Banquet Hall

Besides the contribution in the field of education and medical facilities, the Shaktipeeth has contributed generously towards social causes during the Kargil war and other national catastrophes.

Sankatmochan – Jai Hanuman

Shaktipeeth Today

Further down the road, a well equipped, Diagnostic Centre and a small dispensary run by the trust provides free medicines to needy patients. There is another building close to Hanumanji’s statue called “Gole Bhawan” which is made available to the public for family functions or congregations.

Shree Naageshwar Temple

The Samadhi is directly below the Shree Nageshwar Temple on the first floor. Here the Shiva-Linga rising above the Shesh Nag coiled around, represents symbolically the immortal Eternal Creator, rising above, unaffected by the fatal coils of the Time-principle, which represent the changing transient universe.

Samadhi

As it was drizzling, we quickly passed through the Rath-Griha, which houses the Mother’s huge ceremonial chariot and reached Baba’s Samadhi, from a clean and beautiful flanked with well keptgarden on both sides. Baba’s Samadhi is an astounding structure, where his mortal remains rest in everlasting peace.

Lord Shiva’s Trishul

Having completed the tour of the main complex, we crossed over to the other side of the main road and entered the main gate of Markandeya Mandapam Complex. The moment we entered the complex, we saw the lofty and imposing Trishul (Trident) of Lord Shiva standing on the back of the tortoise symbolizing the ‘Prithvi Tatva” (the solidarity –principle represented by the Earth). The other two “tatvas” are the Jal (Ocean – the liquidity principle) and Aakash (Sky – the ether-principle of the Creation).

Maa Katyayani

In the temple, two forms of Goddess Durga are commemorated. One shrine, located on the first floor, is dedicated to Maha Gauri (form of Durga), which is open for ‘darshan’ every day. Another shrine is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani (also known as Mahishasur-mardini), where the devotees are allowed only on the day of ‘ashtami’ in each month. It is only during the Navratras that the ‘darshan’ of Goddess Katyayani can be had throughout the nine days.

The image of Katyayani Devi is placed in a big hall, which can also be reached from the hall of prayers. The gilded image of Goddess Katyayani is always dressed in rich clothes with striking jewellery and elaborate garland of flowers. The golden image of Katyayani attracts the attention of devotees with its huge size and sheer divinity

Prayer Hall

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Kalpa Vriksha (Wish Tree)

Wish tree 

Devotees tie chunri and threads on this tree for making their wishes fulfilled.

Shree Vinayak and Maa Mahalakshmi

The architecture of the temple bears the stamp of the South Indian style of construction which is distinctively attractive. The priest on duty very kindly tied an ‘angrakshak” thread around our wrists and after passing through a huge hall ornamented with some awesome architectural designs, we reached close to the deities made of silver, paid our obeisance and were taken to the massive dining hall, where thousands of the devotees are seated and fed at one time. We were also shown the spacious kitchens, where food is cooked, first offered to Maa Annapurna and then distributed amongst the devotees as “prasada”. We were told that on the days of full moon (Purnima), all the days of Navratras, festival days (Shivratri, Janamashtami, Guru Purnima, etc) and on some special occasions, free meals are served in the dining hall. Don’t be surprised if I tell you that on each day of the Navratras, more than one lac visitors are served food. You can imagine the magnanimity of the stupendous effort behind these arrangements.

After passing through the “Yagyashala” (perhaps the biggest I have seen), where havans are performed everyday during the Navratras and on all the Sundays, we went to the main temple complex. At the entrance, there is a “Kalpa Vriksha”, planted by Baba at the time of Bhoomi Poojan. Devotees tie colored threads and bangles on the branches of this colorful and decorated tree. The common belief is that by tying threads and bangles the desires of the individuals will be fulfilled.

The tour of the temple

On July 25, 2008, we reached Chattarpur at ten in the morning. Being a rainy working day, the normal throng of devotees was missing. With a view to collect some basic information and to understand the layout plans of this massive complex spread over seventy acres of land, we contacted the Public Relations office (housed in the Matri- Chaya complex) and to our delight the attending personnel gave us information about the founder of the temple, the location of various temples and other edifice connected with the temple.

Main Temple

The grandeur of the Nutan Bhawan complex located close to the Matri Chaya was so astounding that we started walking towards the building, climbed the stairs and reached the Temple of Shree Vinayak and Maa Mahalakshmi.

Museum

To pay homage to the Baba, the place where he resided during construction of the temple (Matri Chaya complex) was converted into a museum. It has been preserved exactly as it was in use during Baba’s lst days.

