• Shakti

Punyagiri Mandir

Overview


The Pumagiri Temple also known as Punyagiri is located on the pinnacle, the temple is 20 kms from a place named Tanakpur which is located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. The temple is located besides the river banks of Kali. This temple is the most famous temple of Kumanto. Thousands of devotees visit the shrine during the period of April to June and predominantly during the Chaitrah Navratri in the month of March to April.Total of 6 kms distance has to be trekked, from this place river Kali descends into the plains and that is known as Sharda.

About the temple

The uppermost point that is from the temple of Pumagiri, a pilgrim can have a magnificent view of the stretch of kali, the islands, the township of Tanakpur and few Nepali villages too.

Legend

According to the legends some time in Satya Yuga Daksha is performed a yagna (named Vrihaspati) with a desire of taking revenge on God Shiva.Daksha was annoyed because his daughter Sati had married the "yogi" God Shiva against his wishes. Dakhsa summoned all the deities to the yagna excluding Shiva and Sati. Sati was not disheartened as she was not invited for the yagana. She did express her desires of attending the yagna to Shiva, who tried his best to prevent her from going. Shiva eventually allowed her to go accompanied by his ganas(followers). But Sati, wasn't given respect and was being an uninvited to the yagana. Moreover, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not carry the insult made towards her husband by her father, so Sati committed suicide by jumping into the yagana's fire. Furious Shiva because of the injury and the insult caused, destroyed Daksha's sacrifice and slashed off his head and replaced it with that of a goat's head that restored Daksha back to life. Still demented with grief, Shiva picked up the remains of Sati's body and performed the dance of destruction through out the Universe.Many other gods intervened to stop his dance and Vishnu's disk also called as Sudarshana Chakra slashed through the corpse of Sati. The various parts of her body fell at several spots through out the Indian subcontinent and formed sites which are currently known as Shakti Peethas. In Pumagiri the Naabhi(naval) part of Sati's body had fallen down and the devotees come here to worship the devi.

Accessibility

Best time to Visit

It is not recommended to visit Purnagiri temple in rainy seasons because there are frequent landslides in the hills and the path towards the temple isn't well maintained during this season.

Significance

As per the common belief, every one who comes here with sincere faith and devotion, there prayers are always answered. The pilgrims go to Purnagiri temple during the navratras and tie a thread to make a wish and if their wishes are fulfilled they come back and unknot the threads. The Purnagiri temple is visited by thousand of devotees throughout the year.

Festivals

The temple fair is organizes between the months of Poush and Chaitra (March) during which the entire valley of Punyagiri reverberates with the sound of chants, hymns and devotional song.When navratras are nearby, in the chaitra month according to the Indian calendar (in the month of March- April) the temple of Purnagiri organises Purnagiri Mela.After worshiping Mata Purnagiri people also pay their tributes to her loyal devotee Bada Sidh Nath at Brahmadev and Mahendra Nagar in Nepal. Every year, A fair is organized on Vishnu Sankranti which continues for about forty days. Next to the festival Holi, the longest fair of Kumaon. During the chaitra navaratra mela all the basic amenities like medicines, hospital, telephone e.t.c are available. The nearest Petrol pump is 20 kms from here that is in Tanakpur.

Attire

About the altitude its 3000 mts, this place is cold in winters and pleasant in summers. For the devotees planning to visit heavy woolens in Winter and cottons in Summer is recommended. The language which is spoken in this place is called Kumaoni and Hindi.

Accessibility

Air

The nearest air port is Pant Nagar that is about 121 Kms (via Khatima Nanakmatta) and the nearest Railhead is Tanakpur about 20 Kms.

Road

For devotees coming via road, the motor able road exists unto Thuligad that is about 14 Kms from Tanakpur.Thereafter, the road is under construction unto Tunyas and from here about 3 Kms trek leads to Purnagiri which is also known as Punyagiri. From Pumagiri, also known as Punyagiri the river Kali descends into the plains and it is also known as Sharda. There is a motarable road till Thulligad which is located at about 14 Kms from Tanakpur which is the only way to visit this place of worship.There are different sorts of public transport available from Tanakpura to Thulligad. People walk from Thulligad to Pumagiri temple and after the ascent of "Baans Ki Chadai" comes the Awalakhan (the new name is Hanuman chatti). The South-western part of 'Punya Parvat'(Purna giri) can be seen from this place. There are various shops and huts present along the road from Hanuman Chatti ti Tunyas. On the way to Tunyas there are various dharamshalas and hotels where people can take rest for few hours, freshen up and can have some snacks or a meal. From Tunyas, the Maa Purnagiri temple is about 3 Kms and from here after walking some distance the "Baans Ki Chadai" begins which is now made very convenient by stairs and iron railing.

Significance

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

  • Marriage
  • Get married to a person of a girl's choice
  • Health and longevity of husband
Shlokas

Sarva Mangala Maangalye Sive Sarvaardha Saadhike, Saranye Tryambake Gauri Naarayani Namosthuthe

Meaning -We offer you our salutations, Oh auspicious Naraayani, who is the good of all good, who can achieve everything and can offer refuge, Oh three-eyed Gowri.

Saranaangatha Dheenaartha Parithraana Paraayane Sarvasyaarthi Hare Devi Naaraayani Namosthuthe

Meaning -We offer salutations to you, Oh Narayani, who has the infinite power of creating, preserving and destroying. You are the basis and epitome of the 3 gunas.

Sarvaroope Sarvese Sarvasakthi Samanvithe, Bhayebhyastrahi No Devi Durge Devi Namosthuthe

Meaning -I offer my salutations to you mother Durga, who is present in all beings and has all power, save us from all our wrongdoings O mother of the universe.

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shakthi Roopena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha

Meaning -Salutations to the Goddess who resides as Shakti in all beings.

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