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| Padhai Mata |
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| New Padhai Mata temple complex |
The temple of Kali Mata
Padhai is situated on a rugged stony hilly terrain with densely grown cedar
trees. This is four and half kilometres from Shimla. From main town
Shimla either you can decide to walk on foot or take buses or taxis from Lakkar
Bazar or Auckland tunnel. There are several pedestrian approach roads to reach
the temple. One is through Elysium, Auckland, Longwood, Bharari old bazaar.
Walk up hill from Bharari bazaar, take left pedestrian forest path about 500
mts and reach the temple. Second option is to take pucka road on the left from
Auckland tunnel and reach Dudhli. From Dudhli it is again about 500 mts uphill forest area but enjoyable walk to the temple. Another option is, if you are going through own
vehicle or taxi, to drive about one kilometer from Dudhli, but little short of
Kamyana, you will find a board indicating uphill turn to right which is about
500 mts again. You will find another board to your left where you can park your
car and walk a little distance of about 50 mts trail to the temple. A walk of
about an hour is certainly the best option if you want to enjoy the forest rich
in flora and cedar.
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| Temple among cedar trees |
Once you reach the
top of the hill, where Padhai temple is situated, you will definitely forget
all your exertions and sweat. The all
round views of Shimla, Summerhill, Mashobra, Craignano etc are breathtaking. The
temple complex is quietly spread over the length of this beautiful hill top. Beside
the main sacrosanct of Siddhida Kali Mata, there are temples dedicated to Siddheshwar
Mahadev Shiv, Satya Narayan Bhagwan Vishnu & Lakshmi, Durga, Bhairo, Lord
Hanumana and other Hindu deities.
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| Shiva temple in complex |
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| The Oak tree and the niche |
The temple was
renovated in 1988 from the public collection and the offerings from the
believers in Padhai Mata. It seems the place was consecrated to goddess Kali in
early 19th century. In 1979 when I visited this place, the temple
looked like a simple rustic mud hut, with kucha floor inside, having sculptural
bas-reliefs all around it, inside and outside. The motifs were from religious
and puranic iconography, depicting various versions and postures of 4 armed
(chaturbhuj), 8 armed (ashthabhuja) and even 16 armed Kali in garbhgriha,
Narsimha (avtar of Vishnu) killing Hrinyakshipu, the father of Prahlad,
Bhairon, Shiva and Vasuki Naag, the celestial serpent. Inside hut, on a raised
platform, were bas-relief torso sculptures of Chaturbhuj Vishnu with Vasuki
serpent to the left and 16 armed Kali to the right. On the left inside wall was
depicted four armed Kali and on the right inside wall were depicted two
sculptures of four armed and 8 armed Kali respectively. The whole atmosphere
seemed to be charged with awe, wonder, fear and mysticism. All the sculptural
bas-reliefs were executed with the mixture of cement and sand by local
non-professionals craftsmen.
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| old temple of Padhai Mata 1979 |
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| Idols of Vishnu and Kali inside old temple |
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| Ashthabhuja Kali |
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| Main sacrosanct of old temple |
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| The niche by the side of oak tree |
To the North-West of
main temple of Padhai mata there is an oak tree, it is said that a cow used to
come and offer her milk here. The milk would itself flow from her udders as the
offerings. It is here that Mata first appeared in the shape of pindi. The niche
is still here where the first worship started. The story goes that some
resident living around this place had a dream of Mata in the shape of pindi
under a tree and was also ordered in the dream to dig at a place, lying some
distance to the North of this, for getting water for the ritual jal-abhishek
(water holy-cleanse) of pindi of Mata. The residents did as commanded in the
dream and the results was the outcome in the shape of this wonderful and wish
fulfilling worshiping place of divine form of celestial feminine power.*
Now
many religious festivals and fair are being celebrated here regularly with all
zeal, fervor and dedication. The fair is held here in the days of Sharad
Navratras and people throng here from all over Himachal, from far off places of
India and even from foreign countries. Maha Shivratri, Ram Navmi and Krishan
Janamashtmi are also celebrated here. Every year Sriamad Bhagvatta katha is
also being performed here for the benefits of devotees in Navratras.
(*Based
on the information as imparted by Pt. Devinder Sharma and Pt Lalit Mohan.)