Construction of the temple

The construction of the Chattarpur Temple, one of the most visited temples and a wonder of architecture was started in 1974. The Shaktipeeth designed to the last detail under the passionate and skilful guidance of Baba, started taking shape and devotees started gathering around him. Baba’s charismatic personality and compassionate nature aided by his straight forward message of removing the veil of superstition and ignorance from the minds of the common man had a great effect on the masses of the area. Baba’s mission to reveal to them the Sanaatan Dharma in its true and undistorted form with a view to spread the message of brotherhood, tolerance and patriotism attracted more and more people, who were willing to provide not only the financial support but also the physical labour required for building of the temple.

With The Divine Mother’s grace, plots were purchased in phases (in some cases, some of the devotees gifted their small land holdings), all charges paid for along with requisite registration.

While the construction of the temple complex was progressing, Baba’s “Matri Parivar”, as he called the devotees, grew at a phenomenal pace. The Shaktipeeth soon became a popular place of pilgrimage, which devotees from all over the world started visiting and this tiny unknown village soon became a mini temple – town.

Baba was totally averse to personal glorification of any kind. As a result, nowhere in the temple precincts can one find any placard, label or indication mentioning any individual for contributions. Narrow considerations of colour, caste, creed, region, social and economic status, etc have no place in the temple precincts. The rich, the mighty, the poor, the down trodden all sit together, worship and eat together, as children of the Benevolent Mother, Katyayani Devi.

Any commercial activity or profit motive in any of the activities or services in the Shaktipeeth were totally banned by Baba. The worshippers are not required to pay any thing for devotional service (Pooja), nor are the priests permitted to accept anything for themselves or for the temple. The authorities encourage voluntary donations only in the form of cheques, drafts or credit card transfers. No one is authorised to take cash. Those who wish to give offerings in cash have to drop them in the donation boxes kept at various places to ensure the voluntary character and anonymity. These boxes are opened in the presence of a specified number of committee members and duly accounted for.

I was amazed to learn that despite the fact that large sums were required for the construction and upkeep of the Shaktipeeth, just before the commencement of Navratras, Baba used to send offerings to other temples for construction, renovation work. We were told that Baba provided financial and technical help not only to the temples like Jwala ji, The Chintpoorni Temple, Kangra ji, Baijnath, but also sent contributions to some of the well known Muslim places of worship. No wonder then Baba was revered not only by the Hindus but also by the followers of other faiths.

While the construction of temple was progressing and the throng of devotees was multiplying, the unending hard work started telling on Baba’s health. I was told that by the beginning of 1993, Baba had to be given oxygen for long durations and thereafter constantly. It was only through Ma Durga’s grace that despite such serious ailments, Baba, moving about a wheel chair, kept on monitoring the growth of the temple, till he breathed his last on mid night between December 15 and 16, 1998.

Nutan Bhawan

Although all religious places have an equal reverence, there is something distinctive about the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir, popularly known as Chattarpur Mandir, which is located four kms away from the famous Qutab Minar in South Delhi. The Shaktipeeth was established to pay homage to the omnipotent and omniscient Bhagwati Maa Katyayani (Goddess Katyayani is the sixth avtaar of Goddess Durga) and its architectural splendour blends harmoniously with the religious activity on its premises.

It is not the grandeur of its architecture which makes the Shaktipeeth different from the other temples, but the moving spirit of its founder, Shree Durga-chranan-anuragi Baba Sant Nagpal, who dedicated his entire life for the service of the down trodden and the needy people. The Shaktipeeth is unique in that it is founded on the eternal truth in our ancient tradition and their relevance to our own times. Hence it would be pertinent to say a few words about the Revered Baba ji.

Baba ji

Born on March 10, 1925, on the day of the Holi Festival in a small village of Karnataka, Baba lost his parents at a tender age and during the cremation rites of his mother, an unknown lady took the grieving child to the adjacent temple of Mother Goddess and told him that She was the real universal mother, who would always protect him. Thereafter, Baba’s total dedication and surrender to the Divine Mother became a living reality.

The child was looked after, educated and trained by the Sadhus. Baba travelled all over the country and went for pilgrimages to the holy places including the ones in the East and South, the difficult terrains of the Himalayan region and even to Tibetan plateau where the holy Kailash and Mansarovar are located.

