The Shoolini Maata Temple, snuggled in an alcove of the borough of Solan, is dedicated to Goddess Shoolini - the Wielder of Spears, an incarnation of Maa Durga. The Shrine is one of the prime attractions of the town. It is believed that ages ago, the then hamlet of Solan was named after Devi Shoolini, the presiding deity of the temple. As per the legend, the temple has always been Her abode.
The Shrine attracts humongous crowds on festivals, especially during the Shoolini Fair, which is held in the Hindu Calendar's month of Aashaad every year. The festivities see the temple looking ethereal at night when it is illuminated with fairy lights while also bearing a serene appearance with the floral décor during the day. It has a massive footfall on holidays and on designated days.
The Goddess goes on Her annual sojourn through the alleys of the town on the first day of the fair, ensconced in the traditional wooden palanquin, borne in turns by different sets of devout bearers led by the ceremonial 'Kalyanas'. The Goddess, post Her round of the city, proceeds to Her sister's abode in the heart of the town known as the 'Shoolini Shakti Peeth,' to reside there for two nights. The third day witnesses Her travel back to Her seat of reverence.
Other highlights of the fair are community kitchens set up throughout the nooks and crannies of the lanes and bylanes of the township, where all and sundry devour foods and flavours from across the country. Besides a host of activities like cultural nights, various contests et al are held in the historic Thodo ground which also is a testimony to the celebrated game by the name Thodo.
Maa Shoolini (Mahashakti) the form and the formless, is the root of knowledge, wisdom, creation, preservation and annihilation. She is the Shakti i.e. the power of Lord Shiva. Shoolini (Sanskrit: शूलिनी) is the principal form of Goddess Durga or Parvati, also known as Devi and Shakti.
Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, couldn't control His rage after killing the unruly demon king Hiranyakashipu who was becoming a threat to the entire universe. So, Lord Shiva, in order to pacify Narasimha, manifested as Sharabha. Shoolini was also manifested with the blessings of Lord Shiva to tame Narasimha.
Maa Shoolini is also popularly known as Shoolini Durga, Shivani and Saloni, often being compared to Goddesses such as Durga and Parvati. She is also the 'Kula Devi' (the family deity) of the inhabitants of Solan.
Katha – In the Treta Yuga, when Lord Vishnu took the form of Lord Narasimha (His fourth avatar) to save His devotee Prahlada, the half-man and half-lion Narasimha with human-like torso and lower body and lion-like face and claws killed Hiranyakashyap.
After He annihilated the demon Hiranyakashyap, the devas (demigods) were unable to calm Narasimha's fury, who began an endless destructive spree. Upon seeing this, Lord Shiva decided to tame Lord Narasimha.
Thus the Adideva took on the incarnated form of 'Sharabha Sarabeshwara' to subdue Narasimha. This form was part-bird part-lion and is also called Sharabeshwaramurti. Lord Sharabha was an eight-legged beast, mightier than a lion or an elephant and more than capable of pacifying a lion.
Goddess Parvati then manifestated as Maa Shoolini and appeared in the right wing of Sharabheswara. Being black in colour, She is called Saloni, too. Possessor of the 'Shool' (a spear), She is adulated as 'Shool Dharini', a form of Maa Kali or Maa Durga and is also venerated as Shoolini Durga.