Dhari Devi

Dhari Devi temple idol is established in a 20 meters high rock.  Dhari village can be reached passing through a hanging bridge on the opposite side of Alakhananda river.Dhari Devi temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Devi Kali Mata.  Dhari Devi godess is considered as guardian deity of Uttarakhand. The temple is located in Kalyasaur along the Srinagar-Badrinath Highway on the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand state, India.

The upper half of an idol of a deity came flowing down along the Alaknanda river and settled here. Since then the idol is worshipped here in the form of Goddess Dhari. The Goddess is believed to change appearance during the day. According to local lore, the deity changes appearance from a girl, to a woman, and then to an old lady. The idol's lower half is located in Kalimath, where mata is prayed in Kali roop.Kalimath is one of 108 shakti sthals in India. As per religious tradition Kalimath is the place where Godess Kali killed the demon Raktavija and after that the goddess had gone under the earth.

A large number of devotees visit the temple throughout the year. Out of the many festivals celebrated in Dhari Devi Temple, the important festivals are Durga Puja and Navratra, when a special Puja is organized in the temple. The temple is decorated with beautiful flowers and light.

Some Mysteries: The first is the Kedarnath temple remained intact without a scratch when all the other constructions around it were completely destroyed. The Shivling inside the temple was again intact. The belpatra on the Shivling was also untouched. This is definitely strange. The Shivling did not even go inside the sludge to make the mysteries even deeper. Perhaps it is God’s way to tell us that He is there and Will always be.

The flood in the Uttarkahand were  so ravishing that it seemed as if God was punishing us for something that should not have been done. The believers say that this might be the shifting of the Goddess Dhari Devi’s Temple. Goddess Dhari Devi’s is a form of Goddess Kali. She protects all the char dhams or the four places of pilgrimage. It is said that her idol should not be relocated from the position. It is from this location that she can control all the char dhams.

Maa Dhari: The Goddess Dhari Devi is said to have immense powers. It is believed by the locals that the Goddess changes forms during the day. From a child she turns to a woman and then to an old lady. Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva are both the Gods of destruction. They have the powers to end the world. This is exactly why they must be worshipped and kept pleased. If the Goddess Kali gets angry she can destroy everything that comes on her way. Perhaps this is what she did in this case.

Legend: In 1882 a local king also tried to relocate the Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple. Even then a bad landslide had come and it had almost flattened the Kedarnath. The king realised his mistake and he replaced the Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple to where it was. Since then the locals believe that the Goddess Dhari Devi has immense powers and shifting her temple can draw a bad curse on the region.

In 2013 again the discussion started on shifting the Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple. This time the reason was development. The aim was to make way for the 330 MW hydel projects that was being built by the Alaknanda Hydro Power Company Ltd (AHPCL). The Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple was located in the middle of the Alaknanda River on a small island. The location was a hindrance to the project. The localities and the Saints of the region had warned that shifting the Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple can bring danger to the region.

The government and the hydel power company did not pay any heed to these protests. They thought that these were just local stories and absolutely baseless. The worst that was feared came true. In spite of all the protest the Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple was shifted from its location to a new seat.

The Act – The Reaction: Around 7:30 PM on Sunday June 16th the idol of Goddess Dhari Devi’s was cut from its base and was taken to the artificial platform created. As soon as the idol was lifted there were heavy lightning and the cloud burst occurred. Interestingly the two pillars of the new temple made were also destroyed by the floods as a result the Goddess Dhari Devi’s idol was kept at a place close to its original location.

Perhaps it was God’s way to tell us that there are few things that should not be touched. It is good that development happens but not at the cost of things that we cannot replace. Perhaps the story of the Goddess Dhari Devi’s temple is just not digestible for one with a scientific palate. Still looking at the devastation, at the status of the Kedarnath temple and the timing of the cloud burst we cannot deny that there must be a deep connection .

Situated At A Height Of 20mts Above A High Rock, Dhari Devi Temple Is Most Visited By Hindu Devotees. The Temple Is Based Along The Banks Of River Alakhnanda. To Reach The Temple One Has To Travel A Distance Of 19kms From Srinagar On The Srinagar-Badrinath Highway That Reaches Up To Kaliya Saur With A Further Down-Trek To Another Half A Kilometer To Alkahnanda River.

As Per Old Sayings, This Temple Was Once Moved By Heavy Floods That Could Float The Idol. The Idol Got Hindered By A Rock. When The Local People Reached The Site They Heard The Cries Of The Idol And A Divine Voice Instructed Them To Install The Idol At The Spot Where It Was Found. Since That Time, The Idol Is Positioned At The Same Place And Is Known As Dhari Devi Temple. It Is Under The Open Sky And Thousands Of Devotees Each Year On The Way To Badrinath Pay Their Obeisance Here. The Dhari Devi Temple Has Only The Upper Part Of The Goddess Dhari. The Lower Part Is Said To Be In Kalimath In Rudraprayag District.

It Is Said That The Idol Of Dhari Devi Can Never Be Put Under Roof And That’s The Reason It Is Always Exposed To Open Sky. Tourists Here Are Not Allowed To Take Photographs Of Dhari Devi. The Residing Place Of Villagers Around This Temple Was Named As Dhari Village After The Name Of This Temple. The Place Has A Hanging Village That Connects To The Dhari Devi Temple And Leads To Dhari Village.