He spent many years in the Kashmir valley and then with the guidance of Maa Durga, moved to Delhi, where he constructed a temple in Arjun Nagar and then to Durga Ashram near Chattarpur Village and finally to the present site, which was then an uneven wasteland covered with wild shrubs and bushes.

emples In Complex

A Tour of the Shaktipeeth Complex

Visitors to the temple can park their vehicle in the free parking lot in the Dharamshala complex across the road and opposite the main Mandir entrance. On entering the main temple complex, one can visit the temple of lord Shiva and Maa Parvati and then come to Ram Darbar consisting of (1) the idols of Sankatmochan Hanuman (2) Shri Ram with his divine consort Sita on one side and brother Lakshman on the other with his devotee Lord Hanuman at his feet and (3) Shree Radha Krishna. Then, after climbing up stairs, a visitor would reach the sanctum of the main deity, namely, Maa Katyayani, a form of Maa Durga.Maa Katyayani had a special appeal to Babaji. At the feet of Maa Katyayani is Lord Ganesha looking at her with devotion and attention and eager to fulfill her every wish.

After this, climbing down the steps, one reaches the hall where we have the sanctum of Maa Mahishasurmardini (open during Purnimas and Navratras only). The majestic form depicts the slaying of demon Mahishasur, an embodiment of evil by the mother goddess. One can sit in this hall and listen to Ramayan Path recited the whole day. On coming out of this hall, one reaches the Satsang hall where religious and cultural programmes take place on Sundays, Purnimas, Janamashtami, Shivaratri and Navratras. The hall has the capacity to accommodate more than one thousand people at a time. Many renowned artists have performed here in the past.

On one side of the Satsang hall is the Shayya Kaksh (Resting Room) of Maa. A long time wish of Babaji to build a Shayya Kaksh has been fulfilled recently and includes a silver bed, a silver dressing table, a meeting table with nine chairs for the nine devis and a wax model of Babaji in standing position. The visitor can see the above place through the glass panel.

Just outside the Satsang hall are the sanctums of Ashtbhuji (open during Navratra only) and Lord Hanuman. 

It is proposed to install the statue of Babaji made in Ashtadhatu in the space in between the two staircases leading to the Satsang hall.
Visitors can, thereafter, enter the Matrichaya complex consisting of the Administration block, Babaji’s museum, Rath Ghar, Baradari, Nutan Bhawan complex etc. The architecture of Nutan Bhawan complex where we have the Laxmi Vinyak Temple is of South Indian Style. Artists from South India were specially called by Babaji during the construction of this complex. Beneath the Laxmi Vinayak Temple is the lungar hall (where about 4000 devotees can take lungar at the same time) and kitchen used for preparation of food on various occasions. During Navratras, more than one lakh people eat lunger here every day. Before food is served to the devotees, it is offered to Maa Annapurna.

Babaji’s Museum was the place where he spent his last days. In his memory, all the items used by him or given to him by his devotees have been displayed. A Wax model of Babaji in sitting posture is exactly where Babaji used to sit and give darshan to his devotees.

The Rath Ghar houses the rath or the temple chariot, which is used for pujas during Navratras. Idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Kartikeya, Lord Ganeshji, Maa Saraswatiji and Maa Lakahmiji are kept in the Baradari during Navratras for worship. In the Yagyashala, havan is performed during Navratras and its participants are required to observe strict austerities during the entire period. Adjacent to the Yagyashala is a small Baradari with the idol of Maa Durga where, Durga Saptsati paath is performed during Navratras. Behind the Yagyashala is the temple of Bhairon Baba.

A Visitor may, thereafter, go across the road and enter the Markandeya complex flanked by Maharana Pratap Bhawan (on the left) and the Trishul i.e. trident of lord Shiva (on the right) resting on the back of a tortoise symbolizing solidarity of the earth (Prithvi Tatva) the liquidity principle (Jal Tatva) and the eternal principle (Aakash Tatva). Just ahead of this is the temple containing “Sthan Devtas” (local regional deities). Behind this temple is the old Rath Ghar where the temple’s ceremonial chariot used to be kept before being shifted to the present place. 

As one approaches Babaji’s Samadhi, one can see huge decorative brass bell placed in the middle of a park on the right side. This has been cast as per the desire of Babaji and about 3000 kgs of brass has been used in the process. Ahead of this is Babaji’s Samadhi, a magnificent and graceful structure where the mortal remains of Babaji rest in everlasting peace directly below the Shivlinga in the Nageshwar temple on the first floor. The Shivlinga here is above the coiled Sheshnag, representing the immortal eternal creature (lord Shiva) rising above and unfettered by the coils of time that continuously changes as well as recycles everything in the universe. Just behind and to the left of the Samadhi is Atithi Bhawan, where Babaji spent some time before shifting to Matri Chaya complex.

