Saptashrungi Devi Temple, Vani

Saptashringi Devi Temple is located 60 kilometers from Nashik Maharashtra. The temple is one among the 51 Shakti Peethas. pilgrims visit this temple in large numbers every day. The temple is also known popularly as one of the “three and a half Shakti Peethas” of Maharashtra.

History

It is also believed that when the devil king Mahishasura was creating havoc in the forests, the people and devatas urged Durga to kill the devil. The 18 armed Saptashrungi Devi took the form of Durga and slayed Mahishasura, and since then she is also known as Mahishasura Mardhini.

In the impressive Ramayana war, when Lakshmana was lying unconscious in the war field, Hanuman came to Saptashrungi hills looking for medical herbs to restore his life. Saptashrung Mountain belonged to the forest called Dandakaranya mentioned in the Ramayana. It is mentioned that Lord Rama, along with Seeta, and Lakshmana had come to these hills to wish to the goddess and seek her true blessings.

Architecture

Saptashrungi Temple is 2 storied shrine with the Devi preserved on the top floor. The Devi image is sculpted in a cave at the base of a large scarp cliff. The Devi is believed to be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the large face of a mountain. She is surrounded by 7 (sapta in Sanskrit) peaks (shrungain Sanskrit), hence the name: Sapta Shrungi Mata (mother of the 7 peaks).

The temple has gone through renovations recently with the creations of numerous amenities. The amenities created at the shrine include about 500 steps cut into the rocky slopes of the hill, from above the roadway point, leading to the temple entrance, a community hall, a gallery for devotees to form lines, and have organized darshan of the goddess. The steps were constructed by Umabai Dabhade in 1710 AD. The steps are also seen with figures of Rama, Hanuman, Radha and Krishna, Dattatreya, and of a tortoise at a couple of puts on numerous temples dedicated to Durga or Mata.

Idol

The Devi is beautified with a high crown (like a papal tiara), and a silver nose-ring, and necklaces which are the accessories utilized every day. Her outfit remains in the form of a robe with a blouse, which is changed with new dresses every day. Before she is dressed for worship she is religiously given a formal abhisheka or bath; warm water is reported to be used 2 days a week.

The yard in front of the temple has a trident or Trishula adorned with lamps and bells. There are other valuable accessories of the goddess which are normally kept at Vani in safe custody, however, are used to beautify the deity on special festival days. The Devi’s image is painted intense red with an ochre called sindoor, which is considered advantageous in this location; nevertheless, the eyes are not touched by the color but are made from white porcelain, which shines very bright.

Festivals

• The most important festival of the Saptashrungi temple is Chaitrotsav, “the Chaitra festival”. The festival starts on Rama Navami (the ninth lunar day in the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra) and also culminates on Chaitra Poornima (full moon day), the biggest day of the festival.
• The festival is additionally attended especially by childless females making vows seeking true blessings of goddess for children. About 250,000 participate in the festival on the last day and also as several as 1 million gather on the last 3 days of the nine-day festival.
• The devotees come from the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh as well as Rajasthan.

Other Temples near Saptashrungi Devi Temple

• Kalaram Temple
• Kapleshwar Temple
• Navshya Ganpati Temple
• Ganga Godavari Temple
• Jain Mandir
• Muktidham Temple
• Someshwar Temple
• Veda Mandir
• Naroshankar Temple

How to Reach

• By Air: The Temple can be reached through nearest Gandhinagar Airport which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai.
• By Rail:  The nearest Railway Station to the temple is Nashik railway station.
• By Road: The Temple is present in Nashik. We can reach it easily by hiring bus or taxi from anywhere in the Maharashtra or from neighboring state.

Temple Timings

Darshan Timing

06.00 AM To 06.00 PM

Saptashrungi Temple Food Timings

During special festivals like Navratri and Poornima, food is offered to all devotees for free. Low cost but clean food is also available in the Priest’s houses. On other days people have to pay a donation of Rs. 15 to get the Prasadam.

The timings for food is Following:

Morning Food Timing	Evening Food Timing
11 AM to 2 PM	7 PM to 9 PM

Temple Video and Images