Chandrabadani Devi
Overview
Chandrabadani is a Siddhpeeth temple. Located on the border of Devaprayag and Pratapnagar tehsils, the temple is located at the top of the Chandrakoot mountain about 32 km north of Devaprayag. it is equidistant from both Devprayag and the Tehri Dam, making it a significant spiritual landmark in the heart of the Garhwal Himalayas.
The legend says that the torso of Sati fell here and her weapons got scattered all around the place. Thus, even today huge number of iron trishuls and some old statues can be seen lying around the revered temple of Chandrabadani. The story of the temple is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. When Lord Shiva was carrying the burnt body of Maa Sati, the parts of her body scattered in different places and hence those places became Siddhpeeth. In this temple, her badan was dropped; hence the name Chandrabadani.
Priesthood
The temple priests traditionally belong to the Semalty Brahmin community of Pujar Gaon village, Taluk Devaprayag, located 9 km from the temple.
Rituals, Ceremonies &; Fairs
The boutique temple is safely guarded by a Shri-yantra, skillfully carved on a flat stone instead of an idol. Each year a cloth canopy is traditionally tied over the Shri-yantra. The Brahmin priest is blind-folded while performing the ritual. A big fair is held annually in the month of April in the premises of the Chandrabadni temple.
Access, Geography and Environment
By road, one can reach Jamnikhal, which is about 25 km from Devprayag by road and 109 km from Narendra Nagar. From Jamnikhal it is a 7 km plus one km walk uphill to Chandrabadani Temple. it is equidistant from both Devprayag and the Tehri Dam. The nearest railhead is at Rishikesh and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant of Dehradun. Once Rishikesh–Karnaprayag line project is completed, Pilgrims could reach out to Devaprayag by train from Rishikesh, Delhi and other destinations. During winter months, Chandrabadni Devi often experiences snowfall, enhancing its serene and mystical appeal. The location provides sweeping views of prominent peaks such as Bandarpunch, Swargarohini, Chaukhamba, Surkanda Devi and Kedarnath.