Monkey Temple (Durga Temple) Varanasi

Monkey Temple (Durga Temple), Varanasi

Durga temple is a temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. In Hinduism, Durga is represented as the embodiment of Shakti or female power, clad in red, riding a tiger and fully armed with Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus and a sword. It also known as the "monkey temple" is one of the important temples of Varanasi. It is named so due to the large number of monkeys that resides here.

The Durga temple was built in the eighteenth century. A Bengali Maharani built the Durga temple. According to the Puranas, Goddess Durga has kept this place for many centuries and protects the holy city, Varanasi, from the South. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple.

The architecture is of Nagara Style, which is typical of North India. The temple is accompanied by a rectangular tank of water called Durga Kund. The temple has multi-tiered spires (shikhara) consisting of five segments symbolizing the elements and supported by finely carved columns. The Temple is stained red with ochre, signifying the red colour of Durga. The Kund was earlier connected to the river itself thus refreshing the water. This tunnel was later closed, leading to locked water which is replenished only by rain or drainage from the Temple. Every year on the occasion of Nag panchami, the act of depicting Lord Vishnu reclining on the coiled-up Shesha Naga, with his consort Lakshmi, seated at his feet; the assemblage resting on the "Kshira Sagar" is repeated in the Kund.

Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during Navratri and other auspicious occasions.

The temple is situated 2 kilometres south of the old city. This ancient temple is located at a distance of 4 kilometers from Godaulia in Varanasi, India.