Tretayugin Maa Tapeshwari Temple, situated on Birhana Road, in the central area of Kanpur city, is a big center of faith. It is believed that Maa Tapeshwari, present in the temple, had appeared during the second exile period of Maa Sita through penance.
By whose grace the bag in the form of Luv-Kush was filled in the lap of Mother Sita. It is a legend that Mother Sita had performed the Mundan Sanskar of both her sons here. During this time she used to reach this place on foot from Bithoor.
Along with Tapeshwari Mata, Kamala, Vimala, Saraswati and Durga Maa are also present in this mythological temple. Which brings prosperity to the devotees just by seeing them together. Here during Navratri, devotees from every corner of the city as well as devotees from many districts come to pay obeisance to the Mother Goddess. Temples of Goddess Gayatri, Bajrangbali and Lord Shankar are established in the complex, which shower their blessings on the devotees who come to see the goddess.
The special artworks of the temple attract the visiting devotees. Also, there is a special belief about the temple that a couple is unable to have a child, if they visit all the goddesses established in the Tapeshwari temple and ask for their wishes with full devotion, and bow to the mother with a true heart, then all their wishes are definitely fulfilled.
It is said that in the shelter of mother, life becomes valuable and all the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled. At the same time, offering water from the Neer Kund at the feet of Mother Goddess has great importance. There is a lot of struggle to get it. Actually this Neerjal is the water of Shreefal (Coconut) dedicated to Mother Goddess by the devotees. Which reaches this pond from the feet of the mother. People also take it to their homes.
There is a huge crowd of devotees in this temple associated with the incarnation period of Lord Shri Ram (Ramayana period) from the first day of Navratri, where the police along with the temple servants are closely guarded to handle the devotees chanting the praises of the Mother Goddess. At the same time, about one and a half dozen cameras have been installed in the premises for surveillance, for which there is also a control room. In which the responsible people associated with the temple management continuously monitor.
At the same time, preparations are in full swing for Shardiya Navratri starting from 22nd September, the lighting and cleanliness of the temple complex is being improved. Apart from this, there is huge crowd on Saptami and Ashtami. Along with the temple administration, local shopkeepers are also busy in beautifying their establishments.
Five hundred more unbroken lights burn in the temple during Navratri.
More than five hundred Akhand Jyot are lit in the temple premises, in which some devotees fulfill their wish by lighting the Akhand Jyot of Desi Dhi. At the same time, many devotees light a continuous flame dedicated to Tapeshwari Maa for the good wishes of themselves and their family. According to the temple management, people already decide the location of their Akhand Jyot.
More than a hundred Prasad shops in the temple, big format of the fair
There are about a hundred shops around the temple for the devotees who visit the temple and offer their faith to the Mother Goddess. Apart from this, in the form of a fair, a large number of outside shopkeepers also set up shops, which include utensils, clothes, household items, children’s toys, food shops and swings etc. During this time, the crowd is so huge that it is difficult to even walk. At the same time, devotees cross the river of faith and reach the darshan of the mothers through the line for darshan.
Separate doors for entry and exit for men and women in the temple.
There are different gates in the temple premises for the devotees to go out after entering the temple after having darshan. The special thing is that there will be separate routes for women and men to enter the temple. Similarly, the evacuation of both will also take place through different routes. Due to this, the women and girls coming for darshan do not have to feel uncomfortable. At the same time, women avoid the pushing and shoving of men.
It is not possible to describe the glory of Mother Tapeshwari, she blesses every devotee of hers. The history of the temple has been told from generation to generation since Tretayuga. When Mother Sita, after coming from Lanka, again stayed in her exile period (Maharishi Valmiki’s ashram located at Bithoor Pariyar). During this time, she used to come here to do penance in the forest. It was due to his penance that Mother Tapeshwari appeared. Then, by the grace of Mother Tapeshwari, Mother Sita was blessed with Luv and Kush.
Shivmangal, priest
Mother Durga is present in the temple along with Mother Tapeshwari along with Kamla, Vimala and Saraswati. Whose darshan relieves the sufferings of the devotees and infuses new energy in life. Preparations are going on in the temple for Shardiya Navratri. The Prasad of Neerkund has importance in the temple, where the devotees surrender with their wishes by lighting it with the unbroken flame. Whose list starts forming in advance.
– King, Priest