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Folk Goddess
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Key Facts
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Karni Mata
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- ‘Kuldevi of Charans’ and ‘Aradhya Devi of Bikaner Rathores’
- Birth – 1387 AD, Suwap village (Phalodi)
- Father – Mehaji Charan, Mother – Deval Bai
- Other names – ‘Daadhi wali Dhokri’ / Chuho wali Devi / Dokri / Jog Maya / Avatar of Jagat Mata / Riddhi Bai (childhood name)
- Marriage – With Depaji Bithu, resident of Deshnok (Bikaner)
- Karni Mata had six sisters (Chhathi Karni Mata, seventh Gulab Kanwar)
- [Karni Mata adopted her sister Gulab Kanwar’s son Lakhan as her son; he drowned in Kolayat lake on Shravan Purnima, so Charan community people do not go to Kapil Muni Mela (Kolayat)]
- Major temple – Deshnok, Bikaner (dedicated to Durga Devi), Bala ka Kila (Alwar) – temple also called math
- Worship in four forms – Daadhi wali Dokri, Ardhanarishwar, Vishnu Roop, Sambhali (cheel roop / kite form)
- Mela – During Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri in Deshnok (twice a year)
- Favorite devotees – Dashrath Meghwal, Sarang Vishnoi
- Death – 1538 AD in Deshnok
- Karni Mata laid the foundation stone of Mehrangarh Fort with her own hands on 12 May 1459
- Rao Bika of Bikaner established the Rathore dynasty with the grace of Karni Mata
- Maharaja Ganga Singh offered silver doors (chandi ke kivad) in Karni Mata temple
- Kaba – White rats in Karni Mata temple
- Nehdi – Initial worship place under a banyan tree (jal vriksh)
- Chinraja – Devotional song sung during night vigil (ratri jagran) in praise of the Mata
- Sawan-Bhado Kadhai – Names of two large pots (kadhaiyan) in the temple
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Tanot Mata
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- Other names – Thar ki Vaishno Devi / Rumal wali Devi / Yuddha Devi / Indian soldiers’ Isht Devi / Bhati rulers’ Isht Devi
- Temple – Tanot (Jaisalmer), 9th century, built by Bhati ruler Tanurav
- Worshipped by BSF jawans
- Mela – During Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri (every year)
- In front of Tanot Mata temple, ‘Vijay Stambh’ is installed as a symbol of India’s victory in the 1965 India-Pakistan war
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Jeen Mata
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- Birth – Ghanghu village, Churu
- Childhood name – Jayanti / Jaivan Bai
- Father – Ghangh, Brother – Harsh (in the form of Bhairav)
- Temple – Revasa (Sikar), on the Aadawala hills
- Mela – During Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri
- Kuldevi – Of Chauhans of Sikar
- Aradhya Devi – Of Meenas of Sikar
- Other names – Jayanti Devi (in Puranas) / Bhramari Devi / Bhuri ki Rani
- Goddess of honey bees – Foiled Aurangzeb’s attack
- Eight-armed idol, with two perpetual lamps of ghee and oil in front
- Harsh Parvat inscription – Temple construction by Hattad, feudatory of Prithviraj Chauhan I, in 1064 AD
- Jogi Talab near the temple – Life-size statues of the Pandavas
- Folk literature
- The longest folk song among all Rajasthani deities and gods (in karun ras)
- Singer – Kanphate jogi wearing kesariya clothes and applying sindoor on forehead
- Instruments – Damaru and Sarangi
- Practices
- Earlier, two and a half cups of liquor were offered (now prohibited)
- Earlier, goat sacrifice; now only goat’s ear is offered
- Rajasthan’s brother-sister pair known in the form of deity-devi
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Aai Mata
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- Birth – Ambapur (Gujarat)
- Temple – Bilada (Jodhpur)
- Father – Bika Dabi
- Childhood name – Jiji Bai
- Kuldevi – Of Sirvi caste Kshatriyas
- Disciple of Ramdev Ji
- Avatar of Navdurga
- Aai Panthi
- Followers adhere to the 11 rules laid down by Aai Mata
- Therefore, they are called 11 Dora Panthi
- In Aai Mata temple, an eternal lamp (akhand deepak) burns from which saffron drips from the flame.
