A small town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Vindhyachal is just another town, while it has a humongous importance in the Hindu Vedic religion.
LOCATION
Vindhyachal is a city in Mirzapur district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Vindhyachal is located at a distance of 70 km from Varanasi and 85 km from Allahabad. The river Ganga flows through this city and the Indian Standard Time (IST) line passes through the Vindhyachal railway station. Vindhyachal has regular bus services to the nearby towns. The nearest railway station is at Mirzapur. Some of important trains also halt at Vindhyachal railway station.
MYTHOLOGY
The city is a Hindu pilgrimage site having the temple of Vindhyavasini, who according to the Markandeya Purana had incarnated to kill the demon ‘Mahishasura’. Goddess Vindhyavasini is believed to be the daughter of Yashoda-Nanda. The detailed description has been given in ‘Durga Saptashati’ Chapter of Markandeya Purana. Goddess Vindhyavasini is believed to be the instant bestower of benediction. Vindhyavasini Devi Temple is situated 8 km from Mirzapur, on the banks of the holy river Ganga. It is one of the most revered Siddhapeeths of the presiding deity, Vindhyavasini Devi. Vindhyachal is considered a Shakti Peeth.
SIGNIFICANCE
Ma Vindhyavasini is mentioned as the ‘Mahishasur Mardini’, the Slayer of demon Mahishasur, as described in Durga Saptashati. The divine city Vindhyachal is exactly on the banks of river Ganges, and strategically located exactly between two highly divine Hindu cities Prayag, presently known as Allahabad and Kashi, now referred to as Varanasi. Ma Vindhyavasini is considered as the presiding deity of Vindhyachal Dham. She is a manifestation of Ma Durga and is the ‘Kul Devi’ or the family deity, ‘Rakshak Devi’ or the protecting deity as well as ‘Kshetra Devi’, the regional deity of Eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as Bihar.
The other sacred places in the town are the Ashtbhuja temple, the Sita Kund, the Kali Khoh, the Budeh Nath temple, the Narad Ghat, the Gerua talab, the Motiya talab, Lal Bhairav and Kal Bhairav temples, Ekdant Ganesh, the Sapta Sarovar, the Sakshi Gopal temple, the Goraksha-kund, the Matsyendra kund, the Tarkeshwar Nath temple, the Kankali Devi temple, Shivashiv Samooh Awadhoot Ashram and the Bhairav kund.
Countless devotees come here to perform the Trikona parikrama which covers three most important temples Vindhyavasini, Ashtabhuja and Kali khoh temples.
1. Kali khoh temple is dedicated to Mahakali who slayed the demon Raktabeeja.
2. Ashtabhuja temple, dedicated to Saraswati, the elder sister of Krishna, whom Kansa tried to kill.
3. Kankali Devi temple, dedicated to Mahakali in the form of skeleton, as described in 11th chapter of Durgasaptashati of the Markandeya Puran.
THE PLACE DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME
A huge crowd of pilgrims visit this place, all year round and especially during both the Navratris when the whole town is decorated with diyas and flowers and resounds with the chants of hymn and holy chants. The temple is visited by large number of people daily. Big congregations are held during Navratras in Chaitra (April) and Ashwin (October) months.
DEMOGRAPHY
It is a small town with a population of approximately 2.5 lakh inhabitants as per the 2011 census with the lingua franca being Hindi and colloquial Hindi.
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