Raj Rajeshwari Temple - The Divine Peace of the Himalayas Returns
The divine serenity of the Himalayas has once again embraced us. The sacred kshetra of divine relationships has reawakened, as if the mountains themselves were calling us home.
Carrying the seemingly impossible offerings—from Pune to Mumbai, Jolly Grant, and finally to Srinagar in Uttarakhand—felt guided by a force beyond will. Fresh mogras, orchids, and delicate items that should not have survived the journey did, carried by the strength of intention and an unseen power.
As Anup and I traveled towards Srinagar, the roads came alive with the sight of countless sadhus. All were walking with quiet determination, their eyes set on the distant promise of the Char Dham, in yearning for the moment the kiwad (temple doors) would open.
Upon arriving at Devalgarh, a stillness fell over us—one that was far deeper than silence. There is a peace here that bypasses the intellect, a connection that whispers to the soul. In the remote folds of these mountains, time stretches, and the divine feels close enough to touch.
We were on a land that once belonged to a king, centuries ago. The temple reeks of the past in it's beautifully stone embellishments. Today, the Queen of this palce is is the divine shakti: Sri Raj Rajeshwari. The temple, a siddha peeth, holds within it the echoes of a royal past and the eternal presence of the Goddess.
Her Raj Mahal is no ordinary structure—it is a symbolic and physical embodiment of her cosmic form as Tribhuvan Sundari, the Goddess of the three worlds. The palace has three levels, and within it, 24 rooms—each echoing with mystery. She resides hidden, unseen to most, for she is beyond perception, beyond comprehension. She is the essence of the mystical and the divine secret.
Led by Panditji Shakti Uniyal, we were brought into the garbha griha. There, in the sanctum, he performed beautiful puja. Then, gently, he extinguished the lights, allowing only the soft flicker of a single diya to remain. By its golden glow, we were graced with darshan—a vision—of the most secret, most powerful, most loving presence: Sri Raj Rajeshwari.
The energy that surged through that small sanctum was unmistakable—vibrant, benevolent, and alive. It pulsed through the stones, through the air, and into our hearts. Time stood still.
