Chhinnamasta Temple
Chhinnamastika Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Ramgarh district |
Deity | Chhinnamasta |
Festivals | Makar Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Vijayadashami |
Location | |
Location | Rajrappa |
State | Jharkhand |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 23°37′56″N 85°41′38″E / 23.63222°N 85.69389°E |
Chhinnamastika Temple dedicated to Goddess
The Chhinnamasta temple is popular for its Tantric style of architectural design. Apart from the main temple, there are ten temples of various deities such as the Surya, Hanuman and Shiva.[3]
History of Rajarappa
It was this place where the Raja of
Etymology
Chhinnamasta (
Geography
Chhinnamasta temple is located at Rajrappa, 28 km away from Ramgarh Cantonment along NH 20 in the Ramgarh district of the State of Jharkhand, India. It is situated on a hillock at the confluence of the Damodar and Bhera (Bhairavi River) rivers near the Rajrappa falls.
This location has a special significance. It is at the union of Bhairavi nadi (female) coming from top, meeting Damodar nada (male) signifying the vipareeta rati ("opposite copulation") pose as described in Devi Chhinnamasta's dhyana (vipareeta rataturam). Here Bhairavi is active shakti and Damodar is the male passive member of rati action. Damodar is very calm and Bhairavi is the active member.
Description
A natural rock covered with an ashtadhatu (eight-metal alloy) kavacha (cover) is worshipped as the goddess Chhinnamasta. Though well-established as a centre of Chhinnamasta by the 18th century, the site is a popular place of worship among tribals since ancient times. Kheer and animal sacrifice are offered to the goddess.[5][6]
Many smaller temples have been built around the main temple such as the temples of Ashtamatrika and Dakshina Kali. The temples of Mahavidyas built in a series nearby are Tara, Shodashi, Bhuvaneswari, Bhairavi, Bagla, Kamla, Matangi, Dhumavati.
The temple is very old and is flocked by devotees from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal Assam and Nepal for worship of Goddess Chinnamastika. Vedic book Durga Saptashati also mentions the temple. The art and architectural design resembles the design of temples of Tantrik importance. The temple is considered as notable as the tantrik site of Kamakhya Temple of Assam which has a similar architecture. The temple is one of the 10 Mahavidhyas.The ancient temple of Goddess was destroyed and later a new temple was constructed and the original idol of Goddess was placed in it. Animal sacrifice is still practised in the temple. The sacrificial animals are killed on Tuesdays, Saturdays and during Kali puja.
A large number of pilgrims arrive here throughout the year. Large congregation of people takes place here during the
Rajrappa also is a pilgrim centre for the
In the month of January a special fair is held here on the festival of
Besides religious importance, the place is also a picnic spot owing to its natural environment.[citation needed] The hilly landscape covered with lush forest and rivers are some of its features.[original research?] The hot water spring located here increases the popularity of the region.[citation needed] The Bhera River joins the Damodar River from a height of 20 feet creating a waterfall. The location has boating facilities and visitors can take boat rides in the locality having various rock formations along the river bank. The place also attracts many foreign tourists due to its natural and religious importance.
See also
Notes
- ^ "2009 - SAARC disaster Management Report" (PDF). SAARC DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ Prasad, Basudeo (1 January 2009). "Sustainable eco-tourism development: A case study of Jharkhand state". Spectrum. 1 (1): 62. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Rajrappa Temple". Official Website of Ramgarh district. Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "Burglary committed in Chhinnamastika temple". The Times of India. 3 July 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ Benard (2000, p. 146)
- ^ R Mahalakshmi (2014, pp. 206–13)
References
- Benard, Elisabeth Anne (2000). Chinnamastā: The Aweful Buddhist and Hindu Tantric Goddess. ISBN 978-81-208-1748-7.
- R Mahalakshmi (2014). "Tantric Visions, Local Manifestations: The Cult Center of Chinnamasta at Rajrappa, Jharkhand". In Sree Padma (ed.). Inventing and Reinventing the Goddess: Contemporary Iterations of Hindu Deities On the Move. ISBN 978-0-7391-9001-2.