Jayanti Devi Temple, Punjab

Address

Majrian, Mohali district,

Punjab 133301

Amman

Jayanti Devi

Introduction

Jayanti Devi Temple lies at Jayanti Majri village hillock, which is 15 km from Chandigarh in Mohali district of Punjab. Amidst the lush green surroundings with intermittent blue of the lakes, above the settlements of the tiny village of Jayanti Majri, stands a hillock on which is situated the Jayanti Mata Mandir. Jayanti Devi is considered to be a benevolent goddess who fulfils the wishes of her devotees. She is one of the seven sisters, the seven goddesses of the Kangra valley. It is believed that the actual Temple of Jayanti Devi was in Himachal Pradesh.

Puranic Significance

The original Jayanti Mata temple was built by Pandavas in Himachal Pradesh. Legend behind the shifting of the shrine, talks about a young princess who was an ardent devotee of Jayanti Mata. When her wedding was fixed, she was filled with grief at the thought of going far from the deity of the Goddess she worshipped every day. The Goddess appeared in the young girl’s dreams and promised to go with her wherever she went. After the wedding ceremonies, when it was time for the bride to go, a strange thing happened. The doli turned so heavy that no one could move it. The bride told the father about her dream. The King removed the idol from the shrine and gave it to his daughter. The priest and his family also followed the Goddess. The king of Hathnaur, to whose brother the princess was married to, then established a temple for the Devi on a hillock in his estate. The temple was renovated and extended by a robber named Garibdas, a devotee of Mata. The temple is said to be more than 1000 years old.

Special Features

She is one of the seven sisters, the seven goddesses of the Kangra valley: Naina Devi, Jawalamukhi, Chintpurni, Mata Mansa Devi, Brajeshwari, Chamunda Devi and Jayanti Devi. As a sign of reverence to Mata Jayanti Devi, the villagers of Jayanti Majri restrict the construction of their houses to only a single storey. An ancient well at the base of the temple provides sweet water throughout the year. Jayanti Devi is considered to be a very sensitive and benevolent goddess who listens to the prayers of her devotees.

The entrance to the temple is through a huge gate at the base of the hillock. From here about 100 or so easy steps lead up to the temple premises. As one climbs up, the first thing one encounter is a very large water tank, a traditional feature of Indian temples. It is a concrete construction and steps lead down to it from two sides. The other two sides are bound by the rocky wall of the hillock. There are a few shops along the steps selling nicknacks — coconut, red net chunnies, fancy jewellery, cassettes of devotional songs, toys, photos of the idol etc. The temple is at the highest point of the hillock supported by massive pillars. Inside the sanctum sanctorum lies the stone idol of the goddess. In the niches outside there are Murtis of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Bala Sundari and local deity Lokda Dev.