lord Chaitanya. In his dream, he was ordered to make her image after the first figure he saw in the morning. At dawn, Krishnananda saw a dark complexioned maid with her left hand protruding with her right making cow dung cakes. Her body was glowing with white dots. The vermillion spread over her forehead while she was wiping the sweat from it. The hair was untidy as well. When she came face to face with an elderly Krishnananda, she bit her tongue in shame. This posture of the housemaid was later utilized to envisage the idol of Goddess Kali. Thus, the image of Kali was formed.