Chintpurni Temple, in Una (Chintpurni) in Himachal Pradesh, is a shrine to Mata Chintpurni, a manifestation of the goddess Durga worshipped as Chhinnamastika (the goddess with a severed head); represented by a pindi (a round stone). It is also known as Mata Shri Chintpurni Devi, Chhinnamastika / Chinnamastika Shakti Peeth.
One of the most revered Shakti Peethas in Himachal (Chhinnamastika Devi), where devotees believe no one returns empty-handed, the Mother relieves all worries (chinta), hence the name Chintpurni. Chintpurni is counted among the Shakti Peethas, where by tradition a part of the goddess Sati's body (her feet, by one account) fell when Vishnu severed her body with the Sudarshan Chakra to end Shiva's grief.
Himachal Pradesh carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Devbhoomi, the 'Land of the Gods', where a cluster of powerful Shakti Peethas, from the eternal flames of Jwala Ji to hilltop Naina Devi, draw pilgrims through the year.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 4:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Evening | 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
Summer hours are 4:00 AM-10:00 PM and winter hours 5:30 AM-9:30 PM (with a midday break). Morning aarti around 6:00 AM and evening aarti around 8:00 PM; hours extend during Navratri.
Poojas and daily rituals
Morning aarti (~6:00 AM) and evening aarti (~8:00 PM); Havan and other rituals can be booked, including online.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Navratri | Chaitra (March-April), Ashadha (July) and Ashwin (October) | The main festivals, drawing devotees from across India and abroad. |
History and architecture
Architecture
A simple temple whose main shrine houses the deity in the form of a pindi (round stone) rather than an idol, set on a ridge with the western Himalayas to the north and the Shivalik range to the east.
History
Chintpurni is counted among the Shakti Peethas, where by tradition a part of the goddess Sati's body (her feet, by one account) fell when Vishnu severed her body with the Sudarshan Chakra to end Shiva's grief. It is believed to have been established by Pandit Mai Das in Chhaproh village, which took the name Chintpurni after the deity. Puranic tradition holds that four Shiva temples, Kaleshwar, Narayana, Muchkund and Shiva Bari Mahadev, guard the shrine in the four directions.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Una district. Nearest railway station is Amb Andaura, about 20 km away; nearest airport is Gaggal (Kangra), about 60 km. Well connected by state transport buses from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and neighbouring states.
Chintpurni Temple in photographs
5 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Shakti Peetha status, Chhinnamastika/pindi worship, history, seasonal timings (summer 4 AM-10 PM, winter 5:30 AM-9:30 PM), aarti times and how-to-reach are from the official temple site and a detailed temple guide.