Katyayani Shakti Peeth, Vrindavan
About Katyayani Shakti Peeth, Vrindavan
Katyayani Shakti Peeth in Vrindavan is one of the 51 important Shakti Peeths in Hinduism. The main temple at this holy site was established in 1923.the temple is Situated at the spot where a piece of hair of Goddess Sati fell after a tragic event.
Goddess Katyayani is one of the forms of Goddess Parvati, who took on this fierce form to defeat the demon Mahishasura. She is known for her powerful and protective nature. Goddess Katyayani is worshipped during the sixth day of Navratri.
People believe that Goddess Katyayani blesses young unmarried girls who pray to her. It is said that girls who offer prayers at the temple will get a good husband.
In Vrindavan, Gopis used to make a statue of Goddess Katyayani out of the sand from the banks of the Yamuna River. They would worship this statue and ask for Lord Krishna to be their husband. This practice is known as Katyayani-vrata and is remembered by devotees even today.
The Story Behind the Shakti Peeths
The Shakti Peeths are sacred places connected to the story of Goddess Sati and Lord Shiva. Sati was the daughter of King Daksha and the wife of Lord Shiva. When King Daksha held a grand Yagna, he did not invite Shiva because he did not like him. Feeling insulted, Sati went to the Yagna and, in her sadness and anger, jumped into the fire.
Shiva was heartbroken and furious after Sati’s death. He picked up her burning body and began performing the “Tandava,” a dance of destruction. To calm Shiva and stop the chaos, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati’s body into pieces. These pieces fell in different places, which then became known as Shakti Peeths. It is believed that Sati’s hair fell in Vrindavan, where Katyayani Shakti Peeth now stands.
Katyani Devi Temple, Vrindavan History
Swami Keshavanandji, originally named Panchkodi Banerjee, was born on December 25, 1830, in Shivanipur village, located in Howrah district, West Bengal. He devoted 33 years of his life to traveling through the Himalayan mountains, guided by the teachings of his guru, Shri Lahiri Mahasaya.
It was in the Himalayas that Swami Keshavanandji received a divine vision from the Almighty Mother, instructing him to go to Vrindavan. His mission was to find the Shakti Peethsthan mentioned in puran s. There, he was to establish a temple for Goddess Katyayani and revive the worship of the goddess to bring blessings and well-being to people in the modern world.
Following the divine guidance, Swami Keshavanandji arrived in Vrindavan. He began living in a small hut by the Yamuna River in Radha Bagh. He soon identified the location of the Shakti Peeth, a sacred place of worship for the goddess. Over time, he acquired the land needed to build the temple which was completed in 1923.
Katyayani temple Photos
Katyayni Devi Temple, Vrindavan Timing
Morning: 07:00 am to 11:00 pm
Evening: 05:30 pm to 08:00 pm
Katyayni Temple, Vrindavan Distance
| Place Name | Distance |
|---|---|
|
Mathura Railway Station |
14 km |
|
Banke Bihari Temple |
1.7 km |
|
Prem Mandir |
5 km |
How to Reach
By Road: You can easily hire a cab from Agra, Mathura, or Delhi to travel to the Katyayani Temple. It is approx. 157 km from Delhi, 88 kms from Agra, and 12 kms from Mathura.
By Train: The city is well-connected with almost all cities across the country. The nearest railway station is in Mathura, located 14 kms away.
By Air: The nearest fully functional commercial airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, approx. 150 km away.