This is a consecrated temple of Syahi Devi Temple.
There is a place to sit and meditate. You can go into meditative states here effortlessly.
How to Get there
The temple is located 34 kms West of Almora.
Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KgtDtm8LZ4nmhYht8
About Dunagiri Temple
Dunagiri temple is located 14 km from Dwarahat area of Almora district of Uttarakhand state, this temple is situated on the top of Drona Mountain. The temple is dedicated to goddess Durga. It is believed that when Hanuman Ji was carrying the mountain with ‘Sanjiwani buti’ for Laxman, a piece of it fell here and since that day this place is known as ‘Doonagiri’ (‘giri’ meaning fell). Maa Dunagiri Temple is also known as ‘Dronagiri’. On this mountain, Dronagiri was named after Dronacharya, a Guru (Teacher) of Pandav, on austerity. The name of this temple comes from Uttarakhand, the oldest and the Siddha Shakti Peeth temples.
This temple of Mother Dunagiri is the second Vaishno Shaktipeeth in the Kumaon of Uttarakhand after Vaishno Devi. There is no idol in the Dunagiri temple. Naturally produced Siddha pinds are worshipped in the form of Mata Bhagwati. Akhand Jyoti in the Dunagiri Temple is a special feature of the temple. Dunagiri Mata’s being a Vaishnavi form does not offer any kind of sacrifice in this place. Even the coconut offered as an offer to the temple is not even broken in the temple premises.
Dunagiri Temple is situated on the top of the mountain. This temple is situated at an altitude of 8,000 feet above sea level. The road leads to the temple by approximately 365 stairs. The stairs are covered, and thousands of bells are hanging all the way, which are almost identical. Dunagiri Temple Uttarakhand is covered with black granite stones and has a small sanctuary within its enceinte. Wide corridors and stairs at different levels have been constructed to make it easy for people from all walks of life to climb up toward the shrine. It is surrounded by lush green & thick forest of pine & deodar. The mind becomes so calm in the cold breeze and spectacular view of the mighty Himalayas. The maintenance work of the Dunagiri Temple is done by ‘Aadi Shakti Maa Dunagiri Mandir Trust’. Daily bhandare are organised by the Trust in the Dunagiri Temple. The full range of Himalaya Mountains can be seen from the Dunagiri Temple.
Mythology Associated with the Temple
It is said that Laxman was hit by a power shot by Meghnath in the Ramayana war in Tretayuga then Susan Vedya asked Hanuman ji to bring Sanjivani booti from the mountain named Dronachal. Hanuman ji was carrying the entire Dronachal Mountain and a small piece of the mountain fell on it and then thereafter the temple of Dunagiri was built in this place. Many varieties of herbs are still found here since that time.
According to another legend, the Devi Purana, during the time of agyatvas, Pandavas won the war and draupadi worshipped Maa Durga in the dunagiri temple to protect virtuousness. Pandavas won the battle during their exile and Draupathi worshipped Dunagiri as Durga to protect her chastity.
Dunagiri is also mentioned in Manas khand of Skanda Purana. Dunagiri Devi is described as Mahamaya Harpriya (Manaskhand, 36.17-18). Manaskhand of Skandpuran bestows Dunagiri with the title of Brahma- parvat (Divine Mountain).
The name of a peak named after Lord Ganesha, situated on this mountain, is popular from the east, Ganeshadhar. It is said that during the Lanka war, the treatment of Lakshmana from the Dronachal mountain and the story of the elusive demon Kalnemi and Hanuman war tells its Tretayugi history.
Historical and Beliefs of the Dunagiri Temple
Karturi ruler Dharmadev established the temple in 1318 AD and installed a Durga Idol. Lord Hanuman, temple of Shri Ganesh and Bhairav ji are before the temple of Goddess. According to the article of Himalaya Gazeterian ET Edkikshan, the evidence of the temple is found in 1181 inscriptions.
There is a very mythical and proven Shaktipeeth in Uttarakhand district. Dronagiri Vaishnavi Shakti Peeth is one of those Shakti Peethas. After Vaishno Devi, “Dunagiri” is the second Vaishno Shaktipeeth in Kumaon, Uttarakhand. Not only this, the idols of Shiva and Parvati are seated in the temple.
It is also named Dronagiri after the Pandavas’ guru Dronacharya did penance on this mountain. The Puranas, Upanishads and historians have identified Dunagiri as Maya-Maheshwari or Prakriti-Purusha and Durga Kalika.
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