Mata
Mansa Devi Temple at Panchkula is a symbol of Himalayan culture
and faith. The shrine located on the foot hills of Shivalik
is an epitome of age old tradition of ‘Shakti’ worship in
northern India. Himalaya being the abode of Shiva and his
consort’shakti’ became centre of shakti worship. In the vicinity
of Panchkula there are numerous Shakti worshipping centers
known by their names such as Chandi, Kalika, Mansa, Bhima
etc. Hence, mythological speaking, Chandigarh-Panchkula region
undoubtedly continued to be living legends of shaktism where
its practices are in vogue. Mansa Devi Temple is lying in
Bilaspur village, about three kilometers east of Mani Majra
in Chandigarh, has two temples dedicated to the goddess. It
is believed that the older temple was built by the ruler of
Mani Majra. However, the present temple which stands a witness
to the exciting past of the Shivalik region is about two hundred
years old.
Two temples are located in the complex of Mansa Devi. The
main temple is dedicated to Mansa who is worshipped in the
sanctum sanctorum both in the form of ‘pindi’ as well as in
her anthropomorphic form executed on a marble. In the sanctum
sanctorum she is worshipped with Devi Saraswati and Lakshmi
in the form of Pindi (Stone pebbles). Originally the pindis
were only worshipped by the devotees. However, in modern times
a marble bust of the deity was got sculpted for giving an
attractive human look (form) to the deity. She is beautifully
decorated with crown and other ornaments. Interestingly the
architecture of the main temple (Mansa Devi) is not in consonance
with the Shivalik region where usually a typical ‘ Nagara’
or curvilinear spira temples were erected. This is in sharp
contrast to the environment of the region as the main temple
manifests a typical moghul architecture represented by domes
and minarets. Architecturally speaking the temple has been
built in Panchayatana pattern in which at four cardinal corners
stand four shrines with the main shrine (fifth shrine) being
located the centre.
Lingaraja Temple temple had the patronage of Manimajra State.
After the merger of princely states into Pepsu the Patronage
of State Govt. ended and the temples remained neglected. The
raja of Manimajra then appointed pujari as ‘ khidmatuzar’
of this temple whose duty was to worship the deity of the
temple. After the merger of princely State into Pepsu these
pujaris became independent on the matter of controlling and
managing the affairs of the temple and the land attached to
the temple. They could neither maintain this temple nor provide
necessary facilities to the visiting devotees and thus the
condition of the temple deteriorated day by day. So much so
that there were no proper arrangements for pilgrims visiting
the temple during Navaratra melas. The complex was in awfully
neglected condition till the establishment of the Board. Maharaja
Gopal Singh of Manimajra constructed the present main temple
of Shri Mansa Devi, which is situated on the Shivalik foothills
in village Bilaspur, Tehsil and District Panchkula, during
the period 1811-1815. At a distance of 200 meters from the
main temple is the Patiala temple which was got constructed
by Sh. Karam Singh, the then Maharaja Patiala in the year
1840.
According to a popular legend, the shrine was originally in
the territory of erstwhile princely state of Nahan. Some hill
people cut off the stream, which supplied water to the pilgrims
visiting the temple, causing distress to the pilgrims. Thereupon,
the goddess appeared in dream of Gurbaksh Singh, ruler of
Mani Majra and asked him to construct a temple for her at
this place. This temple contains thirty-eight panels of wall
paintings besides floral designs painted all over the ceiling
and the arches leading into the temple. The drawings of the
temple are not of high standard but a great variety of themes
is illustrated. The other temple is said to have been constructed
by Maharaja Karam Singh of erstwhile Patiala State to commemorate
his success in the battle against the Gurkhas
