History
There is mention of this temple in the holy books of Skand and Karma Puran. [1] It is said that on the banks of the Mahisagar Sangam Tirth, near the Gomti River, the altars (vedis) of the nine Durgas have been preserved since ancient times within the hollow of an old neem tree [2] .
The Siddhapeeth at Bakshi Ka Talab is regarded as an important pilgrimage site. The site, originally known as Kathwara, is presently called Kathwara, where the Siddhapeeth is located. According to local tradition, devotees often feel compelled to return after their first visit. It is believed that during the Treta Yuga , Rajkumar Chandraketu, the elder son of Shri Lakshmana, the founder of Lucknow, was once passing through the Gomti River with the horse of the Ashwamedha Yajna. As night fell, he stopped to rest in the dense forest of Katakbasa on the riverbank, which was then called Adi Ganga. On the night of Amavasya (new moon), when he felt afraid, he remembered the Goddess and prayed to her with the mantras taught by his mother, Urmila. At that moment, a gentle moonlight spread, the Goddess appeared before him, and his fear went away. It is believed that the divine radiance (chandrika) of the Goddess shone at this place, and the deity was established here.
It is said that a grand temple once stood here but was destroyed in the 12th century by foreign invaders. About 250 years ago, some villagers discovered this hidden place while walking through the dense forest. The next day, a villager found the idol of the Goddess, which was then placed at the present site. Later, a temple was built, and since then people have continued to visit and worship Maa Chandrika Devi here. This place is also known as Mahi Sagar Teerth [3] [4] . A grand temple of Goddess Chandrika Devi has existed at this location since the early 18th century.
The sanctity of this pilgrimage place during the Dvapara Yuga is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. According to the Skanda Purana, in the Dvapara Yuga , Lord Shri Krishna advised Barbarika, the son of Ghatotkacha, to visit this tirtha in order to attain divine power. Following his counsel, Barbarika is said to have worshipped Maa Chandrika Devi at this site continuously for three years [5] [6] [7] .
There is also a belief that the Moon God (Chandra), cursed by Daksha Prajapati, came to the Mahisagar Sangam at Chandrika Devi Dham to bathe in its waters and be freed from the curse [5] [8] .
During the Mahabharata period [5] [8] [9] , the five Pandava brothers, along with Draupadi, visited this tirtha during their exile. King Yudhishthira performed the Ashvamedha Yajna [6] , and when the sacrificial horse was stopped near Chandrika Devi Dham by King Hansadhvaja, war ensued between him and Yudhishthira’s army. While his son Suratha participated in the battle, his other son Sudhanva was deeply absorbed in worshipping the Nine Durgas at Chandrika Devi Dham. Because of his absence from the battlefield, Sudhanva was tested by being immersed in a cauldron of boiling oil at the Mahisagar site.
By the grace of Goddess Chandrika Devi, his body remained unaffected, and from then onward, the site came to be known as Sudhanva Kund. When Yudhishthira’s army (katak) camped here, the place came to be called Katakvasa, which later evolved into the present-day Kathwara.
The renowned Hindi novelist Amritlal Nagar described the glory of Chandrika Devi in his novel Karvat [10] , in which the protagonist, Bansidhar, travels from the Tandon Chowk area to seek the Goddess’s blessings on every Amavasya. Even today, the highest number of devotees at the temple on Amavasya and its eve come from the Chowk area of Lucknow. [5]
Religious Significance
Chandrika Devi is regarded as a manifestation of Goddess Durga. It is believed that those who worship here are blessed with wealth, prosperity, and the fulfilment of their wishes. Devotees often tie a knot in a chunari (sacred cloth) as a vow, and upon its fulfilment, they offer a chunari, distribute prasad, and tie a bell within the temple premises. In the court of Goddess Chandrika Devi, all devotees—rich or poor, from any community—are treated with equal reverence.
On the eve of Amavasya and during Navratri , numerous religious activities take place in and around the temple, including havan (yajna), mundan (tonsure ceremonies) [11] , kirtans , and satsangs (spiritual gatherings) [12] . Large numbers of devotees from across the state visit during these occasions, and the crowds swell significantly during Navratri.
According to legend, the chandrika (jewel worn on the forehead) of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen at this site, making it a place of great sanctity. The temple is also mentioned in the Skanda Purana and Karma Purana.
The shrine is located in a serene natural setting, encircled by the Gomti River on the north, west, and south, with the Mahisagar Sangam Tirth on the eastern side [13] . Tradition holds that the waters of this confluence never dry up, as they are believed to be connected to the netherworld (Patal). It is also said that in the Dvapara Yuga, Barbarika, the son of Ghatotkacha, performed penance here for three years on the advice of Lord Krishna [14] . To this day, devotees continue to worship Barbarika alongside Goddess Chandrika Devi at this sacred place.
A fair held here on every Amavasya has been a tradition for more than 300 years, attracting pilgrims in large numbers [15] [4] .
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