Situated at
Nainital, Naina Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess
Durga, who is worshipped here in the form of a
Pindi. According to a local legend, there was a devotee of the Mother Goddess - named Naina - who used to take his cattle to the foothills of the
Shivalik range for grazing. One day, he got an idol of Durga underneath a Pipal tree. On the same day, the goddess appeared in his dream and asked him to build a temple at that place and name the deity after his own name. Since then the temple has been known as Naina Devi Temple. A cave in the vicinity of the temple is known as Naina Cave.
Naina Devi temple is also known as Mahishapitha, as it is believed that it was here that Durga killed demon Mahishasur. According to
Hindu scriptures, this shrine is one of the 52
Shaktipithas in the country. A large number of devotees visit the temple during
Navratri and on the eighth day of
Shravan, a month in the
North Indian Hindu Calendar.
