Uttarakhand: Dunagiri Temple Dwarahat near Mahavatar Babji Cave
Almora is regarded as the cultural capital of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. The district is home to numerous religious and mythological sites, one of which is Dunagiri, also known as Dronagiri. Dunagiri is recognized as a Shakti Peeth after the Vaishno Devi Temple, and devotees from across the country visit this sacred shrine. Dunagiri Temple Dwarahat is also mentioned in the Puranas and the Upanishads.
Treta Yuga
The Maa Dunagiri Temple is located about 15 km from Dwarahat in Almora district. It is believed that during the Treta Yuga, when Meghnath struck Lakshman with the Shakti weapon, the physician Sushena instructed Lord Hanuman to bring the Sanjeevani herb from the mountain known as Dronanchal. As Lord Hanuman carried the entire mountain, a small fragment of it fell at this place. It is believed that the Dunagiri Temple was later established at this very location.
Dwapara Yuga
During the Dwapara Yuga, this mountain became the place of penance (Taposthali) of Dronacharya, the guru of the Pandavas, and was therefore called Drona Parvat. According to the Manas Khand, the mountain range consisting of two peaks—Brahma and Lodhra—came to be known as Dunagiri. It is also believed that because two sacred stone idols (Shila Vigrahas) have been worshipped here since ancient times, the place came to be known as Dunagiri.
Worship for Blessings of Children
It is believed that any woman who lights an eternal lamp (Akhand Deepak) at the Dunagiri Temple and prays for the blessing of a child has her wish fulfilled.
According to the Devi Purana, during their exile, the Pandavas worshipped Goddess Dunagiri in her form as Goddess Durga, praying for victory in battle and for the protection of Draupadi’s chastity.
The Dronadi Mahatmya section of the Manas Khand in the Skanda Purana describes Dunagiri as Mahamaya Brahmacharini.
Why Maa Dunagiri Temple is Unique
Inside the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) of Maa Dunagiri Temple, the Divine Mother is worshipped in the form of two sacred stones, symbolizing the cosmic union of Purusha and Prakriti as Shiva–Parvati, Vishnumaya, and Kali–Mahagauri.
For this reason, during the Sharadiya Navratri festival, an all-night vigil (Jagaran) is traditionally held on Saptami dedicated to Goddess Kalaratri, while on Ashtami, Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped. This ancient tradition has been observed for generations and is accompanied by a grand religious fair.
This is the Significance of Maa Dunagiri Dham
“Kaushiki Rathavahinyormadhye, Drona Giri Smritah.
Dronadyairva Subhih Punyaih Sevitaḥ Sumanoharah.
Masamatrena Sampujya Devim Vahnimatim Tatha.
Ye Vasanti Mahabhaga Dronadrishikhare Shubhe.
Te Siddhim Samanuprapya Pujyante Devatairapi.”
According to the Dronadri Mahatmya of the Manas Khand, Maa Dunagiri is enshrined in all her divine manifestations, including Mahamaya, Harapriya, Shulahasta (the Trident-bearing Goddess), Mahishasura Ghatini (the Slayer of the Buffalo Demon), Simha Vahini (the Lion-Riding Goddess), Vahnimati (Durga, the Daughter of the Sun), and Mahagauri.
Idol Installed by the Katyuri King
Dr. Mohan Chandra Tiwari, renowned author of Ashtachakra Ayodhya: History and Tradition and former Head of the Department of Sanskrit at Ramjas College, University of Delhi, cites the Dunagiri Mahatmya and states that Katyuri King Sudhar Dev installed the idol of Maa Dunagiri at this sacred site in 1318 CE.
On 13 March 1847, Major E. Madden, a British military officer serving in the Bengal Artillery, wrote about the Shakti Peeth of Maa Dunagiri. He recorded that the temple had no roof, and that the priests worshipped two sacred stone idols under the open sky.
The temple in its present form was constructed by the local villagers in 1920.
How to Reach Maa Dunagiri Temple
The sacred temple is accessible via Dwarahat, which is located 126 km from Haldwani (Nainital), the gateway to the Kumaon region, and 98 km from Karnaprayag (Garhwal).
From Dwarahat, visitors can travel 14 km by road to Mangalikhan. From Mangalikhan, pilgrims undertake a short pilgrimage on foot by climbing approximately 400 steps to reach the temple and receive the blessings of Maa Dunagiri.