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Durga Temple, Varanasi

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

This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the Maa Durga. 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 pond (kund) 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 chapter (adhyaya) 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.

Durga Pond (Durga Kund).
Next to the temple, is a pond (kund) which was earlier connected to the river Ganges.

  • On the left side of the photo we can see the silhouette of the Durga Temple. In the center we can see the pond. On the right side are the fountains that splash in the center of the pond.

Shops at the entrance to the temple.

Access door (bottom) and Shikhara (top).
The temple was built in North Indian Nagara style of architecture.

  • Inside the temple, many elaborately carved and engraved stones can be found.
  • The temple is made up of many small shikharas conjoined together.
  • Shikhara, a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India. A shikhara over the garbhagriha chamber, where the presiding deity is enshrined, is the most prominent and visible part of a Hindu temple of North India.
  • See more at Shikhara - Wikipedia.

Access door.
The entrance is from the south despite the temple being oriented from west to east.

  • The temple is painted red with ochre to match the colours of the central icon of Durga, the goddess of strength and power.

Durga.
Durga is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.

  • Durga's legend centres around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity, and dharma, representing the power of good over evil.
  • Durga is believed to unleash her divine wrath against the wicked for the liberation of the oppressed, and entails destruction to empower creation.
  • Durga is seen as a motherly figure and often depicted as a beautiful woman, riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon and often defeating demons.
  • She is widely worshipped by the followers of the goddess-centric sect, Shaktism, and has importance in other denominations like Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
  • See more at Durga - Wikipedia.

See also

Source

Location

Location: 27, Durgakund Rd, Durgakund, Anandbagh, Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India