The Kunjapuri temple can be seen on the top of the hill from Rishikesh town. There are many local devotees, who start their new year visiting the temples to receive the blessings of Goddess. Every year a gang of bikers from Rishikesh, visit Kunjapuri temple on 1st January. From there, they continue their journey towards Surkanda Devi temple.
Shrine’s History
According to Hindu mythology, the father of Sati was not pleased when his daughter married Lord Shiva. He organised a yagna but didnt invite Sati or Lord Shiva. Sati got angry and went there uninvited. Her father humiliated Lord Shiva in public. Disturbed by this, Sati jumped into the fire and ended her life. When Lord Shiva came to know about this, he destroyed the yagna and carried Satis body on his shoulders towards the Himalayas. Lord Brahma felt that if the final rites are not completed, she couldnt take rebirth as goddess Parvati. Then Lord Vishnu took his Sudarshan Chakra and cut her body into pieces. So while Lord Shiva was carrying the dead body of Goddess Sati in his arms and wandering through the Himalayas, the body parts of Goddess Sati fell down at different places. These places are called as Shakti Peethas. There are 52 Shakti Peethas around Nepal and India. The Kunjapuri temple is located where a chest of the Goddess was fallen. This temple is one of the 3 shakti peethas in Tehri District and was founded by Jagadguru Shankaracharya. The other 2 shakti peethas are Surkanda Devi temple & Chandrabadni Devi temple.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
The nearest bus stop is Rishikesh
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Rishikesh
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant,Dehradun.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Navaratri Dussehra
Extra Information About this Shrine
The temple can be visited throughout the year. Especially during the months of Navratri (which comes twice a year-April & October, you can also check Hindu calendar to know the dates) and to celebrate the Dusshera Festival, thousands of devotees visit this temple.
