Naina Devi Temple Nainital

Introduction to the Naina Devi Temple

The Naina Devi Temple in Nainital, Uttarakhand, is a highly revered pilgrim spot. It lies on the top of Naina Hill and the northern shore of Nainital Lake. This is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths. Naina Devi Temple is also called Mahisha Peeth because she was said to have defeated the demon Mahishasura. Maa Naina Devi is the presiding deity of the Naina Devi Temple, represented by two netras (eyes).

Legend of the Naina Devi Temple

According to the temple legend, Sati, the daughter of Maharaja Daksha Prajapati, was married to Shiva. Daksha did not like Shiva. Once, Daksha conducted a Yagna at his place. He called all the Devas except his son-in-law Shiva and daughter Sati. But Sati went to the place without her father's invitation. Daksha humiliated Sati by disgracing Shiva in front of all. The angered Sati jumped into the Yagna fire and immolated herself.

When Shiva came to know that his wife Sati had died of self-immolation, he destroyed Daksha's Yagnashala and beheaded him. He carried Sati's burnt corpse and began his Rudra Tandava dance. To appease his anger, Vishnu, using his divine Sudarshana chakra, severed Sati's body into many pieces, which fell on the earth. The places where the body parts fell are now recognized as Shakti Peeths.

Sati's eyes are believed to have fallen where the present Naina Devi Temple is situated.

The Architecture of the Naina Devi Temple

The Naina Devi Temple goes back to the Kushan period. It was built in the 15th century AD. Moti Ram Shah, a devotee of Naina Devi, installed her idol in 1842. The temple was severely damaged due to frequent landslides in 1880. Again, in 1883, local people rebuilt the temple using their funds since they had deep faith in Maa Naina Devi.

There is a vast courtyard inside the Naina Devi Temple. There is a sacred Peepal tree on the left, and idols of Ganesh and Hanuman are on the right side of the courtyard. Two lion statues are on either side of the sanctum. Three figures of deities are sculpted in the inner sanctum; two Netras (eyes) in the center area represent Naina Devi, to her left is Mata Kali, and to her right is Ganesha.

The sanctum is a square-shaped building with two pediments and a triangular dome. Terracotta tiles cover the slopes of the pediments, making them visually appealing.

People can see a Shiva Linga on a porch near the lake area. A metal serpent with a hood protects the Linga. The shrine is painted red, white, and yellow to resemble a Hindu temple.

Festivals in the Naina Devi Temple

The Naina Devi Temple conducts a grand fair for eight days during Nanda Ashtami, which falls between August and September. On the eighth day, Nanda Devi and Naina Devi's idols are immersed and celebrated in the ritual of Visarjan. The temple also attracts huge crowds of devotees during Navratri and Chaitra who come to worship Maa Naina Devi and receive her blessings.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Naina Devi Temple

People believe that Naina Devi never disappoints her devotees. Whoever gets her darshan in the Naina Devi Temple can expect the fruition of their desires almost immediately. Naina Devi is renowned for wish fulfillment.