to date to the 11th century and natural forming from the living rock of the cliff. Legend has it that the King Kriti Pal the 11th century Pratihara Rajput ruler of Old Chanderi was cured of his leprosy while bathing in a pool. He saw an apparition of the goddess Jageshwari who told him to build a temple on the spot where the Sri Jageshwari Temple now stands. The king however broke part of his promise to the goddess and she manifested only her face, which can be seen today as the main idol of the temple. (read the chapter The Miracle Of Water for a more detailed account of this story.) It was after this legendary event that the actual King Kriti Pal began the construction of the hill fort named after him that is above the temple.
The face of the goddess Jageshwari which is the temples main idol is located in an open cave on the east side of the Kriti Durg hill fort. A modern temple has been built around the cave and devotees come daily for darshan and puja.
It can be reached by a staircase winding down from the fort or from below by climbing a wide staircase up the hill. The latter is now considered the main entrance into the temple. One of the features of this temple are that natural springs flow from the cliff all year round despite the fact that they are over 100 hundred feet above the town, and also that Chanderi itself is 2200 feet above sea level. There are at least three of these natural spots here where what are called sacred springs flow. Accordingly the water from these springs is considered holy.
The temple has a number of other very interesting features. There are rock cut carvings of Shiva and Parvati that appear to be in the Chandela style which dates to the 10th and 11th centuries. There are numerous other rock cut carvings made from the living cliff around the temple complex. There is installed a very ancient and large Shiva Lingam called the eleven hundred Shiva Lingam because there are 1100 lingam carved around its sides. Also there is a smaller Shiva Lingam with four faces of Shiva carved around its sides that is placed under one of the natural springs that falls from the cliff side. Both are of ancient origin. Quite possibly these Shiva Lingam were once in their own temples inside the Kriti Durg Fort, but because of time and the events of history are now installed here at the Jageshwari Temple.
By taking the staircase above the main temple one can see two Shiva Lingam which are by another sacred spring. A shallow cave and small pool has been carved at this spot and the natural spring water is collected in it. From this spot a breathtaking view of Chanderi can be seen.