JASMOUR , SAHARANPUR, UP : Lakhs of devotees from all over the country visit ancient Shakumbari Devi Temple, situated in the midst of Shivalik Mountains, 40 km in north of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The presiding deity is Goddess Durga in the form of Shakumbari Devi. Income from offerings from devotees is estimated Rs 15 crore annually However, maintenance and other facilities for pilgrims in an around the famous temple (s) require immediate attention.Those who have visited Vaishnav Devi and other well-managed Hindu temples strongly advocate that it is the appropriate time to take over management of the temples where Maa Shakumbari Devi did penance for a century took only vegetarian meal once every month end.
Nitin Bhardwaj and his wife Pratibha were of the opinion that the Uttar Pradesh Government should immediately take over the management of the temples to provide more and better facilities to the devotees. The newly-wedded couple was not happy with the dirt lying in an around the ancient temple. In the sanctum sanatorum, Maa Shakumbari Devi is enshrined in the company of Bhramari Devi, Bhima Devi and Sheetla Devi.
Meena and Ashok of nearby Sarsawa are regular devotees of this Maa Shakumbari Devi temple. They said "thousands of persons from all walks of life pay their respect to the Maa to seek her blessings. It would be a very good idea if the state government take over and run the administration of the main and other temples in Shakumbari Devi."
"The state tourism department can play an important role in developing the site and make it devotee-friendly," said Ranbir Singh of Khatauli (Muzaffarnagar).
Sidh Bharavtantarcharya Sri Mahant Sajjanand Brahambchari, national president of All India Sant Sangharsh Smiti and president Shakumbari Sanskrit Vidalaya strongly advocated overall development of the area to provide state of art facilities to devotees.
With better facilities which are available in other professionally-managed Hindu temples in other parts of the country, Sri Mahant Sajjanand Brahambchari, feels "more devotees would visit the famous Maa Shakumbari Devi temple, situated at Jasmour village.
More than 100 students are enrolled in the Shri Shakumbari Sanskirt Vidalaya. The Mahant disclosed that minimum education qualification for enrolment is fifth pass.
Taking over of the Shakumbari Devi Temple as well as the shrine of Bhura Dev (Lord Bhairav), by the state tourism department can booth tourism in this part of Uttar Pradesh, said Raj Rani from Chandigarh.
A bridge over the river was also one of the demands of the devotees as the area sumberged in water during rains.
Other devotees also supported the idea of Government take over of the ancient shrine which could contain begging by little girls and boys. Even sweepers "employed’, with broom in their hands pay little attention to their work. They go after the devotees for ‘alms’ pleading that they clean the area!
A bridge over the river was also one of the demands of the devotees as the area sumberged in water during rains.
RANI IS DOING ITS OWN BUSINESS LIKE ALLOTMENT OF LAND TO SHOPKEEPERS AT ITS OWN RATE WHICH THEY RECOVER FROM DEVOTEES
SHE IS OPERATING HER OWN BUSINESS OF SELLING MILK TO SHOPKEEPERS AT OWN RATE WHICH SHE COLLECTS FROM THE TRIBALS LIVING IN HILL AREA AROUND THE TEMPLE BY THREATING THEM THAT THEY ARE LIVING IN HER PROPERTY AREA
SO THERE GREAT NEED TO COME FORWARD AND TAKE SOME INITIATIVE STEPS PLEASE COME FOWRARD
IF ANY OTHER INFORAMTION IS REQUIRED PLEASE LEAVE THE MAEESGE I WILL UPDATE
OUR MISSION SAVE SHAKUMBHARI
THE TEMPLE IS UNDER THE RANI (QUEEN) OF JASMOUR WHO HAS MADE IT AS SOURCE OF EARNING. SHE EARNS BILLIONS OF RUPPEES ANNUALY WITHOUT PAYING ANY TAX
SHE IS NOT READY TO SPEND EVEN 10% OF OF EARNED MONEY ANNUALLY
I THINK NGOs SHOULD COME FROWARD AND TAKE SOME INITIAITVE STEPS WHICH WILL AVOID EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES EVEN GOD FOR SAKE OF MONEY AND SAVE THE TEMPLE