Pawki Devi Temple (Nai Village) – Also Known as Vageshwari Devi Temple

Pawki Devi Temple (Nai Village) – Also Known as Vageshwari Devi Temple

Chandan – The guide wanted to go to Pawki Devi temple because it would be his first visit. He said the temple is a siddh peeth. I said OK. Scooty was not recommended because we have to drive uphill. I opted for the Hero Honda Splendor motorcycle. Cost Rs. 350 per day (Scooty is 100 rupees cheaper) starting from 9 mornings till 9 night hours. I filled the motorcycle petrol tank with Rs. 200 petrol.

At 11:15 we started our journey from Tapovan, Rishikesh and by 2:45 pm we reached Pawki Devi temple. In between, we stop at Vashisht Gufa, Gular at 11:50 am, and Kailash Gufa at 1:30 pm.

Pawki Devi temple is situated nearby Nai village in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and is approx. 39 km from Tapovan, Rishikesh, and 22 km from Vashisht Gufa, Gular. It is a Shakti Peeth visited by a number of devotees each year, especially during Pausha month i.e., December / January to perform ‘Hariyari Puja’. The temple is also known as Vageshwari Devi temple. It is said and believed Goddess Sati‘s right foot fell at this location.

Lord Brahma had two sons ‘Narad’ and ‘Daksha’. Lord Brahma requested Narad to create the Universe but as Narad was a divine sage and not interested the request was forwarded to Daksha. The universe was created. Daksha was unanimously selected as the leader and was named Daksha Prajapati.

Once at Allahabad ‘Yagya’ was organized by Daksha Prajapati. Each and every person present at the Yagya site paid standing respect to Daksha except Lord Shiva who was not liked by Daksha Prajapati. He once again organized Yagya at Kankhal, Haridwar, and invited all Devtaas except Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma his daughter (Goddess Parvati in her previous birth was known as Uma and later Sati) but Uma attended the Yagya without invitation. Upon query why Lord Shiva was not invited Daksha Prajapati gave his reasons which was an insult to Lord Shiva. Angered by this Uma jumped into the Yagya and killed herself. The news spread like fire and reached Lord Shiva. He became furious pulled out his Jata (hair-lock) and smashed it into the earth. Virbhadra was born. Virbhadra by the order of Lord Shiva went to Kankhal destroyed Yagya and killed Daksha. And then Lord Shiva carried the remains of Sati’s body and walked aimlessly on earth in grief.

Lord Vishnu was concerned that Lord Shiva’s grief would cause the destruction of the Universe. Finally, he took out his Sudarshan Chakra and cut Sati’s body into pieces. Sati’s body parts fell at various places known as Shakti Peeth. Pawki Devi is one of them.

Kunjapuri Devi, Surkanda Devi, Rajrajeshwari Devi, Jwalpa Devi Siddh Peeths are within Uttarakhand.

Note: Virbhadra Mahadev temple is nearby IDPL colony approx. 5 km from Rishikesh.

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