Karla Temple

Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple

Shree Devi Durga Parameshwari Temple, a "Shakti Peetha", was conceived, planned and built by our beloved Shrimad Parijnanashram Swamiji III to arrest the draining of our vital energies which is common cry in the present turbulent and confusing time. He was a Shakti Upasaka (Worshipper of Shakti) and used to perform "Shree Chakra" pooja daily. The Prana Pratishta of Devi Durga Parameshwari was done on February/March 1993. The temple comprises of a huge spacious hall called "Dhyana Mandir". The Gopura of the temple was built as per the Agama Shastra by the Stapati Karuppiah Acharya of Pudupatti (Tamilnadu).


The Dhyana Mandir has 13 huge windows facing all the four sides. Sanjeevani Mahasamadhi of Shrimad Parijnanashram III is at the southern side of Dhyan Mandir. Swamiji's ashram, Community Center, and Swami Parijnanashram Arogya Dham is at its northern side. Arogya Dham is a complex of having 30 self contained rooms wherein the devotees can stay and enjoy the cool and serene climate charged with the blessings of Shree Devi Durga Parameshwari and Shrimad Parijnanashram Swamiji. Arrangements of food and breakfast are also made in the dining hall. There is a spacious hall where marriage, thread ceremony, spiritual camp and discourses can be easily arranged. A spacious library with six rooms for the staff has also been built. The whole temple and its complex is surrounded by Sahyadri mountains and almost touches Mumbai - Pune national highway. The famous Indrayani river also flows nearby. Pooja and arati is being performed in the temple daily 3 times.


Every day in the evenings at 7 pm. we have "Deepa Namaskar" and thereafter "Devi Ashtavadhan" wherein hymns from Rig, Yajur, Atharva and Sama Vedas are recited besides Purana, Vedanta Shastra, Ashtaka, vocal recital, blowing of counch, flute recital, shehanai recital and finally playing of all musical instruments is rendered as an offering to Shree Devi Durga Parameshwari. It is an experience to participate in it personally.


The following festivals and functions are being observed in the temple.

  • March 1st. - the ordination (Shishya Sweekar) day of our Swamiji.
  • 15 June - our Swamiji's birthday.
  • Guru purnima
  • Punyatithi of our Swamiji
  • Navaratri festival in the month of Ashwin and Magh
  • Prana Pratishta day of Devi DurgaParameshwari
  • Linga Pratishta day at the Sanjeevani Mahasamadhi of Swamiji
  • Maha Shivaratri

The religious activities of the temple are managed by Karla Durga Parameshwari Temple & Religious Trust (KDPT) formed in November 1993. As per the wishes of our beloved Swamiji the above trust had started publishing a quarterly magazine called "Parijnana Prajna" from December 2000 (on the occasion of Datta Jayanti). The magazine will comprise mainly the teachings of our Swamiji, His memoir, His sayings and the experiences of devotees influenced by Him.

(Source: karlamath.org)