Dewas Tekri
Dewas Tekri is a sacred mountain located in the city of Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, India. Tekri is known for its religious significance as it houses two important shrines: the Devi Chamunda Mata Temple and the Devi Tulja Bhavani Mata Temple. There are several other temples, including the Kalika Mata Temple, Hanuman Temple, Bhairav Baba Temple, Kho Kho Mata Temple, and Annapurna Mata Temple. The word 'Tekri' means 'hill' in the local language. The main festival celebrated at Tekri is Navaratri, during which people from all over the country come to seek the blessings of Mata.
Geography
Dewas Tekri is situated in the middle of the city. It's just a 5-minute walk from Dewas Bus Stand and Dewas Railway Station. The nearest airport Devi [Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport] is 53 kilometers away. The temples on the hilltop can be accessed via stairs, a sliding path, or a ropeway. The height of Tekri is above 300 feet.Origin
Legend has it that Dewas Tekri is a Rakt Peeth, where a few drops of Mata Sati's blood fell. At this place, amidst the hills, goddess Raktvahini Chamunda Mata and self-manifested Tulja Bhavani appeared.History
There is a disagreement about the age of Tekri. Some sources claim it dates back to the 9th century, while others suggest it to be 1100–1200 years old. Additionally, some believe that it originates from ancient times, known as "anaadi kaal."E. M. Forster in his book The Hill of Devi, has also mentioned that ''Devi probably gave Dewas its name. It rose about three hundred feet above the level. Stone steps led up to the dark cave of Chamunda on the top. She was a barbaric vermilion object, not often approached by us. Sometimes there were pilgrimages, and at certain festivals she played a part in the ritual. Who was Chamunda, and how long had she resided up there ? I never found out, but it was agreed that she had been around longer than anyone else.''
Story of Two Sister
According to beliefs, both forms of the Mother Goddess are present in an awakened state on this hill. Tulja Bhavani and Maa Chamunda are believed to be sisters, with Tulja Bhavani being the elder sister and Chamunda Devi the younger. They used to reside together on this hill but had a disagreement, causing them to turn away from each other. Angered, they began to leave their place. Tulja Bhavani started disappearing into the Paatal Lok, while Chamunda Devi started descending the hill.Lord Hanuman and Bhairav Baba intervened, requesting the goddesses to calm down and stay. However, by this time, part of Tulja Bhavani's body had already sunk into the underworld. She remained in the same position on the hill, while Chamunda Devi, who was descending, stopped at her current position. This is why Tulja Bhavani faces south and Chamunda faces north. Pilgrims visiting the Tekri perform Parikrama, starting with Tulja Bhavani and concluding with a darshan of Goddess Chamunda.
This is also the reason why Goddess Tulja Bhavani is referred to as Badi Mata and Goddess Chamunda as Chhoti Mata.