Maa Dhari Devi

In India, there is no shortage of mysterious and ancient temples. One such temple is located about 14 kilometers from Srinagar in Uttarakhand, where a daily miracle leaves visitors astonished. At this temple, the idol of the deity undergoes a transformation three times a day. In the morning, the idol appears as a young maiden, in the afternoon as a young woman, and in the evening as an old woman. This remarkable phenomenon is truly astonishing.
The temple is known as the Dhari Devi Temple. It is situated right in the middle of a lake. Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the temple is believed to be the guardian of the Char Dhams (four sacred shrines) of Uttarakhand. Goddess Dhari is revered as the protector of the mountains and pilgrims.

The Story of Maa Dhari Devi

Maa Dhari Devi’s tale is both poignant and mystical, highlighting her sanctity and power. Maa Dhari had seven brothers, whom she loved dearly. However, her brothers did not like her for two main reasons: first, her complexion was very dark, and second, they knew that her planetary alignments were unfavorable to them. Despite this, after the death of their parents, the brothers took care of Maa Dhari, and in return, she showed immense devotion and love towards them.

As time passed, the brothers’ animosity and fear grew. Eventually, five of the seven brothers died under mysterious circumstances, which made the remaining two brothers fear for their own lives. One day, these two brothers and their wives conspired to kill Maa Dhari so they could save themselves.

One night, they killed their sister by cutting off her head and threw it into the Alaknanda River. The severed head floated and struck a stone at a place called Kalyasaur, near Dhari village. When the head reached Dhari village, a man saw the head floating in the river and tried to save the girl, but due to the strong current, he couldn’t reach her.

Suddenly, a divine voice from the severed head said, “Do not be afraid, come closer and rescue me. You will not be harmed. I will make steps for you wherever you place your feet.” It is said that steps were visible at that time. The man was astonished to see the steps and hear the voice from the severed head.

The man placed the head on a stone, and Maa Dhari then revealed her entire story. The severed head transformed into a stone and became revered as the deity of Dhari village. The body part of Maa Dhari, which was thrown into the river, is now located in Rudraprayag at Kalimath and is worshipped as Maa Maithani.

A grand temple dedicated to Maa Dhari is also situated in Dhari village, where devotees come to seek her blessings and pay their respects.

Dhari Devi Temple and the 2013 Flood: A Controversy Unfolded

It is believed that a dam was being constructed on the Alaknanda River for a hydroelectric project. The Siddhpeeth Dhari Devi Temple, located about 14 kilometers from Srinagar, was coming under the submergence area due to this project. The project company decided to uplift the idol of Dhari Devi from the temple. The people of Garhwal opposed this decision, calling it disastrous, but the company officials ignored their concerns, and the idol was uplifted on June 16, 2013. On the same day, a catastrophic deluge struck Kedarnath, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The people of Garhwal hold the project company responsible for this disaster, believing that the deluge was a result of Dhari Devi’s wrath.