Shri Sheetala Mata Mandir, Delhi

Shri Sheetala Mata Mandir (Masani Temple)also referred as ‘Shakti Peeth’ is a well known temple located one and a half kilometers in the suburbs of Gurgoan near a beautiful pond. The presiding deity of the temple is Shri Mata Sheetla Devi also known by the names Bhagat Lalita Ma and Masani Ma is the incarnation of Goddess Durga. The word Sheetala refers to the disease smallpox and it is believed that the person’s suffering from this disease will be surely recovered by praying to Sheetla Devi . The statue of the deity, weighing 4kg is made up of mixed metal with gold polish and is kept in a wooden casket which is in turn placed on a small marble platform in the temple.

Shri Sheetala Mata Mandir, Delhi;

Temple History
Architecture
How To Reach The Temple
Daily Poojas And Festivals
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There is a legend about this temple. There was a shrine, sacred to the goddess Devi, locally known as Masani at the village of Kesopur in the Delhi district. Some two hundred and fifty years ago according to tradition, the Goddess appeared in a dream to one Singha, a Jat of some influence and a resident at the village of Gurgoan. The Devi communicated to Singha that she wished to leave Kesopur and directed him to construct a shrine for her in his village. At the same time, she authorised the fortunate Singha to appropriate all the offerings at her shrine. The orders of the goddess were promptly carried out. The shrine was built and flourished, its fame spreading far and wide.

Although it is placed on a comparatively narrow road, the temple sprawls over a large area. Situated on the main road, the temple does not have a car parking area. Outside the gate leading to the premises of the temple, there are two shops selling things for sacred offerings where they have packages wrapped in a basket & priced differently, ready to be sold to the pilgrims.

Once you enter the gate, a concrete path leads you inside the premises of the temple. The entrance is wide enough to handle the rush that throngs the temple during the festivities. Further up, an arched structure stands midway & is lined with well-maintained lawns on one end & the other end hosts a small structure housing other deities. The plants have also been placed in risen platforms bordered by concrete which acts like a resting place for the pilgrims.

The sanctum, inside, is built like a large hallway leading to a small room & the large hallway provides a glimpse of the main idol & the seating area for the pilgrims. The narrow path bordered with railings leads to the area which houses Sheetla Mata. The deity is surrounded in a room & the pilgrims cannot go near it but can offer their prayers from a window-like structure built at a distance from the idol.

One look at the deity leaves you mesmerised. It is finished in gold polish & is embellished with precious jewels, beautiful clothes & the huge gold nose ring enhances the idol who is seated in a silver-polished arched structure. Hindu priests take your offerings & provide you with Parshad (sacred offering of food).

By Road: The temple present in Sheetla Mata Road. Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this sacred monument, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or metro rail.

By Rail: The nearest Railway Station to the temple is IFFCO Chowk.

By Air: The Temple can be reached through nearest from Indira Gandhi International Airport which is well connected with regular domestic flights.

This temple Opening & Closing times is 5.00 AM and 9.00 PM. During this period major part of the Goddess Sheetala Mata rituals are performed. Archana, Aarti and Abhisekham are the daily pujas performed.

The temple is thronged by a large number of devotees throughout the year, especially on Mondays during the Hindu month of Chaitra (i.e in March and April). Devotees visit this temple mainly to conduct the mundan (first shaving off the heads) ceremony of their children and offer the crop of hair at the altar of goddess. People suffering from small pox performs a ritual named ‘Jal dema’ by spending a whole night in the temple, chanting hymns and songs in honor of the goddess. Married couple also visit here to get the blessings of the goddess for a happy married life. The annual Masani Fair celebrated here is a major draw attended by thousands of devotees from far and near.

The temple also houses other deities like Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, Shani Dev & Goddess Durga. The authorities have also constructed Mundan (first haircut) Halls where the first hair-cutting ceremony for children is held, Satsang Bhavan for yoga & other spiritual activities and Bhandara Bhavan for offering food to the pilgrims.

One thought on “Shri Sheetala Mata Mandir, Delhi”

Rahulezy says:
Thanks for sharing. It is a good idea to visit this temple for the sake of good health. It is a place where people get rid of their problems.
November 27, 2022 at 7:49 pm