Chhatarpur (Shri Aadya Katyayani Shakti Peetham) Temple, Delhi

Address

Chhatarpur (Shri Aadya Katyayani Shakti Peetham) Temple

Anand Vihar Rd, Jagriti Enclave,

Anand Vihar, Delhi, 110092

Amman

Aadya Katyayani

Introduction

Chhatarpur Temple (Shri Aadya Katyayani Shakti Peetham) is a temple dedicated to the goddess Katyayani. The entire complex of the temple is spread over a wide area of 28 hectares (70 acres). It is located in Chhatarpur, on the southwestern outskirts of the New Delhi.

Puranic Significance

The temple was established in 1974, by Baba Sant Nagpal ji, who died in 1998. His samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex.

STORY OF THIS SHAKTIPEETH

The story of this Shaktipeeth is woven inextricably around the life of its Founder the great Saint Shree Durga- Charan-anuragi Baba Sant Nagpal, who was so full of humility that in his lifetime he did not permit his disciples to glorify his name in any manner. ‘Baba’ (to his devotees) was born in Karnataka on the auspicious full-moon day of the Holi festival in 1981 of Vikram Samvat (corresponding to Tuesday the 10th March). He lost his parents at a very tender age. It was at the time of cremation of his mother that an unknown lady took the grieving child to the adjacent Temple of Mother Goddess and told him that SHE was the real universal Mother who would always remain with him.

Ever since that moment, the Divine Mother gave him shelter in her own lap. On his part also, it has been an unquestioned dedication and total surrender to the Divine Mother in thought, word and deed. For Baba, She was a living reality with who he remained in communication and never did anything without seeking her permission and blessings.

Special Features

It is the 2nd largest temple in Delhi, after the Akshardham Temple. This temple is constructed from marble and on all of the facets there is jaali (perforated stone or latticed screen) work. It can be classified a vesara style of architecture.

The entire temple complex spread over 24 ha (60 acres), has over 20 small and large temples divided in three different complexes. The main deity in the temple is Goddess Katyayani, who is part of Navadurga, the nine forms of goddess Durga or Shakti, worshipped during the Navratri celebrations.

A side shrine within the main temple houses a shrine of Goddess Katyayani (Durga), which opens only during the bi-annual Navratri season, when thousands of people throng the premises for darshan. One nearby room has been made as living room with tables and chairs made in silver, and another regarded as the Shayan Kaksha (bedroom), where a bed, dressing table and table are carved in silver. This shrine opens to a large satsang or prayer hall, where religious discourses and bhajans, (religious songs) are held. At the entrance to the main temple stands an old tree, where devotees tie holy threads for wish fulfilment. Another shrine of Durga is open to devotee’s morning to evening; it lies above the shrines dedicated to Radha Krishna, and Ganesh.

Apart from this, the complex also has other temples dedicated to Rama, Ganesha and Shiva. The temples have been built in both South and North Indian style of temple architecture.