- Bader – Mata’s than (samadhi sthal / memorial place)
- Dargah – The temple is also called this
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Sheetla Mata
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- Other names – Mahamai / Mai Anama / Protector of children / Saidhal Mata / Basyoda ki Devi / Smallpox remover Mata / Bodri ki Devi
- Main temple – Sheel ki Doongri, Chaksu (Jaipur rural), built by Madho Singh II, also known as Suhag Temple
- In the temple, instead of an idol, there are pieces of stone (pashan / paththar ke khand)
- Oldest temple – Gogunda, Udaipur
- Other temples – Kaga, Jodhpur
- Symbol – Burning lamp / Earthen pot
- Vehicle – Donkey, Priest – People of Kumhar caste
- Khejri tree – Worshipped in the form of Sheetla Mata
- Mela –
- On Chaitra Krishna Ashtami in Chaksu (Jaipur)
- Other name – Bailgadi Mela
- Sheetla Mata is the only goddess whose worship is done with a broken / fragmented idol (khandit murti)
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Kaila Devi
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- Nickname – Jogmaya / Anjani Mata
- Kuldevi of Yadav / Jadaun dynasty of Karauli
- Temple – Built in 1900 by Gopal Singh on the banks of Kalisil River on Trikut mountain, Karauli district
- Languriya songs – Devotional songs in praise of Kaila Devi (Ghutkan dance, Joganiya dance)
- Mela – Lakhi Mela (Chaitra Shukla Ashtami)
- Isht Devi – Of Gurjars and Meenas
- Bohra Bhagat ki Chhatri – In front of Kaila Devi temple
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Naganachi Mata
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- Kuldevi – Of Rathore dynasty of Marwar
- Dham – Nagana village, Balotra
- Idol – Made of wood, 18 hands, holding weapons
- Temple – Under a neem tree
- Also called Mahishasur Mardini and her second form is a hawk / kite (baaj / cheel)
- During the time of Dhuhad of Rathore dynasty, Saraswat Brahmin Lahoda Lumb Rishi from Kannauj brought the idol from Karnataka and installed it in Nagana village, Pachpadra (Balotra)
- Later, Rao Jodha brought the original idol from Nagana village and installed it in Jodhpur fort, building a temple there
- Major temples – Balotra, Nagaur, City Palace Udaipur, Mehrangarh, Kishangarh, Junagarh
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Sugali Mata
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- Idol – With 10 heads and 54 hands
- Isht Devi – Of Kushal Singh Champawat (Aauwa, Pali)
- Kuldevi – Of Champawat Thakurs of Aauwa
- Goddess of the 1857 Revolution, idol currently in Bagad Museum (Pali)
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Chamunda Mata
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- Seventh avatar of Durga Mata
- Isht Devi – Of Rathores of Marwar
- Kuldevi – Of Inda Pratiharas
- Temple construction – By Rao Jodha in Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
- Jasraj Chopda Committee – On 30 September 2008, during Navratri, a stampede occurred in the temple, resulting in 214 deaths. Committee formed to investigate this incident
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Shila Devi
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- Temple – Jaleb Chowk, Amer Fort (Jaipur)
- Isht Devi – Of Kachwaha dynasty of Amer
- Idol – Eight-armed black stone Bhagwati, brought in the 16th century by Mirza Raja Man Singh I after defeating King Kedar of eastern Bengal from Jassaur salt place
- Melas – On Shashthi and Ashtami during Navratri
- Current temple structure – By Mirza Raja Jai Singh
- Marble work – By Sawai Man Singh II
- Practices –
- Earlier human sacrifice (narbali), later goat sacrifice (chagbali) (now stopped)
- Two and a half cups of liquor are offered, devotees receive liquor and water as charnamrit
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Kaivay Mata
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- Place – Kinsariya village, Parbatsar (Nagaur)
- Temple construction – By King Chachchdev
- On the outer wall of the sabha mandap of Kaivay Mata temple, an inscription dated 999 AD is engraved
- This inscription praises Chauhan rulers Vakpatiraj, Sinhraj, and Durlabharaj
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Jamuvay Mata
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- Other names – Annapurna Mata / Jamvanti (puranic name)
- Kuldevi – Of Dhundhad Kachwaha dynasty
- Temple – Jamwa Ramgarh (Jaipur)
- Kachwaha ruler Dulharai (Tejkaran) obtained victory over enemies with the blessings of Devi Maa and built Jamuvay Mata temple after the victory
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Jwala Mata
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- Kuldevi – Of Khangarot dynasty, Jobner (Jaipur)
