Fierce Goddesses of India

No matter where you’re coming from, it’s always a long flight to India. Once you arrive in India’s capital of New Delhi and get acquainted with your guide, your only job is to relax and try to fight off that nasty jet lag. If you do go out exploring on your own, just try not to get lost in a city whose metropolitan area is home to more than 26 million people.

As you try to get past your jet lag, rest assured you won’t be going far today. On the outskirts of New Delhi is the Kalkaji Temple, dedicated to the goddess Kalka Devi. Parts of the temple date back to 1764, although other parts are more modern. It’s one of the most famous temples in New Delhi and a great place to gain insight into the Hindu faith. Located close by is the lush Maanik Park, which features another religious site, the Lotus Temple, which is indeed a temple shaped like a flower.

Today you’ll take another plane ride to northern India with sights set on the Jwalamukhi Devi Temple. This particular temple honors the goddess Jwala Ji. Since Jwala is the Sanskrit word for flame, the temple features an eternal flame. It’s also located next to a cliff, which offers a unique backdrop for the temple. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to watch the musical fountains at night, which is a breathtaking sight.

After exploring the northern part of India, you’ll pivot and head back south, flying to the state of Maharashtra to visit the Ellora Caves. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to over 100 caves, including 34 that are open to the public. The caves are an homage to Hinduism, as well as Buddhism and Jainism. You’ll target some of the caves that include sculptures of Hindu goddesses, although Ellora Caves offer so much more that it’s a little overwhelming trying to take it all in.

As mentioned, India is a huge country. This part of the trip includes another plane ride to the city of Chennai on the Bay of Bengal in southeast India. Before you begin the final leg of our trip, you’ll get a day to recuperate from all of the travel and explore Chennai on your own if you please.

Of the many temples in Chennai, your top destination is the Sri Kaalikambal Temple, near the city’s port. It’s believed that a fierce goddess was held in worship here centuries ago. You arrived in town a day early so you could see this temple early in the day before it gets too crowded. It’s one of the most popular temples in this part of India, especially during festivals and other types of celebrations.

After leaving Chennai, you’ll head south to the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Samayapurathal is a powerful and important goddess, described as the mother of all mothers. This is one of the few temples where visitors can actually see the shrine to the goddess from the entrance. The temple is so significant to areas of Tamil Nadu that it gets utterly crazy during festivals, particularly during the chariot procession.

Another short plane ride takes you to the southern part of India and the city of Madurai, where you’ll find the Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi. The temple is in the heart of ancient Madurai, and the entire complex is 14 acres, so it’ll keep you busy most of the day. The colorful gate towers and the sacred water tank are both a sight to see, as is the actual shrine to the goddess Meenakshi.

A few days ago, you were in the northern parts of India, so it only seems appropriate to finish at the very southern tip of the country, which is where you’ll find the Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman Temple. This is a temple to the Hindu goddess Kumari, a word that’s derived from the Sanskrit word for princess. The shrine to Kumari includes a bright nose ring that is said to serve as a lighthouse for fishermen. The temple itself is located just a few hundred yards away from the official southern tip of India, so when you’re finished seeing the temple, you can bring our trip to its unofficial end with a breathtaking view of the sea.

Ten days traveling all across India has no doubt been exhausting, but hopefully, it’s also been enjoyable. It’s time to head home, but on the bright side, the long plane ride will give you plenty of time to reflect on everything you’ve learned about Hindu goddesses and all of the beautiful sights you’ve seen in India.