Thursday, 26 May 2016

MAA ASHAPURA





Ashapura Mata is one of aspect devi and one of the principle deity of Kutch. As the name indicates, she is the Goddess who fulfills the wish & desires of all those who trust and believe her. The unique thing about most of the idol of Ashapura Mata is that it has 7 pairs of eyes.
Her temples are mainly found in Gujarat. Some people in Rajasthan and Gujarat consider her to be an incarnation(avatar) of goddess Annapoorna devi.






As said earlier, the main and original temple of Ashapura Mata, is located at Mata no Madh in Kutch, where she is worshiped as Kuldevi of Jadeja rulers of Kutch and main guardian deity of region.[1][2] The original temple located 80 km from Bhuj, was built aroun 1300 AD by Karad Vanias, who were ministers in court of Lakho Fulani, ruler of Kutch. The deity was later adapted as Kuldevi by Jadeja rulers, when they won battles, with her blessings.[2] Every year at Navratri annual fair at Mata no Madh, lakhs of devotees turn up to pay their respects to the goddess form all over Gujarat and even Mumbai.[3] Another temple is also at Bhuj, located within fortified town, which was originally capital of Kingdom of Kutch
Her temples are also found in other Jadeja domains of RajkotJasdan,[4] MorbiGondalJamnagar,[5] Ghumli,[5] where the Jadejas, who migrated from Kutch, built her temples and installed her as clan deity.[2][6][7]
In Gumli, on Barda hills, this is when Maa Shakti kills a demon on request of a Sati and she request Maa too reside on the hills and named her Maa Ashapura. This is the First temple of Mataji. Maa Ashapura is still heard and also hears Maa's lion's roar.
Ashapura Mataji's temple is in Gadhkada village in Amreli district. Every 1st day of Navratri, lot of people come there for Mataji's Yagna.

In Rajasthan, her temples are in PokhranModran and Nadol. In Mumbai also there is a famous temple of Ashapura Mata.
In Bangalore, there is a temple dedicated to her named "Sh. Ashapura Mataji Mandir" that is located near Bannerghatta National Park.