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Durga Mandir
Swayambhu Temples,Muktiskhetras
Durga Temple, is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the Maa Durga. Durga Mandir was constructed in 18th century by Rani Bhabani of Natore.
Sthalam

 

Durga Mandir is also known as Durga Kund Mandir and Durga Temple, is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi.

This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the Maa Durga. Durga Mandir was constructed in 18th century by Rani Bhabani of Natore. 

Durga temple is also known as the Monkey temple (because of the presence of huge number of monkeys), situated in the Durga Kund, Varanasi. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. It was built in the 18th century. Durga temple was constructed by a Bengali Maharani in the north Indian Style with multi tiered shikhara. An attractive pond known as the Durga Kund is made on the right side of the temple which really increases the beauty of the temple. The pond has stone stairs at all sides as well as there is watch pillars at each corner of the pond.


Durga Mandir was constructed in 18th century by Bengali Maharani- Rani Bhabani of Natore. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. Next to the temple, is a kund (pond) which was earlier connected to the river Ganges. It is believed that the existing icon of the goddess was not made by a man but appeared on its own in the temple.

In adhyaya (chapter) 23 of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, this temple's origin is explained. As per the text, Kashi Naresh (king of Varanasi) called for a Swayamvar for his daughter Sashikala's marriage. The King later learnt that the princess was in love with vanvasi prince Sudarshan.

So Kashi Naresh got his daughter secretly married to the prince. When the other Kings (who were invited for Swayamvar) got to know about the marriage, they got angry and went on war with Kashi Naresh.

Sudarshan then offered prayers to Durga, who came on a lion and fought the war for Kashi Naresh and Sudarshan. After the war, Kashi Naresh pleaded to Durga to protect Varanasi and with that belief, this temple was constructed.

 

Puranam

 

Once, the Ayodhya king Dhriva sandhi had two wives known as Manorama and Lilavathi. They have son named Sudarsana (from Manorama) and Satrijith (from Lilavathi). Both sons were getting their education very well. One day, the king Dhriva sandhi went to hunt and killed by a lion.

The minister of the king had decided to make next to Sudarsana but the second wife of the king had opposed it. Yathajith (father of Lilavathi) made a plan to kill Sudarsana and Manorama got afraid. And she left the kingdom with her son and went to the saint Bharadwaja at Trikutaadri in order to save her child.

Once, Sudarsana was playing with his friends and heard Kleeba word (means impotent). After some days he forgot the actual word and uttered Kleem always. Saint noticed that educated him to worship, the Vaishnavi (Goddess reverenced by Kama beejakshara).

He started to worship the Goddess Vaishnavi and once She came in front of him. She was happy with him and given a spiritual Bow and arrows to always win in the battle field.

Sasikala (daughter of the king of Kashi, Subahu) was fallen in love with the Sudarsana as she heard more about him. One night, Mata Vaishnavi came in the dream of her and told to marry with the Sudarsana. Sudarsana went to the Swayamvara of Sasikala with his mother.

Satrijith was also there in the Swayamvara with his grandfather in law; Yathajith. He announced and warned Sasikala that she should select Satrijith as her husband otherwise he will kill both. Father of Sasikala was very afraid and tried to agree her daughter to marry with Satrijith. But she denied and told her father that Mata Vaishnavi would protect them.

Subahu married his daughter with the Sudarsana on that night. By hearing this event, Yathajith came with his army at the border of Kasi to fight with Sudarsana. A serious battle had started between them, then Goddess Durga become visible in front of them in the sky and killed both (Yathajith and Satrijith).

The whole army got afraid and went away from the battle field. In this way Sudarsana got victory on the battle. By knowing all this, Subahu also became devotee of the Goddess Vaishnavi and worship too much of Her. Goddess Vaishnavi became happy to him and asked him to get any boon from her.

Subahu prayed Her to reside in Kashi and defend them. Goddess Vaishnavi accepted and reside on the bank of Durga kundam, where Subahu constructed a temple. After victory Sudarsana went to the Ayodhya and started ruling Ayodhya.


 

 

Varnam

 

Durga Mandir was constructed in the 18th century (exact date of construction not known) by a Hindu Bengali Rani - Rani Bhabani of Natore. (Bengali queen).

Mandir as seen from north corner of Durgakund

 

The temple was built in North Indian Nagara style of architecture. The temple is painted red with ochre to match the colours of the central icon of Durga, the goddess of strength and power. Inside the temple, many elaborately carved and engraved stones can be found. The temple is made up of many small sikharas conjoined together.

Durga Kund

On the right side of the Durga temple, a rectangular tank of water known as Durga Kund (Kund means pond or pool). Earlier it was directly connected to the river so that it can automatically replenish. But currently the water channel is closed to block the water supply. The water in the pond is collected by the rain or drainage from the temple. At the occasion of Nag Panchami, the act of showing Lord Vishnu resting on the Shesha Nag is recreated every year in the Durga Kund.

Durga Kund (pond) next to the temple

 

 

Timings

 

 

Monday

(National Unity Day)

5am–10pm

Hours might differ

Tuesday 4am–10pm
Wednesday 5am–10pm
Thursday 5am–10pm
Friday 5am–10pm
Saturday 5am–10pm
Sunday 5am–10pm

 

Contact

 

27, Durgakund Rd, Durgakund, Anandbagh, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005

Contact : 091988 98999

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