Ashapura Mata Temple
Madh History
This shrine or Ashapura is steeped in antiquity as far as its origin is concerned. There are references to this goddess in the Puranas, Rudrayamal Tantra and so on which are all said to point to this shrine in Kutch.
Rao Shri Khengarji I chose Bhuj as the capital city of Kutch and after he subdued the whole area and became its all powerful ruler in the early 16th century that the yearly worship at Mata-no-madh shrine in the Ashvin Navratri must have started. The Maharao or any other male member of the royal family carry two long and large fly-whisks (‘chamars’) made from strips of the quills thinly shredded from the tail feathers of peacocks. These are taken from Bhuj to Mata-no-madh. A puja ceremony is first performed of the Momay Mata of Maharao Deshalji on the fifth day of navratri in the old palace in Bhuj from where the ‘chamars’ are carried on the right shoulder and the person who carries them walks barefooted from the shrine of Momay upto the palace gate from where he goes by car to his residence outside the town. On the afternoon of the ‘saptami’ he goes to Madh and the next morning after bathing in the ‘Chachra Kund’ a puja of Chachra Bhawani is performed and from there the ‘chamars’ are carried in a procession, every one walking barefooted again, accompanied by music played on the shennai and the local Aadivasi community members knows as Jagarias singing the praises of the Goddess Ashapura and recounting the miracles of the deity with the accompaniment of small drums, carried in their hands and walking backwards right up to the steps of the main temples. In the temple the old chamars hanging one on either side of the Goddess are taken down by the attending bhuva and the Maharao hands over the fresh ones to him which are put up.
About Ashapura Mata
Ashapura Mata is the kuldevi of Jadeja, Chauhan, Hada and many more rajput dynasty. The main temples are situated at Nadol in Pali district, Rajasthan. And the other one is situated in Kutch, Gujrat. Ashpura mata got its name after fulfilment of wishes and desires of people.
Ashapura Mata temple is situated in Kutch that is nearby 90km from Bhuj in Gujrat.
There is also a story behind the establishment of Ashapura Mata temple in Kutch. It is also known as “Mata Na Madh”, where pilgrims comes every year to worship the goddess. Here every year lots of devotees arrives in Navratri. These 9 days are full of devotees, fairs, peoples, many other castes too.
It is said that once Mata arrives in the dream of a Jaini ( from Jain Caste). And told him that she would appear from the land at a particular place where later on the temple was built. But mata told one thing to the jaini that when would arrive from the land, nobody would turn back to see whether the statue has arrived or not. Hence, it is said by the mata so everyone did exactly but jaini turn back to see whether the statue has arrived or not. And when he turned it was just the face of the goddess has arrived and it just stoped there only. Hence from that time the people of kutch started worshipping the goddess as their kuldevi and mainly of Jadeja of Katiwad, Gujrat.
As the name suggested she is the goddess who fulfils the wishes and desires of the peoples but just people have to trust her. It is said that Ashapura Mata has 7 pairs of eyes which is a very unique fact about her. People of rajasthan and Gujarat believes that she is the incarnation of goddess Annapoorna Devi. The temples of Ashapura Mata can be seen in other places of Gujarat also like in Rajkot, Morbi, Jamnagar, Gondal etc.
One special peculiarity concerning the ashtami of the navratri here is that where as in other major and minor ‘peetns’ of the Goddess the ‘Havan’ ceremony takes place on the ‘ashtami’, here in Mata-na-Madh it is performed at midnight of the ‘saptami’ or the seventh day of Navratri. Whether this practice has been followed all along or was started later is not clear for no records speak of it. But it is likely that this arrangement was a mutually agreed procedure whereby the Raja, having his own important position in the shrine, could go through the all important ‘Havan’ ceremony and the Maharao on his part, as the ruler of Kutch and an ardent devotee of the Ma Ashapura, could perform the main ‘puja’ without coming in the way of the Mahant.
