Experience Myth, Legend and Divine Protection in Delhi"s Sheetla Devi Temple
The spiritual heartland of Haryana is a landscape dotted with temples big and small, monumentally significant and uniformly sacred.
But no singular religious venue dominates the Indian capital quite like Gurgaon's Sheetla Devi Temple.
Situated beside a translucent pond in the pastoral setting of Gurgaon, the Sheetla Devi Temple is a hot spot for Hindus nationwide as a place of healing, divine protection and infinite blessings.
Referred to as Mata Sheetla Devi, Masani Maa and Bhagat Lalita Maa, the patron goddess of the temple is said to posses powers of dispelling diseases of all nature with a special focus on curing those afflicted with small pox.
In fact the deity's name "Sheetla" refers to small pox disease thus pilgrims who have contracted or have fears of contracting the dreaded disease flock to the temple to either be cured or ensure their protection from the affliction.
A ceremony dubbed the 'Jal dema' is also a popular ritual performed at the temple for all those who wish to protect themselves and their loved ones from the threat of serious ailments through the blessings of the deity.
The months of March and April also see an influx of visitors to the temple as the holy period of Chaitra brings hoards of children for their "mundan" or first hair cutting ceremony in the temple's alter.
Newlyweds and married couples from across the country also gather at the sacred Sheetla Devi Temple to secure blessings for a harmonious wedded life as the goddess is also believed to posses powers to bestow such blessings upon her followers.
The highlight of any visit to the Sheetla Devi Temple is of course witnessing the bejewelled, golden idol of the deity in the heart of the alter.
Made of a shimmering alloy and dressed in elaborately decorated garbs of red, the figure of the all mighty Sheetla Devi is nothing short of awe inspiring.
The Satsang Bhawan which is located in the inner hall of the temple is also worth the visit as numerous meditation, yoga and spiritual programs are conducted here.
Other must-see points include the prayer hall and the Bhandara Bhawan while a picturesque park and water drinking facility are also available for the benefit of visitors.
But no singular religious venue dominates the Indian capital quite like Gurgaon's Sheetla Devi Temple.
Situated beside a translucent pond in the pastoral setting of Gurgaon, the Sheetla Devi Temple is a hot spot for Hindus nationwide as a place of healing, divine protection and infinite blessings.
Referred to as Mata Sheetla Devi, Masani Maa and Bhagat Lalita Maa, the patron goddess of the temple is said to posses powers of dispelling diseases of all nature with a special focus on curing those afflicted with small pox.
In fact the deity's name "Sheetla" refers to small pox disease thus pilgrims who have contracted or have fears of contracting the dreaded disease flock to the temple to either be cured or ensure their protection from the affliction.
A ceremony dubbed the 'Jal dema' is also a popular ritual performed at the temple for all those who wish to protect themselves and their loved ones from the threat of serious ailments through the blessings of the deity.
The months of March and April also see an influx of visitors to the temple as the holy period of Chaitra brings hoards of children for their "mundan" or first hair cutting ceremony in the temple's alter.
Newlyweds and married couples from across the country also gather at the sacred Sheetla Devi Temple to secure blessings for a harmonious wedded life as the goddess is also believed to posses powers to bestow such blessings upon her followers.
The highlight of any visit to the Sheetla Devi Temple is of course witnessing the bejewelled, golden idol of the deity in the heart of the alter.
Made of a shimmering alloy and dressed in elaborately decorated garbs of red, the figure of the all mighty Sheetla Devi is nothing short of awe inspiring.
The Satsang Bhawan which is located in the inner hall of the temple is also worth the visit as numerous meditation, yoga and spiritual programs are conducted here.
Other must-see points include the prayer hall and the Bhandara Bhawan while a picturesque park and water drinking facility are also available for the benefit of visitors.