- Temple – Jobner
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Swangiya Mata
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- Other names – Swangiya / Sangiya Ji / Sugga Mata / Uttar ki Dhaal / Temda Tai (due to temple being on Temda Bhakhar) / Hinglaj Mata
- Kuldevi – Of Bhati dynasty of Jaisalmer
- Temple – Lodurva (Jaisalmer)
- Chirja – Mata’s path (devotional recitation)
- Thala – Collective idol form of her seven goddesses
- Considered the same form as Sugan Chidhi Aavad Mata
- Considered an avatar of Hinglaj Mata by Charans
- Meaning of Swangiya – Bent spear (muda hua bhala)
- In the state emblem of Bhati dynasty of Jaisalmer, at the top is shown the palm bird (shagun) and the bent spear (swang) in the hand of the goddess
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Rani Sati
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- Place – Jhunjhunu
- Nickname – Dadiji / Narayani Bai
- Husband – Tan Dhan Das Agarwal
- Kuldevi – Of Agarwals
- Became Sati – After her husband was killed by the soldiers of Hisar Nawab, she sacrificed her life on her husband’s funeral pyre and became Sati (on Magh Krishna Navami)
- Mela – Bhadrapad Krishna Amavasya
- Rani Sati – India’s largest Sati temple
- Khemi Sati – India’s second largest Sati temple (Jhunjhunu)
Note – After the Roop Kanwar Sati incident in 1987, worship of Sati and glorification / fairs of Sati Mahima have been banned.
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Shakambhari Mata
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- Other names – Sakray / Shankara
- Place – Malayketu mountain, Udaipurwati (Neem ka Thana) (Lohagarh Tirth)
- Kuldevi – Of Khandelwals
- Mela – During Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri
- Name Shakambhari – To save people suffering from famine, she produced fruits, vegetables, and roots
Shakambhari Mata Jaipur –
- Temple – One in Sambhar and another in Saharanpur
- Construction – By Vasudev Chauhan
- Kuldevi – Of Chauhans of Sambhar
- Mela – During Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri
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Sachiyay Mata
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- Place – Osian (Jodhpur rural)
- Temple – Built in the 8th century by Parmar prince Upaldeva in Pratihar style
- Kuldevi – Of Oswals
- Gurjar Pratihar built this temple in Mahamaru style
- Idol – Black stone Mahishasur Mardini
- Goddess of communal harmony (sampardayik sadbhav ki devi)
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Sachiyay Mata
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- Place – Osian (Jodhpur rural)
- Temple – Built in the 8th century by Parmar prince Upaldeva
- Later renovated in the 12th century, with contribution from Gurjar-Pratihar rulers
- Kuldevi – Of Oswals
- Idol – Black stone Mahishasur Mardini
- Goddess of communal harmony (sampardayik sadbhav ki devi)
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Pathwari Mata
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- Worshipped as a folk deity outside the village for the success of journeys/pilgrimages (tirthayatra ki safalta ki kaamna hetu)
- In her pictures, Kala-Gaura Bhairu is shown at the bottom, and above are Kavadiya Veer and Gangoj ka kalash
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Kalika Mata
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- Located inside Chittor Fort in the form of a large dome of Padmini’s palaces
- Originally – It was a Sun temple
- Kuldevi – Of Guhilot dynasty
- Built in Pratihar style in the 12th century
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Tripura Sundari Mata
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- Place – Talwara (Banswara)
- Idol – Black stone with eighteen arms (ashtadash bhuja wali)
- Kuldevi – Of Panchal caste
- Also addressed by devotees as ‘Turtai Mata’
- Isht Devi of former Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje
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Narayani Devi
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- Birth – Moragarh, Jaipur
- Father – Vijayarama Nai, Mother – Ramvati
- Childhood name – Karmeti Bai
- Kuldevi – Of Nai caste
- Main temple – Barwa Doongri, Rajgarh (Alwar)
- Mela – Vaishakh Shukla Ekadashi
- Became Sati along with her husband
- Also worshipped by the Meena tribe
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Sundha Mata
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- Temple – On the hill of Jaswantpura (Bhinmal, Jalore)
- Called Sundha Mata because situated on Sundha hill
- Worship of headless idol (dharahit pratima) is performed.
