GARJIA MAA
BHAIRAV  CAVE
STRUCTURE
THE  BEAUTY
KOSI RIVER 

GARJIA  TEMPLE , RAMNAGAR , UTTARAKHAND


TOURIST  RESORT



14 KMs  from  Ram Nagar ,on the way to Ranikhet this temple stands on huge rock in midst of river Kosi  Its heritage Garjia village . Its  one of the amazing temple of goddess Parvati  with surrounding  picturesque beauty .The whole area was earlier covered with dense forest which now is cleared by the locals . Maximum people are devotees , priests and their families. Kosi  river is life line of the people as well as fauna of Jim Corbert  National Park .Its the place of  meditation and trekking.. Its a great  panaroma of  ecstasy of vivid flora and fauna .

THE  LEGEND
 In the Markendeya Purana, the Kosi is described as the primal force. Due  to the violent nature of the Kosi during monsoon season, legend says that Parvati, daughter of Himalayas and the wife of Shiva, after defeating the demon Durg, became known as the warrior goddess Durga who transformed into Kaushiki. In Ramayana, the river Ganges is depicted as her elder sister.On this rock where the temple stands was the place where Goddess Parvati  worshipped  and sought blessing of  being married to lord SHIVA .


The legend also   goes that this place was earlier covered with dense forests. But the people living here saw Goddess Parvati’s idol  on the mountains.Seeing the sights of her idol, the commoners built Garjia Devi’s temple  here on the same rock . It is believed that the ancient  temple flowed to its current place with a flood in the river Kosi from NEPAL . Bhairav  when saw it floating wanted to stop it but could not do so. Bhairav then asked Goddess Parvati to stay with him at the same place. It is believed that since then Devi Garjia has been living in the same place as Upeta. In ancient times Goddess Parvati was also known by the name Upeta.

THE  FAITH

Thousands of devotees arrive during Kartik Poornima, a Hindu holy day celebrated on the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik (November – December). It is also known as the festival of lights of the gods.The Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Sikh festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti..  On the occasion of kartik  poornima, as a special  bath  large number of devotees take a dip in the river Kosi. In addition to this, people visit this place on the auspicious Shivraatri  in huge numbers. 


THE   SIGNIFICANCE 


The temple is one of the most ancient temples of India. It is believed that Devi Garjia blesses the devotees only after the completion of Baba Bhairon’s puja with the offerings of  KHICHDI before leaving the shrine ..Devotees offers coconut, vermilion, incense, lamp, red Chunnerie etc as offerings to  goddess Parvati . Mere remembrance of Devi Parvati can solve all problems. Devi Parvati is the ultimate life and energy source and devotion to her relieves a person from all tensions and problems. She is also known as Kalratri. She belongs to the Gaur community and hence is also called Mahagauri. Devi Parvati blesses all her devotees and solves all of their problems. the unmaaried , the separated or those facing family problems  offer  bell by tying  them  on the railings  and umbrella to Bhairav . After being blessed they have to revisit  the shrine  to open the knot of bell .. goddess parvati has special affection for couples .

TABOOS

To reach the shrine barefooted  from 1 km distance  and with fasting.. avoid visit during Monsoon when the whole temple gets submerged in the Kosi river .N avratris  is  the occasion  of complete fasting and meditation.

----------------------------------------------- JAI GARJIYA MAA-------------------------------------------------------------








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