Where worries dissolve at the goddess’s feet, and devotion finds its voice
Nestled in the Shivalik foothills of Una district, the Chintpurni Temple is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in India, dedicated to Goddess Chinnamastika, a fierce yet compassionate form of Shakti. Known as the “Wish-Fulfilling Goddess”, Chintpurni Mata is believed to remove all worries (chinta) and grant the deepest desires of her devotees.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Chintpurni, Una District, Himachal Pradesh – 177110
- Altitude: ~940 meters
- By Road: 53 km from Una, 33 km from Hoshiarpur; well-connected by buses and taxis
- By Rail: Nearest station is Amb Andaura (~20 km)
- By Air: Gaggal Airport, Kangra (~100 km)
- On Foot: The temple is located in the heart of Chintpurni town, with a short walk from the main bazaar
🕉️ Deity & Worship
The temple is dedicated to Maa Chintpurni, a manifestation of Chinnamastika Devi, who symbolizes self-sacrifice, transformation, and the transcendence of ego. She is often depicted as headless, holding her severed head in one hand and a sword in the other, with three streams of blood feeding her attendants and herself—a powerful symbol of divine energy and liberation.
The goddess is worshipped in the form of three pindis, representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati.
Devotees offer red flags, coconuts, and sweets, and the temple is especially known for fulfilling wishes of childless couples and those seeking justice. Rituals include chanting of Durga Saptashati, lighting of ghee lamps, and offering of chunri and bangles. The temple is particularly vibrant during Navratri, when thousands gather to seek the goddess’s blessings.
🏛️ Architecture & Setting
The Chintpurni Temple features a modest yet spiritually charged sanctum, with:
- A silver-plated doorway and marble flooring
- A black stone pindi as the main deity, adorned with flowers, sindoor, and red cloth
- A covered courtyard for devotees to sit and meditate
- A sacred banyan tree nearby, believed to be the spot where the goddess first appeared to her devotee, Pandit Mai Das
The temple is surrounded by shops selling prasad, religious items, and pilgrim lodges, creating a vibrant yet reverent atmosphere.
📜 Mythological Significance
According to legend, Pandit Mai Das, a devout Brahmin from Patiala, had a vision of the goddess while resting under a banyan tree in the forest. She instructed him to stay and serve her, promising to manifest as a pindi beneath the tree. He obeyed, and the shrine grew into the Chintpurni Temple, now visited by lakhs of devotees each year.
The temple is also believed to be the site where the forehead of Sati fell, making it one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The name “Chintpurni” means “She who removes worries”, and pilgrims come here to tie threads of hope and untie knots of anxiety.
🎉 Festivals & Celebrations
- Navratri (twice a year): Marked by devta processions, bhajans, and community feasts
- Sawan Ashtami Mela (July–August): A major fair attracting thousands of devotees
- Daily Worship: Morning and evening aartis, offering of halwa-puri, and recitation of Shakta hymns
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Sheetla Devi Temple: Another Shakti shrine nearby
- Jwala Ji & Naina Devi Temples: Part of the Himachal Shakti circuit
- Mata Da Mandir Trail: A scenic walk through pine forests and village paths
- Chintpurni Bazaar: A bustling market for religious items and local crafts
🙏 Spiritual Experience
The Chintpurni Temple is not just a shrine—it is a sanctuary of surrender, a place where the goddess listens with open arms and a silent smile. As you bow before her pindi, with the chant of mantras rising like incense, you feel your worries dissolve into the folds of her red veil. It is a temple where faith becomes freedom, and the **soul finds peace in the promise of the mother.
