SIRMUR

The Sirmur forces were annihilated in the battle, and the "Purohit" (Priest) of the princess brought her head to Dudham where he erected a temple, and began to worship her. Another version says that the princess fell in an attack on Delhi and after her death revealed to the "Purohit" (priest) that he would - find her, at a certain spot, at which, after a search, the Purohit found the image now in the temple. In the recorded history of Sirmur, however, these versions have not been mentioned.

It is related there that the princess successfully quelled a local uprising that took place in the- absence of her father, Rajah Suraj Parkash. The fair is held on the "Ekadashi" (eleventh day of dark half of the month) before the Diwali on which day the image is placed on a Singhasan or throne. This is also done on each Sunday in the Bikrami month of Har. Villagers have appointed a priest to perform puja regularly, twice daily.

A sum of five rupees is given by the government to meet the expenses of puja. Offerings made by the visitors are distributed among themselves by the local brahmins. Two bighas of revenue-free land stand attached to the shrine. Valuable belongings of the Devi, including ornaments etc., are kept under the care of a "Bhandari" (storekeeper).

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