Chaurasi Temple Bharmour
About Chaurasi Temple Chamba
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Chaurasi Temple is located in the center of Bharmour town and it holds immense religious importance because of temples built around 1400 years ago. Life of people in Bharmour centers around the temple complex-Chaurasi named so because of 84 shrines built in the periphery of Chaurasi Temple. Chaurasi is Hindi word for number eighty-four. The beautiful shikhara-style temple of Manimahesh occupies the center of the complex. It is believed that when 84 Siddhas, who had come from Kurukshetra, were passing through Bharmour to visit Manimahesh, they fell in love with the calmness of Bharmour and reconciled to meditate here. Chaurasi Temple Complex was built approximately in the 7th century, although repairs of many temples have been carried out in a later period.
There is another legend associated with Chaurasi temple complex. It is believed that shortly after Sahil Varman’s accession of Brahampura (ancient name of Bharmour), 84 yogis visited this place. They were greatly pleased with the King’s hospitality. As King had no heir, Yogis promised him, ten sons. They were requested by the King to stay back in Brahampura till the prediction of Yogis was fulfilled. In due course of time, the king was blessed with ten sons and a daughter. The daughter was named Champavati and because of liking of Champavati new capital Chamba was established. It is believed that Chaurasi temple complex in Bharmour was built to honor these 84 Yogis and named Chaurasi after them. There are 84 big and small temples in Chaurasi temple complex. Chaurasi is a spacious level ground in the center of Bharmour where the galaxy of temples mostly in the form of Shivlingas exists. The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers a delightful, clean and a scenic view.
Major Temple in the complex
Major Temple in the complex
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Lakshana Devi Temple (Lakhna Devi/Bhadrakali): The temple of Lakshana Devi is the oldest temple at Chaurasi Temple Bharmour. It retains many of the old architectural features of wooden temples and has richly carved entrance. It is said to be constructed by Raja Maru Varman (680 AD). Durga is represented here in her aspect of four armed Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of the demon Mahishasura.
Manimahesh (Shiva) Temple: Manimahesh temple which stands in the center of Chaurasi temple, is the main temple, enshrining a huge Shiva Linga. The Shiva linga is nothing but a symbol of the characteristic mark of Lord Shiva and is worshiped in a symbol.
Narsingh (Narasimha) Temple: Narasimha (Sanskrit: Narsingh) or Nrusimha, also spelled as Narasingh whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion". Narasimha is an incarnation of Vishnu in which the god is represented in therianthropic form as half man and half lion. The bronze image of this god, which is exquisitely cast, is awe-inspiring.
Lord Nandi Bull Temple: The life-size metal bull Nandi, locally known as Nandigan with the broken ear and tail can be seen standing in a modern shed in front of Manimahesh temple. Nandi is chief of Ganesh and Shiva’s foremost attendant, who had the shape of the bull and qualities of the noble devotee. Usually, in front of Shiva temples, the Shilpa Texts provide for a couchant bull paced outside and staring at his lord Shiva. But here we have a life-size Nandi bull standing on all fours (legs). ‘Visnudharmotra Purana’, however, describes of such Nandi bull, as representing solidity and stability of dharma.
Dharmeshvar Mahadev (Dharamraj) Temple: Dharamraj, known as Dharmeshvar Mahadev was given a seat on the northern corner of Chaurasi by Maru Varman. It is the belief of locals that every departed soul stands here to seek final permission of Dharamraj to proceed ahead and travels through this temple after death seeking to dwell in Shiva Loka. It is believed to be the court of Dharamraj and is locally called ‘dhai-podi’, which means two and a half steps.
Ganesh or Ganpati Temple: Lord Ganesha temple is situated near the entrance of Chaurasi temple, Bharmour. The temple was constructed by the rulers of the Varman dynasty as stated in an inscription erected in the temple, by Meru Verman in circa 7th century A.D. The wooden temple of Ganesha was probably set on fire in Kira invasion of Bharmour and image was mutilated by cutting off legs. The temple of Ganesha is enshrined in a bronze image of Ganesha. This magnificent image is life size with both legs missing.
Manimahesh (Shiva) Temple: Manimahesh temple which stands in the center of Chaurasi temple, is the main temple, enshrining a huge Shiva Linga. The Shiva linga is nothing but a symbol of the characteristic mark of Lord Shiva and is worshiped in a symbol.
Narsingh (Narasimha) Temple: Narasimha (Sanskrit: Narsingh) or Nrusimha, also spelled as Narasingh whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion". Narasimha is an incarnation of Vishnu in which the god is represented in therianthropic form as half man and half lion. The bronze image of this god, which is exquisitely cast, is awe-inspiring.
