Mata no Madh
Encyclopedia
Mata no Madh is name of the place, where the famous temple of Ashapura Mata
, the head deity of Kutch and kuldevi of Jadeja
rulers stands. It is located about 80 km from Bhuj
, the capital of erstwhile Princely State of Cutch and now headquarter of Kutch District.in Gujarat State of India
.
The temple was built in 14th century two Karad Vanias
, Ajo and Anagor had this temple built. They were ministers in the court of the father of Lakho Fulani. The severe earthquake in 1819 badly damaged the temple. Within 5 years Sundarji Shivji and Vallabhaji, the two persons of Brahmakshatriya
caste repaired it. The Mistris of Kutch were the artisans and architects, who did the renovation. This ancient temple is now 58 ft. long, 32 ft. wide and 52 ft. tall. Once again the earthquake of 2001 AD shook it and its dome tumbled down. However, very soon it was repaired once again and now it stands with a new grandeur.
There are two temples, the original old temple above the hill, which lies abandoned as after the earthquake of 1819, a new temple below the hill was built, which now houses the deity and is in use ever since.
It is also said that this temple was set up by Mir Gulamsha Kalora
of Sindh
. In 1762 A.D., when his army attacked this temple, his soldiers became blind by the curse of the goddess Ashapura. Then, Gulamshah took a swear to set up a huge bell in the temple. Finally, his soldiers regained their sight and Gulamshah kept his words. The huge bell still stands there in temple.
Jamadar Fateh Muhammad, considered as the Cromwell
of Kutch, had presented this temple with a 'deepmala' weighing 2 kg silver, and with 41 lamps carved in it.
The head priest of temple belongs to Kapadi
community, who holds lot of respect and called Raja. There are also subordinates priests of Chauhan
, who also do pooja of Devi
.
The festivals are held during Chaitra
Navaratri and Ashvin
Navaratri of which the later hold more significance. Lakh
s of devotees come to pay a visit to temple at Mata no Madh, walking on foot from various places in Gujarat. Camps and relief facilities are set up around the road leading to Mata no Madh, every year for this pilgrimage.The pilgrims begin their travel on foot from not just Kutch, Surashtra and Gujarat, but also from as far as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karanataka States. Those coming from Mumbai begin to walk from a month earlier. Some come on bicycles, some come rolling the coconut all the way, some walk without shoes.
During the times of regency, buffaloes were offered as sacrifice on special occasions. The practice of animal sacrifice, however, has been stopped.
Three of the coals, Gypsum, Kutch Bauxite and Lignite were found here and they are still available in Madh na Madh. and mining is done by Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd, a Government of Gujarat Undertaking.
Ashapura Mata
Ashapura Mata is one of aspect devi. Her temples are mainly found in Gujarat.In Rajasthan, her temples are in Modran and Nadol.She is considered as kuldevi of Jadeja...
, the head deity of Kutch and kuldevi of Jadeja
Jadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
rulers stands. It is located about 80 km from Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
, the capital of erstwhile Princely State of Cutch and now headquarter of Kutch District.in Gujarat State of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The temple was built in 14th century two Karad Vanias
Bania (caste)
Bania is an occupational caste of bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from Western India and Central India but spread now all over India...
, Ajo and Anagor had this temple built. They were ministers in the court of the father of Lakho Fulani. The severe earthquake in 1819 badly damaged the temple. Within 5 years Sundarji Shivji and Vallabhaji, the two persons of Brahmakshatriya
Brahma Kshatri
The Brahma Kshatri are a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are also known as known as Brahma Kshatriya.- Origin :The word Brahma Kshatri literally means the warriors of the Brahmins. According to their traditions, they are descended from kshatriyas who took shelter with Maa...
caste repaired it. The Mistris of Kutch were the artisans and architects, who did the renovation. This ancient temple is now 58 ft. long, 32 ft. wide and 52 ft. tall. Once again the earthquake of 2001 AD shook it and its dome tumbled down. However, very soon it was repaired once again and now it stands with a new grandeur.
There are two temples, the original old temple above the hill, which lies abandoned as after the earthquake of 1819, a new temple below the hill was built, which now houses the deity and is in use ever since.
It is also said that this temple was set up by Mir Gulamsha Kalora
Mian Ghuam Shah Kalhoro (Shah Wardi Khan)
Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, Shah Wardi Khan was a ruler of the Kalhora Dynasty of Sindh whose rule began in 1762, when he was appointed ruler of Sindh by a royal decree, with the title of Shah Wardí Khan...
of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. In 1762 A.D., when his army attacked this temple, his soldiers became blind by the curse of the goddess Ashapura. Then, Gulamshah took a swear to set up a huge bell in the temple. Finally, his soldiers regained their sight and Gulamshah kept his words. The huge bell still stands there in temple.
Jamadar Fateh Muhammad, considered as the Cromwell
Cromwell
- People :* Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex , English statesman in the reign of Henry VIII of England* Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell - People :* Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (c.1485–1540), English statesman in the reign of Henry VIII of England* Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell...
of Kutch, had presented this temple with a 'deepmala' weighing 2 kg silver, and with 41 lamps carved in it.
The head priest of temple belongs to Kapadi
Kapadi
Kapadi or Kapdi is one of the minority Hindu community of India, who are followers of Kapadi Sampradaya.-History:Origin of Kapadi community, as per folk fore, is connected with Lord Rama...
community, who holds lot of respect and called Raja. There are also subordinates priests of Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
, who also do pooja of Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
.
The festivals are held during Chaitra
Chaitra
Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar....
Navaratri and Ashvin
Ashvin
Ashvin , also known as Aswayuja, is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, the Tamil solar calendar where it is known as Aipassi and the solar India's national civil calendar. It is the sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar. It falls in the season of Shôrot, or Autumn...
Navaratri of which the later hold more significance. Lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
s of devotees come to pay a visit to temple at Mata no Madh, walking on foot from various places in Gujarat. Camps and relief facilities are set up around the road leading to Mata no Madh, every year for this pilgrimage.The pilgrims begin their travel on foot from not just Kutch, Surashtra and Gujarat, but also from as far as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karanataka States. Those coming from Mumbai begin to walk from a month earlier. Some come on bicycles, some come rolling the coconut all the way, some walk without shoes.
During the times of regency, buffaloes were offered as sacrifice on special occasions. The practice of animal sacrifice, however, has been stopped.
Three of the coals, Gypsum, Kutch Bauxite and Lignite were found here and they are still available in Madh na Madh. and mining is done by Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd, a Government of Gujarat Undertaking.