| The Dungri
temple of goddess Hirma Devi or Hidimba of the Mahabharata is another remarkable temple in
this complex. As already mentioned the deity is taken out to pay an annual visit and
homage to Raghunathji elsewhere. In the midst of tall and ancient deodar trees this old
temple in pagoda style stands. It has been, according to current legend, taken that this
was the site for a Buddhist monastery before and the temple had some Buddha image, which
has now disappeared. Raja Bahadur Singh who built
Nagar Kasal constructed the present temple. The legend is that the sculptor's hands were
cut off after the temple was completed so that he could not build another similar temple.
The carving in the folk-style covers foliage motifs, gods and goddesses, animals and
crocodiles in a detailed way. The Dungri temple has two small brass images of Durga and by
another strange permutation Hidimba who was originally a demoness merged into Durga by
killing the buffalo-demon.
Hidimba is also believed to be a deity associated with
rain. As the area depends more on rain for cultivation of edible crops, Hidimba the
demoness-deity commands a deep reverence. Manaligarh has a stray image of Durga and her
lion, which has been somehow damaged. Penelope Chetwode visited at Gushaini village a
small wood-temple with remarkable Pahari folk art carving. The posts have carvings of
scrolls, Hanuman (Monkey-god), peacocks etc. On the door iambs there are Nag motifs and
the icon is of a female goddess in black stone. The deity is taken to be that of
Gara-Durga. |