Lord Nandi Bull Temple: The life-size metal bull Nandi, locally known as Nandigan with the broken ear and tail can be seen standing in a modern shed in front of Manimahesh temple. Nandi is chief of Ganesh and Shiva’s foremost attendant, who had the shape of the bull and qualities of the noble devotee. Usually, in front of Shiva temples, the Shilpa Texts provide for a couchant bull paced outside and staring at his lord Shiva. But here we have a life-size Nandi bull standing on all fours (legs). ‘Visnudharmotra Purana’, however, describes of such Nandi bull, as representing solidity and stability of dharma.
Dharmeshvar Mahadev (Dharamraj) Temple: Dharamraj, known as Dharmeshvar Mahadev was given a seat on the northern corner of Chaurasi by Maru Varman. It is the belief of locals that every departed soul stands here to seek final permission of Dharamraj to proceed ahead and travels through this temple after death seeking to dwell in Shiva Loka. It is believed to be the court of Dharamraj and is locally called ‘dhai-podi’, which means two and a half steps.
Ganesh or Ganpati Temple: Lord Ganesha temple is situated near the entrance of Chaurasi temple, Bharmour. The temple was constructed by the rulers of the Varman dynasty as stated in an inscription erected in the temple, by Meru Verman in circa 7th century A.D. The wooden temple of Ganesha was probably set on fire in Kira invasion of Bharmour and image was mutilated by cutting off legs. The temple of Ganesha is enshrined in a bronze image of Ganesha. This magnificent image is life size with both legs missing.
Myth And Legend
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It is believed the land was firstly watched by goddess Bharmani Devi. One day 84 Siddhas, who had come from Kurukshetra, were passing through Bharmour to visit Manimahesh along with Lord Shiva. He asked Bharmani Devi if they could take shelter for the night at Bharmour. Bharmani Devi allowed them but the next day when she woke up she saw smoke and fire. She saw that the 84 Siddhas had settled on her land. Angry at this trespassing she ordered Shiva and the Siddhas to get out of the place as she believed that now the people would pray to Lord Shiva and her level of importance would fall. Shiva importuned in all his humility and to console Bharmani Devi he said: "whoever comes to Manimahesh first had to take a dip in the pool of Bharmani Devi then only the yatra will be completed". To this Bharmani Devi went to the ridge of Bhudhal valley and from there at any point, no one can see the Chaurasi temple. Lord Shiva left but the 84 Siddhas transformed themselves into 84 Shivlingas as they fell in love with the calmness of Bharmour and reconciled to meditate here.
History
Meru, the father of the first recorded prince Jaistambh in the Chamba Vanshavali was the first to settle Bharmour. He belonged to a ruling family of Ayodhya. Accompanied by his youngest son Jaistambh, Meru penetrated to the upper Ra vi valley through the outer hills. He defeated the petty Ranas holding the territory there and founded the town Brahmaputra and made it the capital of a new state. This event is believed to have taken place in the middle of 6th century A.D.
According to one legend, the name Brahampura was in use at a still earlier period for the more ancient kingdom of Bharmour which existed in the territories of Garhwal and Kumaon, and that Maru gave the same name of Brahampura to the state that he founded with present Bharmour as his capital. After Maru, several Rajas ruled in succession until Sahil Varman. It was Sahil Varman who conquered the lower Ra vi valley and transferred the seat of government from Brahampura to the new capital he founded at Chamba. Bharmour was capital for probably four hundred years
The original state was of the very small extent and in all likelihood comprised at the most the present Bharmour sub-division i.e. the valley of the Ra vi below Bara Bangahal, with its tributaries, the Budhil and the Tundah as far down as chhatri.
According to a local legend, the place Brahampura was older than Maru's time and as per common belief, this used to be the Vatika (garden) of goddess Brahmani who used to reside where her shrine now stands on the ridge at a distance of 3-4 kilometers. Brahmani Devi was having a son who was very fond of his pet chakra or (birds). One day the chakor was killed by a peasant and the son was shocked to death by this loss. Grief-stricken, Brahmani Devi also sacrificed by burying herself alive. The spirits of these trio dead souls started haunting the people awfully who raised Brahmani Devi to the status of a deity and built her a temple. The people believe that the place was called the Brahmaputra after Brahmani Devi.
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Lord Shiva granted a boon to Brahamani Devi that all persons intending to go on pilgrimage to Manimahesh must have a dip in Brahmani pool. Failing this, their pilgrimage would not be acceptable to Lord Shiva.The legend further says that God Shiva with 84 Sidhas while on his way to Manimahesh happened to visit the Brahmaputra, the Vatika of the Goddess Brahmani Devi and settle there for the night. When Brahmani Devi, the presiding deity of the place saw the smoke of fires lit by the Siddhas, she felt very angry at this trespass. She came down to the place and ordered Shiva and the Sidhas to get out of the place. Shiva importuned in all his humility for allowing them to spend a night there. Goddess Brahmani condescended to their wishes. The 84 Mahasiddhas transformed themselves into 84 Lin-gas because they wished to settle there.
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