Jageshwari Mata Temple

Pilgrimage

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Chanderi Bus Station): 2 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins - 1 Hr

Transportation Options: Cab / Auto

Travel Tips: None

At a distance of 2 km from Chanderi Bus Station, Jageshwari Mata Temple is a Hindu shrine located in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on a hillside, it is one of the important religious Chanderi places to visit.

Jageshwari Temple is an open cave and is dedicated to Goddess Durga who is a Swamyabhu - self-manifested. The initial temple was built during the Mahabharata period by Shishupal. It is believed that certain elements of the current temple were constructed between the 6th and 11th centuries. The murti of Mother Goddess Jageshwari worshipped in the temple is believed to have been the form in which she gave darshan to Shishupal who was an ardent devotee of Goddess Durga.

The murti worshipped in the temple only has its head. According to legend, King Kurmadeva was troubled because he was suffering from leprosy. He reached this mountain range on his hunting expedition and saw a waterfall here. He extended his hands to drink water, the disease of his hands was removed as soon as he touched the water, after which the king took a bath with that water, then his leprosy was completely cured. Near the waterfall, the king saw a divine girl. When the king tried to talk to the girl, the girl disappeared. When the king reached his palace, he saw the same divine girl in the night and told him to build a grand temple for her at the waterfall, but do not open the door for nine days. The king started the construction of the temple, but he opened the door of the temple on the third day, due to which only the face of the mother has been revealed here.
The modern temple has been built around the cave to accommodate the devotees who come for darshan and puja. The subsidiary shrines in the temple are dedicated to various forms of Shiva and Goddess Shakti. The temple complex has a unique Shivling which has 1100 lingams carved on it. Another lingam is carved with the faces of Lord Shiva on all four sides. There are two ponds near the temple in which cold water is always available. This water comes from the springs on the top of the mountain.

Every year a fair is organized in Chanderi in the name of Jageshwari Mata. During the days of Chautriya and Shardiya Navratri, there is a huge crowd of devotees from morning till late night. It is said that Mother Jageshwari Devi had appeared here only in Navratri. There are two ways to reach the temple, the first way goes directly to the temple through the fort route and the second way reaches the temple directly below the stairs located near the fort.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free