Hidimba Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh
The Hidimba Devi temple is a temple dedicated to the Hidimba, a prominent figure in Indian mythology and epic Mahabharata. Although belonging to demonic ancestry Hidimba ascended into becoming a deity by marrying Bhima, one of the five central protagonists from the epic. Bhima was extremely famous and known for his courage and valour in face of adversity. As the story goes, during their exile in the Mahabharata after being banished from their paternal kingdom, the Pandavas or the 5 brothers who were the protagonists in the story sought shelter in a cave in a cedar forest thickly infested with vegetation. It is at this forest where Bhima defeated a demon by the name of Hidimb who was Hidimba's brother and won her hand in marriage impressing her with his valour and courage. Hereon Hidimba is said to have ascended into the space of divinity and is worshipped as deity, especially in Manali where she is highly revered.
The most auspicious Hindu festival in a calendar year, Navratri, when Hindus offer respect and tribute to the glory of the supreme goddess by maintaining a 9 day period of abstinence is in honour of Durga devi all over India. However in Manali, devotees worship and pay tribute and offerings to Hidimba Devi instead during the period of Navratri. The Hidimba Devi temple was constructed in 1553 by Maharaja Bahadur Singh. It is a modest pagoda style wooden temple in the middle of the cedar forest built over a rock jutting out of the ground which is worshipped as the image of the Hidimba devi in the main sanctum of the temple.
Timings
Hidimba Devi Temple open at 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM