‘
  ‘ 


 

In Hinduism, 
is an incarnation of 
, consort to 
. She is the
divine mother, 'The Bearer of the Greens'

It is said that in times of famine, Goddess Durga comes down and gives vegan food,
(Shaka comes from Sanskrit. means vegetables and vegan food. Ambari means one who
wears or bears), to the hungry. That is why she is called "Shaka" + "Ambari" =
'Shakambhari'.
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According to Vedas and Puranas only one single power called " 
 " exist. (
Not the Brahna of guna rup of Brahm such as: Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh ) The "Para
Brahm" or   as such has no conditions like birth or death. It has no attributes
like form or qualities. Yet this seeming creation is nothing but " " of "Para Brahm".
This "Leela" is carried out with the help of " 

" or ‘. This Maya is an
inseparable ingredient of Parmatma. Therefore, there is no beginning or end of this
Leela of creation (Brahm), maintenance (Vishnu) and destruction (Mahesh.) The
concept of Maya as Mother of the universe i.e. 

serves the mortals to overcome
the process
of birth and death.C

This Maya -Mula-Prakriti - Adi Parashakti has been conceived as the highest divine
force. Our Puranas refer to various forms and incarnation of Maya. Each incarnation has
a purpose and in every case only to protect the pious and punish the wicked.C

9 







‘ ‘  






 



‘
  ‘ .C
Maa Shakambari glory was originally told by 

to ‘
 
and 

 
and has references in Skanda Purana.C

Every incarnation of 
has been named after the "Leela" she perform under the
influence of  

 

" like ‘
 

who killed demon
Mahishasur.C

Most common name for the worship of the Shakti is "  ". Under what "Leela"
performed by Adi Parashakti that She is known to this world as Durga. This name
attributed to the Adi Shakti because of the following "Leela".C

Once upon a time there was a  

   who worshiped Brahma for years
together. As a result he had acquired all the four books of total knowledge,  from
Brahma through penance. He also gets a boon from Lord Brahma that makes sure that
all the pujas, yajnas and havanas being offered to the Devtas reach him instead making
him invincible. Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world.C

C
C

C
As the consequence, devtas become weak and were not able to perform their duties
properly. Therefore it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by
very severe drought. The rishis and munis take refuge in the caves of the Himalayas, and
meditate upon the Supreme Shakti. The Shakti appeared in front of them bearing a
wonderful form! She had countless number of eyes upon her that gave her the name
  . She was so moved by their plights that tears rolled down from her eyes for
nine continuous days and nights. The tears took the form of a river.C

C
Than SHE saw that the rishis and munis has nothing to eat. So she appeared in a form
bearing grains, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs and medicines - and
was hence called ‘
  ‘ . The rishis, munis and the Devtas then
requested that she recover Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam and make sure
that the share of Devtas of puja, yagna and havanas goes to Devtas so that they become
powerful and can perform their duties properly.

C
Durgam came to know that again people were living happily through his messengers
and immediately attacked with a large army. Maa Shakambari protected the frail rishis,
munis, Devtas and others by putting up a huge wall of fire around them, and then let her
discuss hover around it. C
There ensued a tremendous battle between the Maa Shakambari and Durgam. At last
Maa Shakambari, killed Durgam with her trident and recovered The Veda from his
possession. At that very moment all the mantras and japas that were performed by the
rishis, munis and devtas had performed earlier but were absorbed by the demon
Durgam due to his boon, transformed into a bright light of a 10000 Suns and entered
the Devi. C
From Her body Maa Shakambari manifested the ten most powerful powers who has
never been in universe before called  
" and 64000 other

. She then handed over The Veda to the deities.






 
 






 
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The splendid form of Shakambari Devi is de scribed in detail in   

in
the last chapter named ‘ 

 . According to this, the goddess is of blue
color. Her eyes are like lotus flower. Navel is slightly below the normal place with three
curves. She bears breasts of a virgin. A lotus is carried in her hand, which is thronged by
bees. The other hand carries arrows. Other hands carry flowers, roots, and vegetables,
fruits symbolizing the goddess of vegetation, who feeds us and keeps us away from
disease. One hand is carrying a bow representing her fierce-ness. C
This is the appearance of 

 
, 
and   . This goddess
removes the grief and calamities and terrorizes demons. The devotee of this goddess,
worshiping mother by hymns, meditation, Japa and bhajans, attains the fruits of food,
drink and infinite bliss.C


C
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 C
At present only a few temples of Maa Shakambari are known. We are giving here list and
little description of all these.C
C
¬ 
 

! 
C
C
A temple proposed to be built for Shakambari in Chennai, Tamilnadu, where a beautiful
Murti of the Goddess Shakambari is consecrated. Shakambari Navratri and other
Navratri are being celebrated since 2001 at Shakambaripuram. Please contact
Murthy_pr@yahoo.co.in for further information.C
C
© 





"
   C
C
This temple is one of the 51 Shakti peeth where parts of the Sati fell. It is believed that
head of the sati felled here. The Devi temple situated in the Jasmour village area 40 Kms
north of Saharanpur on the Shivalik hills ranges dates back to ancient times. The
popularity of this temple has been increasing day by day and many devotees visit this
temple for "Darshan".Twice a year, in the months of Ashwin and Chetra the famous
Shakambari mela is organized during the days of Navratri. The idols of the Shakambari
temples do not seem to be of an ancient architecture. Some people believe that this
temple was constructed by the Marathas. Others believe that

   
performed his Tapshaya here and that these idols were installed by him in this temple.It
is said that Maa Shakambari killed Mahishasur Maha Daitya. It is also believed about
Shakambari that the Devi performed Tapas for 100 years, having a vegetarian meal only
once at the end of every month. During this time the Rishis Munis, who came for Devi¶s
Darshan, were welcomed and honored with vegetarian meals. Because of this the temple
was named as Shakambari devi temple.C
About one kilo meter east of Shakambari lies the Bhura Dev, the 
 temple which
is considered to be the guard and companion of Shakambari Devi. Because of this all of
the devotees to Shakambari first visit Bhura Dev temple.C
C

