Search This Website

Durga Temple(Monkey Temple) in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh

Here is Some information about Durga Temple in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh india.

Location:Near to Durga Ghat  on the banks of the holy Ganges River in Varanasi.
Built in:18th century
Built by:Bengali Maharani
Dedicated to:Goddess Durga
Entry:free
Photography:Allow
Attraction: Design Pattern and Busts
Temple Timing:5:00 Am to 10 Pm
Visiting Timing:30 Mins

Best time to Visit: March to Oct

Nearest Railway Station: Varanasi
Nearest Air Port: Varanasi

Brahmacharini Durga Temple is located near to Durga Ghat (Durga Kund) on the banks of the holy Ganges River in Varanasi. The prime deity is the Goddess Durga and is an imposing structure of Devi. The temple, built in 18th century by a Bengali Maharani, is one of the most revered temples in Varanasi. The temple was constructed with many storied Shikhara, placed one over the other. The temple structure is imposing and offers a spiritual ambiance to the environment.

One of the most popular temples, dedicated to Goddess Durga, it sits on the large rectangular tank called Durga Kund in the Southern sector of the city. The Puranas locate Durga Ji at her present site, and she has kept this place for many centuries. She is said to protect Varanasi from the south, as one of the fierce goddess guardians of the sacred zone. According to some who serve this temple, the image of Durga was never established by human hands, but is a self-manifest image. It appeared here of its own accord.

Durga is the 'terrible' form of Shiva's consort Parvati, so at festivals there are often sacrifices of goats. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard but not the inner sanctum. It is commonly known as Monkey Temple due to many frisky monkey that have made it their home. 
  
History of Durga Temple Varanasi

Varanasi is a place highly revered by the Shaivite Hindus. The general trend noticed is that Durga Temples are a rare find in regions which has many followers of Lord Shiva. This is why it is indeed quite surprising to find a Durga Temple in a place like Varanasi reputed for being a Shaivite stronghold. Anyways the temple was constructed by a Bengali Maharani. It was built in the 18th century. Even though she is credited with the construction of the temple, the deity that is enshrined within the temple was not established by her. According to popular legend, Durga herself appeared in this temple at Benaras ( the other name by which Varanasi is known ), India. Durga temple, also known as the "monkey temple" is one of the important temples of Varanasi. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Durga temple was built in the eighteenth century. A Bengali Maharani built the Durga temple in Nagara Style ( the North Indian style of temple architecture ). It is stained red with ochre and has a multi-tiered shikhara ( spire ). The Durga temple is situated on a rectangular tank, called the Durga Kund. According to the Puranas, Goddess Durga has kept this place for many centuries and protects the holy city, Varanasi, from the South. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. The Durga temple is also called Monkey temple because of the presence of large number of monkeys. In Hinduism, Durga is represented as the embodiment of shakti or female power, clad in red, riding a tiger and fully armed with Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus and a sword. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum.
Archituctr of the Durga Temple Varanasi 

The temple is based on square shape. It has a square campus. The main building of temple is built of a square shaped stage. The shape of building is also square. The stage of the temple contains rooms in it, which are used for temple's staff purposes and sometimes, for Yagya. The campus is a green campus with trees and plants. Visitor can walk around the main temple building in the campus. It's useful since, some worshippers walk around the building of temples for religious reasons in Hinduism. The temple has a huge square pond in front of it. The pond is with stone stairs in all sides and four watch pillars on each corner. There is a shade made of stone also at one side of the pond. The stone work on the walls of temple building also emphasizes the square shape. The temple wall has designs built in square shaped blocks and ornamental scrawls.
About 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.
New Vishwanath Temple
Sankatha Temple
Tulsi Manas Temple
Sankatmochan Temple
Bharat Mata Temple

How to Rich Durga Temple Varanasi

By Road:Varanasi lies on NH2 from Calcutta to Delhi, NH7 to Kanya Kumari and NH29 to Gorakhpur. Some important road distances are: Agra 565 km, Allahabad 128 km, Bodhgaya 240 km, Delhi 780km, Khajuraho 405 km, Lucknow 286 km.

By Rail:Varanasi is an important and major rail junction, served by trains from all metros and major cities across the country. It is directly connected with New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Gwalior, Meerut, Indore, Guwahati, Allahabad, Lucknow, Dehradun.

By Air:Direct, daily flights are available between Varanasi and New Delhi from Babatpur airport which is 22 km from Varanasi and 30 km from Sarnath. It also connects Varanasi to Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Calcutta, Mumbai, Lucknow and Bhuvaneshwar.

Picture Gellery of Durga Temple Varanasi 












Google Map for Durga Temple Varanasi

 


View Larger Map

Get New Updates Every day Like This Page