Chhatarpur Temple is located in a downtown area south of Delhi. It is originally known as Chhatarpur Shri Adhya Katyani Shakti Peeth Mandir. This is the second-largest temple complex in India and is dedicated to Goddess, Katyayani. The goddess Katyayani, a part of Navadurga, is considered to be the sixth avatar of goddess Durga. Devotees from all caste and creed are welcomed here. It is located at Chhatarpur, on the southwestern outskirts of the city of Delhi, and is just 4 km from Qutub Minar, off Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.
The temple was established in 1974, by Baba Sant Nagpal Ji. He died in 1998 and his samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex.
- This temple was considered the biggest temple in India and the second largest in the world before the Akshardham Temple was created in 2005 in Delhi. This temple is constructed from marble. The entire temple complex is spread over 60 acres and has over 20 small and large temples divided into three different complexes.
A side shrine within the main temple houses a shrine of Goddess Katyayani (Durga), which opens only during the bi-annual Navratri season when thousands of people throng the premises for darshan. One nearby room has been made as a living room with tables and chairs made in silver, and another is regarded as the Shayan Kaksha (Bed Room), where a bed, dressing table, and table are carved in silver. This shrine opens on a large Satsang or prayer hall, where religious discourses and bhajans, (religious songs) are held. On the main entrance, there is an ancient tree that is covered with holy threads. People tie threads or bangles to this tree with the belief that their wishes would be fulfilled.
The enthralling statues of the deities like Shiv Mandir, Ram Mandir, Maa Katyayani Mandir, Maa Mahishasurmaridini Mandir, Maa Ashtabhuji Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, Laxmi Vinayak Mandir, Jharpeer Mandir, Markandeya Mandapam, Baba Ki Samadhi, Nageshwar Mandir, the Trident (Trishul), 101 feet high Hanuman Murti, etc are special attractions for the devotees. The temples have been built in both South and North Indian styles of temple architecture. The special celebrations during Navratras, Mahashivratri, and Janmashtami make the temple abuzz with religious fervor to the delight of the devotees congregating in hundreds and thousands. The lungar Prasad distributed in both the Navratras to approximately lakh visitors daily is a rare sight to see and believe.
Katyayani is one of the incarnations of Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati or Lalitha, the wife of Lord Shiva, and has the following story as the background. There was a Rishi named Katyayan who worshipped Durga Devi and asked her for a boon that she be born as his daughter. Devi got pleased and fulfilled his wish. In this Avtaar, she killed Mahishasur, the demon. The idol of Devi is depicted as golden complexioned and carrying various weapons in her hand for the destruction of evil.
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