 Mansa Devi Temple is lying in Bilaspur village,
about three kilometers east of Mani Majra in Chandigarh, has
two temples dedicated to the goddess. It is believed that the
older temple was built by the ruler of Mani Majra. Mata Mansa
Devi Temple at Panchkula is a symbol of Himalayan culture and
faith. The shrine located on the foot hills of Shivalik is an
epitome of age old tradition of ‘Shakti’ worship in northern
India. Himalaya being the abode of Shiva and his consort’shakti’
became centre of shakti worship. In the vicinity of Panchkula
there are numerous Shakti worshipping centers known by their
names such as Chandi, Kalika, Mansa, Bhima etc. Hence, mythological
speaking, Chandigarh-Panchkula region undoubtedly continued
to be living legends of shaktism where its practices are in
vogue. However, the present temple which stands a witness to
the exciting past of the Shivalik region is about two hundred
years old.
Two temples are located in the complex of Mansa Devi. The main
temple is dedicated to Mansa who is worshipped in the sanctum
sanctorum both in the form of ‘pindi’ as well as in her anthropomorphic
form executed on a marble. In the sanctum sanctorum she is worshipped
with Devi Saraswati and Lakshmi in the form of Pindi (Stone
pebbles). Originally the pindis were only worshipped by the
devotees. However, in modern times a marble bust of the deity
was got sculpted for giving an attractive human look (form)
to the deity. She is beautifully decorated with crown and other
ornaments. Interestingly the architecture of the main temple
(Mansa Devi) is not in consonance with the Shivalik region where
usually a typical ‘ Nagara’ or curvilinear spira temples were
erected. This is in sharp contrast to the environment of the
region as the main temple manifests a typical moghul architecture
represented by domes and minarets. Architecturally speaking
the temple has been built in Panchayatana pattern in which at
four cardinal corners stand four shrines with the main shrine
(fifth shrine) being located the centre.
THE HISTORY
Maharaja Gopal Singh of Manimajra constructed the present
main temple of Shri Mansa Devi, which is situated on the Shivalik
foothills in village Bilaspur, Tehsil and District Panchkula,
during the period 1811-1815. At a distance of 200 meters from
the main temple is the Patiala temple which was got constructed
by Sh. Karam Singh, the then Maharaja Patiala in the year
1840. This temple had the patronage of Manimajra State. After
the merger of princely states into Pepsu the Patronage of
State Govt. ended and the temples remained neglected. The
raja of Manimajra then appointed pujari as ‘ khidmatuzar’
of this temple whose duty was to worship the deity of the
temple. After the merger of princely State into Pepsu these
pujaris became independent on the matter of controlling and
managing the affairs of the temple and the land attached to
the temple. They could neither maintain this temple nor provide
necessary facilities to the visiting devotees and thus the
condition of the temple deteriorated day by day. So much so
that there were no proper arrangements for pilgrims visiting
the temple during Navaratra melas. The complex was in awfully
neglected condition till the establishment of the Board.
THE LEGEND
According to a popular legend, the shrine was originally in
the territory of erstwhile princely state of Nahan. Some hill
people cut off the stream, which supplied water to the pilgrims
visiting the temple, causing distress to the pilgrims. Thereupon,
the goddess appeared in dream of Gurbaksh Singh, ruler of
Mani Majra and asked him to construct a temple for her at
this place. This temple contains thirty-eight panels of wall
paintings besides floral designs painted all over the ceiling
and the arches leading into the temple. The drawings of the
temple are not of high standard but a great variety of themes
is illustrated. The other temple is said to have been constructed
by Maharaja Karam Singh of erstwhile Patiala State to commemorate
his success in the battle against the Gurkha. |
