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Shri
Durgiana
Mandir
(Gurmukhi:
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ
ਦੁਰਗਿਆਨਾ
ਮੰਦਿਰ)
(Devnagari:
श्री
दुर्गियाना
मंदिर),
is
a
Hindu
temple
situated
in
the
city
of
Amritsar
in
Punjab,
India.[1]
Though
a
Hindu
temple,
its
architecture
is
similar
to
the
Sikh
Harmandir
Sahib
(Golden
Temple).[2]
This
temple
derives
its
name
from
the
Goddess
Durga,
the
chief
Goddess
who
is
worshipped
here.
Murtis
of
Lakshmi
and
Vishnu
are
also
located
and
worshipped
in
the
temple.[3]
Although
it
is
believed
that
Durgiana
Mandir
was
built
in
1921,
the
temple
existed
before
it
was
rebuilt
in
1921.[citation
needed]
It
is
confirmed
by
record
in
Amritsar
District
Gazetteer
of
1893,
which
talks
about
Durgiana
Sarovar
and
"Devi
dwara"
surrounding
it
which
was
thronged
by
Hindu
pilgrims.[citation
needed]
The
Sri
Durgiana
temple
is
a
very
important
temple
for
Hindus.
In
the
courtyard
of
the
temple
is
a
tree
where
Lava
and
Kusha
bound
Hanuman
after
the
captured
challenge
horse
of
the
Ashvamedha
yajna.
Iksvaku,
the
grandson
of
sun-god,
performed
a
number
of
yagyas
on
this
land.
The
original
temple
was
built
in
16th
century.[4][unreliable
source?]
The
architecture
of
Sri
Durgiana
Temple
is
similar
to
Shri
Harmandir
Sahib.
It
was
built
in
1921
by
Guru
Harsai
Mal
Kapoor
in
the
architectural
style
of
the
Sikh
Shri
Harmandir
Sahib
(Golden
Temple)
.[1]
Harsai
Mal
was
a
descendant
of
Prithi
Chand
and
hence
Guru
Ram
Das.The
grandchildren
of
Harsai
Mal
Kapoor
is
currently
living
in
amritsar
and
one
of
caretakers
of
the
idol
of
Harsai
mal
Kapoor.
Existence
of
the
Talab
is
also
mentioned
in
1868
Municipal
committee,
Amritsar
documents.[5]
John
Campbell
Oman
who
was
Professor
of
natural
science
in
The
Government
College,
Lahore[6]
mentioned
about
durgiana
in
his
book
where
he
found
some
mystics
practicing
yoga.[7]
Durgiana
Mandir
is
recorded
in
Amritsar
District
Gazetteer
of
1893
which
talks
about
Durgiana
Sarovar
and
"Devi
dwara"
surrounding
it
which
was
thronged
by
Hindu
pilgrims.[8]
Even
though
Amritsar
is
not
declared
a
Holy
city,
restrictions
are
in
force
prohibiting
sale
of
tobacco,
liquor
and
meat
within
a
radius
of
200
metres
(660
ft)
around
this
temple
and
the
Shri
Harmandir
Sahib
(Sikh
Golden
Temple).[9]
The
temple
is
situated
near
the
Hathi
gate
in
Amritsar.
It
is
very
close
to
the
Amritsar
railway
station,
and
is
about
1.5
kilometres
(0.93
mi)
from
the
bus
station.
The
temple
is
built
in
the
middle
of
a
sacred
lake,
which
measures
160
metres
(520
ft)
×
130
metres
(430
ft).
Its
dome
and
canopies
are
similar
to
that
of
the
Golden
temple
of
Sikh
religion,
also
located
in
Amritsar.
A
bridge
provides
the
approach
to
the
temple.[10]
The
dome
of
the
temple
is
gilded.
Marble
is
used
extensively
in
the
temple's
features.[11]
The
dome
is
illuminated
with
colourful
lights.
The
temple
is
sometimes
called
Silver
temple
because
of
its
large
exquisitely
designed
silver
doors.[1]
It
has
a
rich
collection
of
Hindu
scriptures.[11]
The
temple
complex
also
has
some
historic
subsidiary
temples
such
as
Seetla
Mata
and
Bara
Hanuman.[1]
Major
Hindu
festivals
celebrated
in
the
temple
are
Dussehra,
Janmashtami,
Rama
Navami,
and
Diwali.[1]
A
Sāwan
festival
is
also
celebrated
in
Durgiana
Mandir
in
the
Holy
Shravan
month
of
Hindu
Calendar
where
newlywed
couples
gather
at
temple
to
worship
Radha
Krishna.
Women
adorn
themselves
with
flower
jewellery
and
worship
at
temple
along
with
their
husbands.[12]
Another
festival
celebrated
in
Durgiana
temple
complex
is
the
famous
'Langur
Mela'
during
10
days
of
Navratri
and
Dussehra.
Pilgrims
in
large
numbers
throng
to
the
Bada
Hanuman
temple,
with
their
children
dressed
as
Langur
to
offer
prayers
in
this
temple,
situated
in
the
Durgiana
temple
complex.[13]