- In 2006, Rajasthan’s first ropeway was built here
- Bear sanctuary is located here
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Badli Mata
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- Main temple – Akola (Chittorgarh)
- Treatment of small children is done here
- Tying taanti here cures illness
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Asavari / Aavri Mata
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- Temple – Nikumbh village, Chittorgarh
- Famous for treatment of physical ailments like paralysis; child is taken out in two tiwadi (ritual)
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Baan Mata Ji
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- Located in Chittorgarh Fort, a little away from Vijay Stambh
- Construction – By Hammir Sisodia
- Kuldevi – Of Sisodia rulers
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Tulja Bhavani
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- Temple – Near Ram Pol, the main gate of Chittorgarh Fort
- Aradhya Devi of Shivaji
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Ambika Mata
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- Main temple – Jagat village, Udaipur
- This temple is known as ‘Khajuraho of Mewar’. Khajuraho temples built by Chandela rulers are located in Madhya Pradesh
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Dadhimati Mata
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- Temple – Goth Manglod (Jayal, Nagaur)
- Kuldevi – Of Dadhich Brahmins
- Mela – During Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri
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Lutiyala Mata
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- Kuldevi – Of Kallon
- Temple – Phalodi
- Khejri Beri Rai Bhawani – Called so because of a Khejri tree in front of her temple
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Brahmani Mata
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- Temple – Saursen (Anta-Baran)
- Kuldevi – Of Kumhars
- Mela – Magh Shukla Saptami, donkey fair (gadhon ka mela)
- The only goddess whose back is worshipped
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Ghewar Mata
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- Temple – On the pal (embankment) of Rajsamand lake
- The first stone of the pal was laid by Ghewar Bai herself
- The only folk goddess who became Sati without a husband
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Aamja Mata
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- Temple – Richda village (Garhbor, Rajsamand)
- Kuldevi – Of Bhils
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Ashapura Mata
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- Kuldevi – Of Bissa Brahmins
- Temples – Nadol (Desuri, Pali), Mondra (Jaswantpura, Jalore)
- Practice – Women remove their veil (ghunghat nikalna) while worshipping
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Kushal Mata
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- Place – Badnor (Beawar)
- Maharana Kumbha built it in 1437 AD to commemorate his victory over Mahmud Khilji I of Malwa
- It is an avatar of Chamunda Devi.
- Nearby is the temple of Bairath Mata
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Chauth Mata
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- Temple – Chauth ka Barwara village (Sawai Madhopur)
- Aradhya Devi of Kanjar caste
- On Karva Chauth (Kartik Krishna Chaturthi), women observe fast for their husband’s long life in the name of Chauth Mata
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Other Important Folk Goddesses
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Viratra Mata –
- Chohatan (Barmer)
- Kuldevi of Bhopas
Vankal Mata –
- Chohatan (Barmer)
- Kuldevi of Rebari caste
Mansapurna Karni Mata –
- Udaipur
- Rajasthan’s second ropeway
Idana Mata –
- Bambora (Salumber)
- The only goddess in Rajasthan who performs agni snan (fire bath)
Arbuda Mata –
- Mount Abu (Sirohi)
- Called Rajasthan’s Vaishno Devi
- The only goddess whose lips are worshipped (Adhar Devi)
Bhramar Mata / Bhanwar Mata –
- Chhoti Sadri, Pratapgarh
- This is a Gupta period temple
Hichki Mata –
Sarika Mata
- Nickname – Ushtravahini Devi
- The only goddess in Rajasthan who rides a camel
- Goddess who cures diabetes (madhumeh rog nivarak devi)
- Temples – In Jodhpur and Bikaner
Rajeshwari Mata
- Main temple in Bharatpur
- Kuldevi – Of Jat royal dynasty of Bharatpur
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