Chitai Golu Temple - The Lord Of Justice

Chitai Golu Temple

About

The Chitai Golu temple is famous and dedicated to Golu Devata or Lord Golu who is known as god of justice. This temple was constructed by a general belonging to Chand dynasty.

It is most holy temple for the devotees. Golu Devata is legendary, mythological and historical God of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state in India. The Chitai Golu Temple is about 08 km from Almora. Golu Devata is thought to be as a personification of Gaur Bhairav and is worshipped all over the region and regarded as the dispenser of justice by the devotees with extreme faith.

Chronicle

Historically, earlier was a Katyuri King named Jhall Rai and his wife was Kalinka and his father was Hal Rai. Golu Devta is considered as the brave son of Katyuri King Jhal Rai. The origin of Golu Devta is accepted at Champawat.

          The most popular story is of king Jhall Rai who frequently used to go for hunting. One day while hunting king feel thirsty and sent his servants to bring water for him. There was a woman praying and got disturbed by the servants. In anger the woman taunted the king. The king was impressed by the exploit of woman and he married the woman. The new seventh queen was beautiful and well loved by the king, because of this other queens remain jealous of her. When this queen gave birth a baby son others queens stole the son and place a stone in place of baby son and proved she gave birth stone instead of baby, thereafter they put the child into a cage and left that cage into the Kali river’s rapids. The child was saved by fisherman. When the boy grew up, one day that boy was with wooden horse into the river bank and tries to make the horse drink water from the river seeing boy’s activities king questioned the boy “can wooden horse drink water?” he replied that “if women can give birth a stone then wooden horses can also drink water.” When the king came to know the fact about the past incident he punished the guilty queens and accepted the boy as son and crowned him, who went on to be known as Golu devta. Golu Devta’s horse was white in color and wear white getup with Kataar in one hand.

Significance

Golu devta is seen in form of Lord Shiva, his bother Kaluwa Devta is in form of Bhairav and his sister Gar Devi is in form of Lord Shakti. Golu devta is prayed as Kul Devta/Isht Devta at many villages in uttrakhand. To perform worship of Golu Devta pellet drum used and is offered with Ghee, Milk, Curd, Halwa, Puri, Pakodi and Head of sacrificed Goat. Preferred black male goats is required to perform sacrifice/Bali. The sacrificed goat is distributed and received as Sacrament. Normally three and nine days’ worship performed of Golu Devta and an immense programme is done. Golu Devta is known as god of justice and prayed with great enthusiasm, he always offered with White Clothes, White Turban, White Shawl.

       There are many temples of Golu Devta all over the uttrakhand specially in kumaon region. Among all the famous temples few are at Chitai (Almora), Champawat and Ghorakhal. Devotees faith upon Golu Devta is for quick justice. Devotees offer bells and sacrifice/Bali of male goat after accomplishment of their wishes and getting justice from Golu Devta.

The large number of bells can be seen hanging in Chitai Golu Temple. Which are offered by devotees after fulfilment of their wishes or after getting the justice from Lord Golu Devta. This indicates the fame of the Chitai Golu Temple.

Devotees write their wishes in latter format and some in court stamp papers by those who did not get justice in the court and tie their latter addressing to Lord Golu Devta in the temple premises, after accomplishment of wishes devotees happy to come again and offer bells. Hence thousands of bells of every size can be seen hanging from the main gate of Chitai Golu Temple to the all premises of temple.

 Peoples also come here to get marriage and take the blessing of Lord Golu Devta.

How to reach

(i) By Air: PantNagar is the only nearest airport connected with New Delhi airport. From PantNagar to Almora Chitai Golu Temple the distance of 124 km is to be cover by road via Haldwani Almora road.

(ii) By Rail: To reach Chitai Golu Temple train facility are available till Kathgodam. After de-boarding the train at Kathgodam which is known as Gateway of Hills, Taxis are easily available to cover the 94 km journey by road.

(iii) By Road: Chitai Golu Temple is well connected with road through Almora. It is 08 km from Almora on highway No 37. Devotees can reach by hiring taxi from Almora to Chitai Golu Temple.

Stay For Devotee

Persons, visiting the Chitai Golu Temple can stay at Almora city. Many hotels are available in different range for various class of peoples.

Nearby Sight

(i)                   Kasar Devi

(ii)                 Martola

(iii)                Kalimat

(iv)                Katarmal Sun Temple

(v)                 Simtola