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Besides
the very popular Devi temple of Lakshana Devi al Brahmaur the temples of Shakti Devi at
Chittari, Chamunda Devi at Chamba and Devi Kothi, Minghal Devi at Pangi and Mirkula Devi
at Lahul along with another number of lesser known Devi temples have satisfied the faith
of the people in Devi worship. One particular feature of Devi worship in many of the
districts of Himachal Pradesh is also noticed in this district. Usually the priest known
as the pujari or chela is said to be possessed occasionally by the deity which is
signified by an abnormal behavior in the priest by shivers, random talks and at times
using a strange lingo.
For all this he is commonly
known as the chela and during this period of abnormality he is supposed to be the
go-between' of the deity and the devotee. The chela in this trance prescribes medicines,
gives directives for action etc. The chelas are not always restricted to Brahmin or Rathi
somewhat parallel to a Rajput caste but may also be a low caste men.There are some popular
legends about some of this Devis. A landlord found one of his milching cows coming back
drawn dry.
He suspected the cowherd of milking the cow while grazing
in the forest. Hefollowed the cowherd from a distance and found that the cow was standing
still at aparticular spot under a tree and milk coming out from her udders. He saw the cow
doing this on several successive days.The man had a dream that the goddess wanted to be
taken out from the spot and duly installed in a temple. He dug out the place and found an
image.While taking that image home he was made a halt involuntarily at a certain spot. He
raised a temple and the deity of Chittari stands there.
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