Chaurasi Temple is located in the center of Bharmour town and it holds immense religious importance because of temples built around 1400 years ago. Life of people in Bharmour centers around the temple complex-Chaurasi, named so because of 84 shrines built in the periphery of Chaurasi Temple.
Shrine’s History
Chaurasi Temple Complex was built approximately in the 7th century, although repairs of many temples have been carried out in a later period. There are 84 big and small temples in Chaurasi temple complex.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
The legend regarding Chaurasi temple is that in ancient time when this beautiful place Brahmpura was present, One day as the goddess Brahmani Devi went somewhere, then Lord Shiva reached there with 84 Sidhas while visiting Manimahesh Kailash. God Shiva wanted to leave 84 Sidhas, perhaps they choose this place to leave them. When in evening Goddess Brahmani Devi, the presiding deity of the place seen the smoke of fires lit by the Sidhas, she felt very angry due to this She came down to the garden and ordered Shiva and the Sidhas to get out of the place. Lord Shiva told with all his humility for allowing them to spend a night in their beautiful garden as they are tired, and promised to leave early in the morning.
Goddess Brahmani accepted to their wishes and went away to Dughashaar from where she cannot see the smoke of fires lit by the Sidhas. Chaurashi Temple In morning God Shiva left the 84 sleeping Sidhas and went to Manimahesh Kailash, but the 84 Sidhas transformed themselves into 84 Shivlingas as they did not want to go anywhere and wished to settle there. After that, Lord Shiva granted a boon to goddess Brahmani Devi that all persons intending to go on pilgrimage to Manimahesh must have a dip in their holy pool. Failing this, their pilgrimage would not be acceptable to Lord Shiva. That’s why every visitor firstly takes bath in Brahmani’s holy pool before visiting the Manimahesh Lake.
Brahmani holy pool is about 20 square meters below Brahmani’s cave. Goddess Brahmani had stolen this holy water from Lord Sandhola Naag which is another side of the ridge. Chaurasi was the level area on which the eighty-four temples were standing and the name was attributed to the 84 Sidhas who are believed to have meditated in Bharmour over 100 years who supposed to come from Kurukshetra while visiting Manimahesh Kailash. Chaurashi Temple The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers you a delightful, clean and a scenic view. The complex is surrounded by numerous schools. The most extraordinary site of the complex is the tallest temple of Manimahesh, which is built in the Shikhara style of architecture. Another temple built in the same style is that of Lord Vishnu cast in his Nar Singh Avtar.
Legend has it that in the 10th century, 84 Sidhas visited Bharmour; they blessed the ruler Raja Sahil Varman with ten sons and a daughter Champavati whom the town of Chamba is said to be named. And while some shrines were already in existence, the Raja had the remainder built to commemorate their sojourn. These include the Lakhna Devi Temple, the Ganesh Temple and the Nar Singh Temple. Installed in the sanctum of the Lakhna Devi Temple is an exquisite brass image of the goddess, the temple of Lord Dharamraj is also in the Chaurasi and only one in the whole world.
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
Chaurasi is a spacious level ground in center of Bharmour where the galaxy of temples mostly in the form of Shivlingas exists. The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers a delightful, clean and a scenic view. Another temple built in the same style is that of Lord Vishnu cast in his Narasimha avatar.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
Bharmaur is 65-km away from Chamba along an attractive hill road that follows the river for much of its route. During the yatra days of Chaurashi, the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation provides special bus services between Chamba and Bharmaur. Chamba is the 56-km drive from Dalhousie, which is well linked by road with public and private transport. Bharmaur is situated 80-km away from Dharamsala Bharmaur is well connected by motorable roads with major towns of Himachal Pradesh like Chamba, Kangra, Dharamshala, Dalhousie etc.
By Rail
The nearest broad gauge railhead to Bharmaur is located in Pathankot at a distance of 163kms. The nearest narrow gauge railway station to Bharmaur is situated in Kangra. Kangra Railway Station is situated at a distance of 83kms from Bharmour. Buses and taxis are available to Bharmaur from Pathankot and Kangra.
By Air
The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport.The distance from Gaggal Airport to Bharmour is 85kms.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Shivaratri,Ganesh Chaturthi,Navaratri
