Shri Adhya Katyani Shakti Peeth Mandir more popularly called the Chhatarpur Temple is located in a suburban area to the south of Delhi known as Chhatarpur. This temple is now only the second largest temple complex in this country. It is dedicated to the Goddess Katyayani. The temple complex is only 4 km (or 2.5 mi) from the historical monument of Qutub Minar and is just off the Mehrauli-Gurgaon highway.

The temple complex was established in 1974 by Baba Sant Nagpal Ji. He ultimately died in the year 1998. His Samadhi (ascension) shrine has been built within the premises of the Shiv Gauri Nageshwar Mandir which is within the larger temple complex.

Only a few years ago, this temple was known as the largest temple complex in this country and as the second largest temple complex in the world. However, after the construction of the Swaminarayan Akshardham in 2005 in Delhi, this temple has been pushed to second place. The temple has been completely constructed from marble. Upon all the facets that there are in the temple, there is perforated stone or latticed screen work. This is also called jaali.

About Goddess Katyayani

Goddess Katyayani is the 6th form of Lord Shiva’s wife, Goddess Parvati or Shakti, amongst her nine forms or Navadurga. She is primarily worshipped as a part of the celebrations and traditions surrounding the Navratri. In Sanskrit lexicon, the amarakosha Katyayani is the second name that is given for Shakti or Parvati. Within the Hindu sect of Shaktism (the worship of Shakti), Katyayani is representative of the fierce and terrifying incarnations of Durga or Shakti. She is a Warrior goddess. Among her other forms, she is also known as Chandika and Bhadrakali. In Hindu tradition, she is generally associated with red, very similar to the representations of Goddess Durga who is the primal incarnation of Shakti. This fact is mentioned in the Mahabhashya on Panini by Patanjali, which was written in the 2nd century BC.

Goddess Katyayani is first mentioned within the Krishna Yajurveda in the Taittiriya Aranyaka section. The Skanda Purana explains how she was created as a result of the combined and spontaneous anger of the Gods. Her creation eventually resulted in slaying of the demon Mahishasura. She killed him while being mounted on top of the lion that was given to her by Goddess Gauri. The annual Durga Puja that is today celebrated in every part of the country celebrates exactly this occasion.

The Devi Mahatmyam and the Devi Bhagvata Purana, which are parts of the Markandeya Purana, attributed to the sage Markandeya Rishi describes her exploits in great detail. The text is estimated to have been written around 400-500 AD. Over a large span of time, her presence was ultimately felt in Jain and Buddhist texts and even several Tantric texts. One of the more notable mentions of Katyayani is within the Kalika Purana (which is dated to the 10th century). It mentions Uddiyanaor Odradesa (today known as Odisha), as the seat of Lord Jagannath and Goddess Katyayani.

In other Hindu traditions such as Tantra and Yoga, she is ordinarily associated with the 'Third eye chakra' or the sixth ‘Ajna’ Chakra. Therefore, her blessings are generally invoked by meditating upon this point.

Architecture of the Complex

The complete temple complex is spread out over an area of 60 acres (or 24.3 ha). It contains over 20 large and small temples- all of which have been divided into three different areas. The primary deity of the temple is the Goddess Katyayani.

It is within a side shrine inside the main temple complex, that a shrine of the Goddess Katyayani (or Durga) is housed. This shrine is opened only during the time of bi-annual season of Navratri. During these times, thousands of people visit the premises for a darshan of Goddess Katyayani. The nearby space has been built and decorated as a living room. It contains tables and chairs made of silver. Another room is regarded as the Bed room or Shayan Kaksha, where there is a bed, a dressing table and a table that has been carved in silver. The shrine opens into a large prayer hall or Satsang. Here religious discourses and religious songs or bhajans are held. At the entrance of the primary temple stands an old tree. Over here devotees tie blessed threads in order to fulfil their wishes. Within the same complex there is another shrine devoted to Goddess Durga, which is open to followers from morning to evening. This shire lies just above the shrines that have been dedicated to Lord Ganesh and Radha Krishna.

With the rest of the complex there are also shires that are devoted to Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama and Lord Shiva. The entire temple complex has been built using both North and South Indian Temple architectural styles.

Address and Location

The Mandir is located on the Main Chhatarpur Road in Chhatarpur. It is in the South West of Delhi and can be reached through any one of the number of DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) buses that ply to and from Chhatarpur. The area can also be reached using the Metro, by simply taking the Metro to the Chhatarpur Metro Station on the Yellow line.