Maa Vindhyavasini Temple is located in the small town of Vindhyachal in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh. Maa Durga is worshipped as Maa Vindhyavasini and is the family goddess (Kul Devi), Rakshak Devi and Kshetra Devi of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Vindhyavasini or Yogamaya or Ekanamsha is the name of a benevolent aspect of Durga. She is identified as Adi Parashakti.
Ashtabhuja Temple is 3 km and Kali Khoh Temple is 2 km from Maa Vindhyavasini Temple. Visiting these 3 temples one by one forms a Trikona (Triangle), which is a sacred parikrama for visiting devotees.
Maa Vindhyavasini is Mahishasur Mardini, as described in Durga Saptashati. The divine city Vindhyachal is exactly on the banks of the Ganges, and strategically located exactly between two highly divine Hindu cities Prayag (Allahabad) and Kashi (Varanasi).
Most of the statues in this temple complex are made of black stone. One of the main idols is that of Ma Vindhyavasini, who is shown sitting on a lion. She is a representation of Goddess Lakshmi, one of the three main Hindu goddesses. The Vindhyavasini temple attracts a large number of visitors every day, especially on Tuesdays and during the full moon. During the holy festival of Navaratri, which means “Nine Nights,” a huge crowd of devotees comes to seek the blessings of Ma Vindhyavasini.
Other deities in the temple complex are Goddess Kali, Goddess Saraswati, God Shiva, Divine duo Radha- Krishna, Sri Hanuman and Sri Bhairava
Vindhyachal Maa Vindhyavasini Temple Timings:
4:00 AM to 12:00 PM
1:00 PM to 7:30 PM
8:30 PM to 9:30 PM
10:30 PM to 3:00 AM
Vindhyavasini Temple Aarti and Shringar Timings:
Maa Vindhyavasini Darshan is not available during Arti and Shringar hours, so if you have time constraints you can avoid visiting the temple during these hours. This process is performed four times a day, as follows:
On Normal Days:
4:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Mangla Aarti or Pratah Aarti
1:00 PM to 7:30 PM – Rajashree Aarti or Madhyanha Aarti
8:30 PM to 9:30 PM – Chhoti Aarti or Sandhya Aarti
10:30 PM to 12:00 PM – Badee Aarti or Shayan Aarti
On Navaratri Days:
Mangala Aarati or Pratah Aarati- 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM
Rajashree Aarati or Madhyanha Aarti- 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Chhoti Aarati or Sandhya Aarti- 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Badee Aarati or Shayan Aarti- 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Maa Vindhyavasini Temple History:
As it is believed, the Shakti Peeths were created on earth, where Sati’s body parts fell. But Vindhayachal is the place and a Shaktipeeth, where Devi had chosen to reside after his birth. At the time of Krishna’s birth as the eighth son of Devaki-Vasudeva, Maha-Yogini Mahamaya was born at the same time in Nanda-Yashoda and, according to the instructions of Sri Vishnu, Vasudev had replaced Krishna with this daughter of Yashoda.
When Kansa tried to kill this girl, she escaped from Kansa’s hand and became Devi and informed him that whoever would kill him was already born, safe, and vanished from Mathura prison. Then she choose the Vindhyachal Mountains to reside, where this temple is located. The temple is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in India. The Vindhyavasini Devi is also known as the Kajala Devi. The goddess Kali is adorned in the form of Vindhyavasini Devi.
According to other Hindu mythologies, it is believed that Goddess Durga had killed Demon King Mahishasura and settled in this region. This is also the reason why she is known as Vindhyavasini in the regions of Vindhyanchal. Another popular name of this temple is Kajala Devi, during the month of Jyeshtha (summer season-June) there is a folk competition held at this place, known as the Kajali competition. This contest is one of the biggest draws for residents of this place.
Vindhyachal Temple Interesting Facts:
- The current standard Indian TimeLine, which determines the time zone for the whole of India, goes through the idol of the goddess “Vindhyavasini”.
- Sri Rama had visited this place and the surroundings, with Maa Sita and his brother Lakshmana during their period of exile.
- In ancient times, the Vindhyachal region was inhabited by lions, elephants and other animals.
- In the Middle Ages, notorious and murderous Pindari thugs, Hindus and Muslims, worshiped the goddess Vindhyavasini of Vindhyachal.
- Vindhyachal is the only place in the world, where the three forms of goddesses, Sri Lakshmi, Mata Kali and Maa Saraswati Devi have specific temples dedicated to them.
- Vindhyachal is the only place in the world where Devi is worshipped according to the principles of ‘Vaam maarg’, as well as the ‘Dakshina Maarg’ of the Hindu cult Shakti.
- The famous war between the goddess Durga and the demon king Mahishasur took place in Vindhyachal.
- Parvati had performed meditation at this place for God Shiva and got the name, Aparna.
- Sri Rama performed the Shrad-Tarpan of his ancestors at Ramganga Ghat and established the Rameshwaram Linga. He also established the Ramkund.
- Sri Vishnu received Sudarshan Chakra at this place.
Vindhyachal Temple Attraction:
- Maa Vindhyavasini Temple
- Ashtabhuja Temple
- Sita Kund
- Kali Khoh
- Narad Ghat
- Gerua Talab
- Motiya Talab
- Lal Bhairav and Kal Bhairav Temples
- Ekdant Ganesh
- Sakshi Gopal Temple
- Goraksha-Kund
- Sapta Sarovar
- Matsyendra Kund
- Tarkeshwar Nath Temple
- Bhairav Kund
How to Reach Vindhyachal Temple:
By Air:
Babatpur Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is the nearest Airport which is approximately 72 km from Ma Vindhyavasini Temple, Vindhyachal.
By Rail:
The nearest Railway Station is at Vindhyachal just 1 km from Maa Vindhyavasini Temple.
By Road:
The distance from Aurai is 19 km, Gopiganj is 25 km, and Varanasi is 63 km. If you want to use Public Transport, a sufficient number of Uttar Pradesh State Transport Buses are available from Allahabad and Varanasi.
Maa Vindhyavasini Mandir Address:
Maa Vindhyavasini Mandir,
Vindhyachal Dham,
Mirzapur,
Uttar Pradesh – 231307
Phone: +91-9999 999 999
E-mail: vindhyachalmata@gmail.com