The name of the diety of Chamunda Mandir is derived from the monsters Chanda and Munda. She was said to be the Matrika goddesses, known as the warriors who protect good from the forces of evil.
Chamunda Devi Temple in Mathura is one of the most important spiritual place to visit in India. It is located right opposite to Maa Gayatri Tapobhoomi. In this temple, Sri Gorakhnath also attained knowledge and it is also believed that the place was a meditation centre for Sage Shandilya.
About the temple:
There is a story mentioned in the sacred text of Shrimad Bhagwat about the Chamunda Temple, it is believed that a hair strand of Maa Gayatri fell on this holy place. It is said that in Satyug Lord Krishna offered salvation to a python after which he went to seek blessings from Maa Chamunda here. It is said that after performing Mundan of Sri Krishna at Saraswati Kund, Nand Baba also came here to seek blessings of Maa Chamunda. As the deity Maa Chamunda is also the clan Goddess of Nand Baba.
As per the epics, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, Devi Sati was married to Lord Shiva against the wish of her father. Daksha once decided to perform a Yagya. He invited all Devtas except Lord Shiva & Devi Sati. On listening this, Devi Sati went to her father’s place without invitation to advise him. Daksha insulted Devi Sati & said ill words against Lord Shiva. Due to which Devi Sati went angry & immolated herself in the Yagya Agni. When the Lord Shiva got the news, he went there & collected the ashes of his wife Sati and started the Tandav Dance. On the prayer of Devtas, Lord Vishnu sent his chakra and corpse the dead body of Sati into pieces. It is believed that the hair strand of Devi fell here.
Major Attractions of Temple:
During the festival of Navratri, a large number of devotees can be witnessed to visit this place. In fact, on Sundays and on occasion of Akshay Navami and Devthan Ekadashi, the entire temple premises thronged by devotees & travellers. Apart from being a religious and spiritual destination, the natural beauty of the area also makes it a popular picnic spot.
The major attraction of this place is that Chamunda Devi Temple does not have any idol inside and it is said that reciting the Shat Chandi mantras here will bring good luck and prosperity to the devotees.
Entry Fees, Aarti Timings & Mandir Opening Timings:
There is no entry fee to visit the temple. It is 6Km away from Mathura Junction Railway station. The direct buses are available from major cities like Delhi, Agra, Aligarh, etc.
The timings of Mandir is from 6:30am to 12:00pm in the morning & 4:00pm to 9:00pm in the evening from Monday to Sunday.
The Mangal Aarti timings in Summers is 5:30am & in winters is 6:30am. While the Sandhya Aarti timings are 6:00pm in summers & 5:00pm in winters.
The temple is located at 143, Om Nagar Chamunda Colony, Po. Gayatri Tapo Bhumi, Mathura - Vrindavan Marg, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh 281003. You can easily get the taxi, auto or rickshaw to visit to visit the place. It is about 1.5km from Mathura Junction Railway Station.