Information of Naina Devi Temple, Nainital, Uttarakhand

Naina Devi Temple is the famous Hindu goddess temple built on the banks of Thalital. This place derives its name from the temple where Naina literally means eyes and thal means the lake. This is one of the Shakthi Peeth of Sathi Devi and an important Hindu pilgrim site and a famous tourist spot too. This ancient temple underwent much modification since the past 3 centuries due to landslides. The present structure is a modern temple seen in color full paintings. This is an Eco friendly temple with a neat and clean environment. It is very beautifully located near the Thalital lake area, Nainital District of Uttarakhand State in India.

Naina Devi Temple Religious Significance

Sathi Devi is worshiped as the Naina Devi in this temple. This is an important Shakthi Peetha for the Hindus. Many devotees take pilgrimage to this temple from May to September of every year. Sathi Devi is considered as a powerful women and a mother god here. She used to bless all of its worshipers and fulfill our prayers too. This temple mainly attracts the women members of the Hindu religion. This is a local temple for the Naintal residents and mostly visited by them apart from pilgrims. It has been a tutelary deity for the Kumon rulers for many centuries.

Festival at Naina Devi Temple

The Naina festival is the important one celebrated very grandly in this temple. It is attracted by many devotees including its local residents. A great fair is conducted throughout this lake area and seen with lot of lights and sound during the festival days. Apart from the main festival this temple is also seen with thousands of devotees on the Navarathri festival seasons.

Naina Devi Temple Mythology & History

The legend for this temple is related with the Shakthi Peetha story as per the Hindu beliefs. In the ancient times, Lord Shiva took the immolated dead Sathi Devi in his trident and started the Thandava; this was worrying the heavenly gods. Since, when Shiva started the Thandava will lead to destruction of the world. Here lord Vishnu acted up on with his Sudharshan Chakra and started to cut down the Sathi Devi's body so that Shiva can be calm down from the grief of his dead wife. In this act the Sathi Devi's left eye fall near this lake where the present temple is built. That why this temple is named as Naina Devi Mandir.

Naina Devi Temple Architectural Significance

Naina Devi Temple underwent much alteration since the ancient times. A final long standing temple was seen since the medieval times, but that to get destroyed in the landslide 1842 Ad which was built by Moti Ram Shah. Once again there was a land slide in 1980 and the temple was reconstructed in the modern style in 1883 Ad Since then there were no landslide happened here. The new temple is built over vast areas near by the Thalital Lake, which is 1567 yards in length and width of 167 yards. This lake is having a depth of 93 feet. This temple alongside the lake and beautiful hills surrounded by the lake makes it an important tourist destination. There is a huge arched entrance in the front of this temple. This has two gates as In/Out. Inside the main temple is seen along with few other small structures built for other deities. The main temple is a square type structure having two pediments and a triangular shaped dome on its top. The slops of the pediments are covered by terracotta tiles and look unique to see. The main deity of Naina Devi is placed here. Towards the lake area there is a Shiva Linga kept in a porch. A metal made serpent is covering the Linga with its hood. It has also got the idol of lord Vinayaka and Lord Hanuman. The entire temple is painted in red, white and yellow color giving it a Hindu touches. All together this is a unique location near to the hill slops with dense pine forest, a vast natural lake and a valley of Naintal town. This makes this temple very popular among tourist apart from its pilgrims.