Not only the house of Kutch, but persons from various communities very much revere this deity and come for her ‘darshan’ all the year round, particularly during the ‘chaitra’, and in greater numbers during the ‘ashvin’ Navratri. The numbers of pilgrims is increasing year by year, and according to our estimate 2 or 2,2/1 lacs of people come to Mata-na-madh in 1994. Even some Muslim families have faith in Ashapuraji. Jains also worship at the shrine, and some sects from amongst them have the needs of young married ladies shaved at the Chachra Kund. Substantial donations also are being given to the trust (Shri. Mata Na Madh Jagir Trust) as also to Shri. Ashapura Bhandar & Atithigraha trust for further development of the temple complex. The Goddess fulfils the hopes, aspirations and wants of those who have faith in her, and hence her name. Some persons have also had experience of miracles at her shrine. There is no doubt about one fact, and that is, when stands in the temple facing the image of Ashapuraji and the sanctum sanctorum more often than not, one would feel, or be aware of, a definite pure divine aura that leaves a lasting impression on ones mind. Of course a prerequisite is the pureness of mind and the genuineness of ones faith.
The concept of female divinity is not confined to the Hindu religion alone, for glimpses of this are to be seen in the devotional practices of ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome etc. and of course in Christianity where Mother Mary has a definite special place, particularly in the form of worship practiced by the Roman Catholics. Certain tribal peoples also worship some forms of goddesses in their own way. Thus this worship of the mother or a divinity representing ‘power’ (‘shakti’) or as the giver of bounties in the form of money or wealth (Lakshmi) as also good crops and food (Annapurna) is widely preformed.
Temples Around :
Temple of Hinglaj Maa :
Temple of Hinglaj Mataji in Mata na Madh Kutch was constructed by Maharao shri Deshalji II. Original temple of Hinglaaj mataji is situated in hills of small town of Baluchistan known as Makaran. It is very difficult to visit original temple at Makaran as one has to cross many jungles and other hurdles to reach there. Also one has to face dangerous thieves/decoits which come along the way. Story behind the existence and creation of Hinglaaj maa temple at mata na madh is like this.
Once upon a time maharao shri deshalji second decided to visit hinglaaj maa temple at makaran. Before starting his journey to Baluchistan, he visited Ashapura temple at mata na madh. On his visit, the mahant raja shri tejsinh advised him not to go on this dangerous journey. So maharao listened to him and decided instead of going there, he would construct hinglaaj maa temple here in mata na madh. So he laid the foundation of temple and entrusted the construction work of temple to temple architects known as Sompuras. After completion of temple complex, maharao shri placed white marble idol of Hinglaaj maa with 8 Bhujas with all traditional rituals and opened it for public on Vaishakh Vad 10 of Vikram Samvat 1912.
Temple of Shri. Jagora Bhavani :
This temple is located on hill named Jagora which is approximately 2 miles away on the northern side of Mata na madh. On the top of this hill 2 big black stones are naturally placed in such a way cave like basement is created between them. The main entry is south facing while there is one another central way from where one can exit in the western side. Inside the cave, on the northern side sindoor coated red colored statue is placed and is named as Jagora Mataji. This goddess is mainly worshipped by community of Hindu Vaishnav Vanik known as Mahashwaris. Every year devotees of this Mahashwari community offer prayers to mataji with Bhajans.
Temple of Khatla Bhavani :
This ancient temple is believed to be constructed by pujari shri Dhanji Raja around Vikram Samvat 1800. Since the idol of Maa Bhavani is placed on the seat which is modeled in the shape of bed (locally known as “khatla”), this temple is named so. This temple is situated on small hill on the west of Mata na Madh and is very beautiful and peaceful site to visit. It is easily accessible by cement concrete steps on both sides which are constructed from donated funds.
This temple was constructed in the year Vikram Samvat 1902. This is also an east facing temple. Since it is located in a huge compound, there are other temples like Raghunathji temple and Lakshminarayan temple adjoining it.
This temple is on western side of “Chachra Kund” situated on northern side of village. This south facing temple is carved out from hillocks into a caved basement with Chachra Bhavani’s idol facing east. In the compound of chachra bhavani, there is another west facing temple of Lord Shiva known as Bhopaleshwar. It is believed that this temple was constructed by Kapdi Gopal Raja in around Vikram Samvat 1870, and chachra bhavani temple is assumed to have been constructed 300 years ago by kankatta nathaji.
Aarti Information:
at 9:00 a.m. and another third one at dusk which is known as Sandhya (evening), Arti is carried out and carried on every day.
You can now do live darshan of Mata no Madh Ashapura Temple
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