Sharda Devi Temple, Madhya Pradesh

The temple is on a hill. There are 1063 steps to reach the temple.Devotees from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh throng the temple to pray to Mother Sharada Devi. Devotee tourists to the temple are estimated to be about 10 lakhs in a year. The temple has shrines for Lords Gowri Shankar, Kala Bhairava and Mothers Durga Matha and Brahma Devi. People pray in the temple to achieve high ranks in the academic field and for child boon. Devotees perform milk Abhishek to Mother and offer pudding nivedhana.

Sharda Devi Temple, Satna, Madhya Pradesh

History
Pooja and Timings
How to Reach
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The history begins from the Yajna organized by Daksha, father-in-law of Lord Shiva. He willingly failed to invite Lord Shiva to show that he could do things without Him. Dakshayani, despite her father’s indifference to Her Lord, argued with Him, visited the Yajna place and scolded her father. Unable to bear the humiliation at her father’s hands, she jumped into the Yajna pit and ended her life. Furious Shiva destroyed the yajna through Veerabadra. He appeared there and played His Rudra Thandava holding the body of Mother Sasi Devi. All the worlds trembled and a total end appeared to have been nearing.

Lord Vishnu appeared at the place, softened Lord Shiva and cut the body of Mother Sasidevi to pieces with His discus. The parts fell in 51 places being worshipped by devotees as 51 Shakti Peetas now. Her chest fell in this place. Maihar means Mother’ Home. The temple is at the top of the Trikooda Hills. Mother Sharada Devi is also praised as Saraswathi Devi. There is an inscription at the feet of the stone idol of Mother. The Narasimha idol in the temple is also very old. It is said that a devotee Noopula Deva by name installed these idols in the temple in the year AD 502.

The temple is open from 5 AM to 8 PM and from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Special pujas on Ashtami days and Navarathri in September-October are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

By Road

Road facility is also available for vehicles to a particular point only. People have to take the steps for the remaining distance. Rope car is provided for the disabled and the aged.

By Rail

Maihar is 32 km far from the Satna railway station on the Allahabad route. The temple is 2 km far from the railway station.

By Air

The nearest airport is the Jabalpur Airport at a distance of 161 km from the temple.