Chaurasi Temple Bharmour - Galaxy of Temples.

 

Chaurasi Temple is a temple complex consisting of 84 different shrines of Hindu deities, located in the center of Bharmour town of Chamba district. The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers a delightful, clean and a scenic view. Chaurasi is a spacious level ground in center of Bharmour where the galaxy of temples mostly in the form of 84 Shivlingas exists.  Another temple built in the same style is that of Lord Vishnu cast in his Narsimha avatar. The beautiful valabhi-Shikhara style architecture of Manimahesh occupies the center of the complex.  There are 84 big and small temples in Chaurasi temple complex.

 

It holds immense religious importance because of temples built around 1700 years ago. Chaurasi Temple Complex was built approximately in 7th century, although repairs of many temples have been carried out in later period. The Chaurasi temple was built by Raja Sahil Verman of Bharmour, in honor of the 84 Siddhas or yogis who had come from Kurukshetra and had meditated there, while they were passing Bharmour on their way to Manimahesh Lake. They blessed the King with ten sons and a daughter, Champavati, as he had no heir. Life of people in Bharmour centers around the temple complex-Chaurasi.

 

 

Himachal Pradesh is called the land of Gods and Goddesses. There are thousands of temples here. It is said that creation took place in Manali, the city of Manu in Himachal. There is the only temple of Yamraj in Chaurasi Temple Complex located in Bharmour of Chamba. This temple looks like a house and there are a total of 84 small and big temples here. Yamraj resides in one room and Chitragupta resides in the other room.  It is believed that Yamraj's court is held here and after death, the human soul comes here and it is decided whether it will go to heaven or hell.

 

There is a belief about Chaurasi temple that here Yamraj decides the deeds of a person. In this area it is believed that the temple has four invisible doors which are made of gold, silver, copper and iron. After Yamraj's decision, Yamdoots take the soul to heaven or hell through these doors according to the deeds. Even in Garuda Purana, there is mention of four gates in four directions in the court of Yamraj.

 

 

To escape the wrath of Yamraj, devotees gather in the temples here on Bhai Dooj. It is said that on the day of Bhai Dooj, Yamraj comes to meet his sister Yamuna. For this reason, special worship of Yamraj is done on Bhai Dooj. This temple is at a distance of about 60 km from Chamba. Devotees come here in large numbers. Manimahesh Yatra starts from Chaurasi Temple. Tribal Bharmour is also called the city of Shiva. From here onwards the walking journey starts from Hundsar to Manimahesh Lake.

 

It is said that the pilgrimage to Manimahesh Lake is incomplete without paying obeisance in these temples due to the Dharmeshvar Mahadev (Dharamraj) Temple as one of the most revered by Hindus, and bathing in the Bharmani Mata temple pool of Goddess Brahmani, 4 km from Bharmour, Himachal Pradesh. The entire area and the temples, are dedicated to the worship of God Shiva and Shakti, due to the belief of Manimahesh Kailash Peak, being their abode and the promise of Moksha.

 

 

To reach Bharmaur’s 84 temple complex, the ideal route could be Delhi-Pathankot-Chamba-Bharmour. The road to Bharmour is good, but the path is a bit dangerous. Therefore, it is mandatory to be skilled in driving or have a seasoned driver to drive your vehicle.