At this point, it is necessary to describe in brief Navratra festivities which are celebrated in the mandir twice a year during March-April,(Vasant Chaitra Navratra) culminating in Ram Navami and in September-October (Sharad Navratra) culminating in Dussehra. For the convenience of the lakhs of devotees who throng the temple during Navratras, there is adequate free parking space for scooters and cycles in the Dharamshala parking, for cars behind the Samadhi and adjacent to Markadeya Mandapam and for heavy vehicles in the open ground near Hanuman Murti. Separate in and out gates are available in each parking lot for the convenience of the motorists.

On the right of Babaji’s Samadhi is a huge hall called Markandeya Mandapam which is the result of Babaji’s desire to have a hall big enough to accommodate a very large number of people during religious functions, discourses etc. The barricaded portion on the four sides is used as holding area for the large crowds coming to the temple during Navratras. The Markandeya Mandapam is also used for solemn functions like Shanti Path and during Babaji’s Birthday. The Subway near Markandeya Mandapam connects the two portions of the mandir and was built to provide a safe crossing for the devotees during Navratras. The Markandeya Mandapam has the temples of Lord Vishnuji, Maa Laxmiji, Maa Annapurna, Maa Mahishasurmardini, Maa Durga and Dasham Mahavidya.

One can see an imposing statue of Lord Hanuman in the open space near Markandeya Mandapam. This is a great attraction to the devotees of Lord Hanuman and children. The flood lights offer a majestic view of the entire area during evening hours. On the right side as one stands in front of the Hanuman Murti is the Gole building, which is at present used for conducting religious functions. 

SHREE ADHYA KATYAYANI SHAKTIPEETH MANDIR

Shri Adhya Katyani Shakti Peeth Mandir or Chhatarpur Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Katyayani. The temple is located in South Delhi-Chhatarpur , just 4 km away from Qutub Minar. The goddess Katyayani, a part of Navadurga, is considered to be the sixth avatar of goddess Durga. Devotees from all caste and creed are welcomed here.

The Chhatarpur Mandir was founded by Sant Shree Nagpal Ji in 1974, who died in 1998. His samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex. The temple has been built in both south and north Indian style of temple architecture. The temple is constructed totally from marble. The temple complex spread over 70 acres and has over 20 small and large temples divided in three different complexes. The Temple premises features a Shayan Kaksha(bed room) of Navadurga where a bed, dreesing table and a meeting table with nine chairs, all made up of pure silver are present. The temple complex also have other temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva. The house where Baba Nagpal Ji spent his last few days was recently converted into a museum and have all the items that were used by him throughout his lifetime. Devotees attend the Chhatarpur Mandir in huge numbers during Navratri celebrations and have pleasing experience.

Nestled in the fascinating surroundings of the historical Mehrauli Area of South Delhi, Chhattarpur, a small village of yore, now is known more by the divine pulsations of Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir. Founded in the Nineteen seventies by Sant Shree Nagpal Baba, the place has now become a pilgrimage Centre of renown, visited by devotees from all parts of the country, nay the world. The Mandir precincts offer to the visitors exquisite architecture, a blend of North and South. The enthralling statues of the deities like Maa Katyayani, Maa Mahishasurmardini, Ram-Darbar, Radha-Krishna, Shiv-Parvati, Laxmiji, Ganeshji, Hanumanji etc make one standstill in adoration with extreme admiration of the presence of the divine which is more eloquent than silent. The special celebrations during Navratras, Mahashivratri and Janmashtami make the temple abuzz with religious fervour to the delight of the devotees congregating in hundreds and thousands. The lungar Prasad distributed in both the Navratras to approximately a lakh visitors daily is a rare sight to see and believe. 
Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir Trust right since the days of Baba Nagpalji is controlling the affairs of the Mandir and running a number of religious and social programmes benefitting cross sections of the Society.

The Mandir, spread over an area of approximately 70 acres, has a number of structures, separate as well as combined, dedicated to each deity with large halls for congregation of devotees. The Shiv Mandir, Ram Mandir, Maa Katyayani Mandir, Maa Mahishasurmaridini Mandir, Maa Ashtabhuji Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, Laxmi Vinayak Mandir, Jharpeer Mandir, Markandeya Mandapam, Baba Ki Samadhi, Nageshwar Mandir, the Trident (Trishul), 101 feet high Hanuman Murti etc are special attractions for the devotees and even common visitors.