  

 

 
C


As per Skanda Purana having moved out of Kashi, rishi Agastya was sad and to pacify
him Kashi Vishwanath directed rishi to go to Kolhapur where Kashi Vishwanath dwells
in the form of Mahalakshmi. Accordingly rishi Agastya reaches and worships Maa
Mahalakshmi. She pleased with the devotion of rishi appears before him and directs him
to go to Tilakaranya where She is in the form of "Banashankari". She assures rishi
Agastya that by worshiping Maa Shakambari he will get the benefit of living in Kashi.C
The famous Banashankari Temple is located at Cholachigud about 5 kilometers from
Badami - the historic capital of Chalukyas. Here Banashankari or Shakambari is the
form of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Banashankari Devi is also said to be
worshiped by mighty Chalukyas as Kuladevi. Idol of Goddess Banashankari is of
Blackstone. Here the Goddess can be seen seated on lion and trampling a demon by
foot. The Goddess has eight arms holding trishul-damaruga, kapaalpatra, ghanta, Veda
scripts and khadg-kheta etc.C
C

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# C

The idols here are of Brahmani and Rudrani. Both the idols are lion riding goddesses in
the posture of killing Mahishasura. They both are eight armed. Their faces are
Vermillion pasted. The only difference between the two is of the stone. That of
Brahmani is made of marble while that of Rudrani is made of locally available med
stone.C
Sadhus of Nath cult have been the priests of this temple.
The Shikhar of the temple bear highly artistic statuettes of gods and goddesses. On a
platform of the elegantly hewn stones is placed a silver throne with drawn patterns there
on. This is the seat for the deities. Mandapa or the prayer portico was initially built in
the Vikram Samvat 699 (647 A.D.). Afterwards in 11th and 12th centuries it was repaired
and renovated. The present edifice came is this shape in the Vikram Samvat 1970 (1913
A.D.). The work was accomplished on the 7th day of bright half of Vaisakha in Samvat
1980 (1923 A.D.). The huge temple in its present form was built by Seth Ram Gopal
Dangayach and his family.C
C
î
  

 

 
C
C

The Banashankari temple of Bangalore dates back to the year 1915. It was founded by
Somanna Shetty, a devotee of Banashankari Amma. He brought a deity of Amma from
Badami, in Bijapur district, and installed it inside the temple. Situated on the
Kanakapura Road, the temple now comes under the management and control of the
Endowment Department of the Government of Karnataka. Given below is more
information on the Banashankari Temple of Bangalore, India.

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9

  
One of the unique features of this temple is that the deity is worshipped in Rahukala,
considered to be an inauspicious time according to Hindus. It is believed that
worshipping Banashankari Amma in Rahukala rids one of all the hardships and
paucities in life. There is a large rush of devotees in the temple, especially on Tuesdays,
Fridays and Sundays, considered to quite auspicious for doing puja. The prayers are
offered by lighting multiple oil lamps in half cut lemon peels, whose pulp has been
removed.


!  
! 


Three cultural ceremonies are held at the Banashankari temple of Bangalore, every year.
The first ceremony, commemorating the birth anniversary of Banashankari Amma, is
held on 13th September. The second one is held as a celebration of the Dussehra festival,
in October-November. The third, and the last, ceremony is held in the last week of
December or the first week of January, to mark the anniversary of the temple.

&
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Ancient Temple of Goddess Shakambhari is situated at Sakarai about 15 km from
Udaipur Wati which is about 29 km from Sikar(Rajasthan). Also there is three temples
of Mata Shakambhari in Kolkata. Since tears rolled out from goddess eye for 9 days and
night continuously the biggest worship practice is celebration of '  
‘

being held in the month of Chaitra and Aasoj for nine days each. Two more Navratras
are also celebrated but they are known as 'Gupt Navratras'

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7. Maa Shakambari temple ± Kedar Hills, Uttrakhand

This is in my belief is the oldest temple of Maa Shakambari. But I have not much
information about this temple. It is said that this area is Maa Shakambari Kshetra. This
is the place where rishis-munis did Tapsaya of Adi para Shakti, as explained in Shiv-
Puranas (Uma- Samhita). And first appears as Maa Shatakshi and than as Maa
Shakambari and killed demon Durgam.

This temple is located in Kedar hills, 6 Kms before Gauri-Kund, on way to Kedar Nath
temple; there is an uphill road on the left hand side for Triyugi Narayan temple. On this
way 3 Kms before Triyugi Narayan temple, you will find a sign-board indicating a path-
way towards this temple. On going down the slope you will find this temple. The
surroundings of the temple are beautiful Himalayan peaks, covered with snow and
dense forest; you may not found another visitor for the day.

Regarding the purity and power of this area, I can share my experience that after doing
the pooja here, I just sat in front of the temple on down slope and did meditation. And I
have never felt myself in so deep engrossed in meditation, and vision of Maa Shatakshi,
Maa Shakambari and what is Durgam and the Leela played by this powers, all is
visualized and understood. In my opinion for meditation, it is the best place on earth, I
saw.

a
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(
#
This temple of Maa Shakambari is new, built by one of the salt merchant who is doing
salt farming on the back side of this temple. Historically there was a dacoit of Robin
Hood style in this area some 180 years ago and he used to worship Maa Shakambari
here at the same place. The idols he worshipped are also kept in the temple along a
grand and beautiful marble statue of Maa Shakambari. This temple is located near
highway only.
C