Maa Ashapura is the place of trust for the people of Kutch. Ashapura’s name suggests to fulfil the wishes of the people. The devotees of Mata Ashapura worship her with great dedication and completely surrender themselves to her. ‘Madh’ means the temple in which god/Goddess statue/idol/ symbol established.
History of Shree Ashapura Mata Na Madh Temple
The temple was rebuilt after the earthquakes of 1819 and 2001. Maa Ashapura is the home goddess of the former Jadeja rulers of the Kutch. In present time the ‘Patri Vidhi’ (religious process) is performed by the heir of the Jadeja family. As per the legend of Devchand Vaniya (Baniya), Maa Ashapura instructed him in his dream that she would establish herself and not to open the door until she instruct but because of the hurry to see the divine look of Mata Ashapura, he opened the door and didn’t follow the instructions of Mata, so, he saw the half established stone statue of Maa Ashapura. He apologized but now Maa Ashapura had established herself.
Divine idol of Maa Ashapura
In most of the temples, the devotees establish the statue of God and Goddess either of metal/stone/wooden in full body. But the miracle is that Maa Ashapura had established herself rising above the ground. The rare thing is that Maa Ashapura’s stone idol is in the half form of her body. The upper part of the body of Mata Ashapura is here. Mata Ashapura have seven pairs of eyes. Legends and folklore were told about this divine event. We can see the shape of the upper body of Maa Ashapura. This divine look of Maa Ashapura makes the devotees overwhelmed.
Navratri celebration in ‘Mata na madh’
The devotees are overcrowded here in Navratri. As per Hindu months four Navratri come in a year Magh Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Ashadh Navratri and Aswin Navratri. Among them Aswin Navratri is celebrated with great spiritual worship of Goddesses. Here in Mata no Madh the Aswin Navratri is celebrated with complete devotion of Maa Ashapura. From the ‘Ghatsthapan'(garbo-earthen pot with holes – the symbol of divine energy) to Ashtami Havan, the divine atmosphere is created here. The whole religious activities and process are carried out by Rajabava. On the Ashtami of Navratri the Havan activity is performed. The devotees come from many far places. Many pedestrians come to see Maa Ashapura. Special buses are run by GSRTC Bhuj for the devotees to come easily to Mata na madh in Navratri fair. In Navratri many pedestrians come here from out of Kutch also. Many NGOs arrange roadside camps for the pedestrians. Thousands of people come in navratri to bow down Ma Ashapura.
Facilities for the devotees
People come here throughout the year to do darshan of Mata Ashapura. The Mata no Madh trust arranges many facilities for the devotees. There is prasad (eating) for the people, rooms for staying, public bathe and also other arrangements for devotees so that people can feel comfort.
Here are other facilities like hotels and different castes ‘samajvadi and Ashrams for the people. Many saints, sages and sadhu came here, stay here and worship Maa Ashapura to get spiritual peace and knowledge.
Renovation as a religious place as well as the Kutch tourist place
The Gujarat government has developed and renovated heritage places of Kutch as a religious or tourist place. The state government announced the renovation and beautification of Mata no Madh in 2023, then Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas board started the renovation of the temple. From the start of Rannotsav many foreigners come here in Kutch. The white Rann of Kutch is about 80 km from Mata no Madh. In November the Rannotsav starts and many foreign tourists also come to see Mata Ashapura Temple. From 2024 the new look of the temple is appeared. The temple can be seen from the highway road itself. A new garden in front of the temple, selfie point and photo click area, a watch tower, and a fountain, parking arrangement and many other additional facilities have started for the public.
Mata no Madh – the cultural heritage place of Kutch, Gujarat, India
Hindu devotees believe in spiritual joy in meditation and worship. They built places for the worship of their God and Goddesses. The construction of the temple in such a way that devotees get internal peace. The centuries old temple tells the story of our ancestral architecture. After the two big earthquakes of Kutch how the temple survives is not a miracle? Very strong structure and beautiful architecture attract the people from Kutch Gujarat and foreign tourists also.
Goddess of Kutch Mata Ashapura
Mata no Madh is not just a temple but it is the centre of the trust, faith and tradition of the devotees. Lost in social responsibilities, miseries of life, physical or mental stress, the people seek the help from spiritual deities. Mata Ashapura is the home goddess of Kutch, known as ‘Kutch Dhaniyani’, (owner of Kutch), ‘ Desh Devi’, (goddess of Kutch). Kutchi people wherever they settle, once in a year either in Navratri or Diwali they come here to take blessings of Maa Ashapura. Mata Ashapura rules on the heart of the Kutchi people. Mata Ashapura temples are also built at many other places of Kutch and Gujarat and out of Gujarat but the main establishment of Maa Ashapura is in Kutch.
Full moon dawn worship at Shree Ashapura Mata Na Madh Temple
Devotees of Maa Ashapura come here more on early morning of full moon to present in worship. The dawn aarti (worship) is done at about 5.00 am. Many devotees come regularly on poonam (full moon) dawn aarti. This is the long time period tradition of many devotees to fill poonam (full moon) dawn arti (worship). During navratri, especially in Chaitra and Aswin navratri many devotees present nine days in dawn aarti (worship). The divine atmosphere created here in the early morning aarti (worship).
Local items’ shops
There are many shops of local items in Mata no Madh. People buy prasad, chundadi, saree, dhoop- googad, and other materials for pooja. Kutchi embroidery items, handicraft items, toys, shawls, religious books and eatery items’ shops and many other items available here to attract tourists.
Maa Ashapura Darshan live
The devotees of Maa Ashapura can daily do the darshan on social media. There are many WhatsApp channels, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook and other social media provide live darsan of Maa Ashapura, Mata no Madh Morning and evening aarti also come live on social media channels.
Time changes, technology changes, centuries change, generation changes but the trust of people on Maa Ashapura has not changed. Our new generation daily puts the status of Mata Ashapura in their mobile suggests that that is their way to remember Mata Ashapura.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Dhwajarohan moments
While writing about Maa Ashapura, the heart feels overjoyed because today is the historic sacred Ayodhya Ram Mandir Dhwajarohan moments that comes after years and years of struggle of the Sanatan Hindu saints, sadhus, sages and innumerable devotees (Ram Bhakt)) of Lord Shree Ram. The holy moment is Dhwajarohan of Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The place is the auspicious place as it is the birth place of Shree Ram. In the presence of the chief of RSS Mohan Bhagwatji, U.P. chief minister Yogi Adityanath our Prime Minister Shree Narendra modi has hoisted the saffron (orange) flag – Dharma Dhwaj on 25th November at 11.50 in morning. The Dharma Dhwaj has the symbols of Kovidar Tree, The Sun and the Om. The Kovidar Tree is the sacred Tree described in the holy scriptures and stands for royal power, righteousness, and the ancient heritage of Ayodhya. The Sun symbolises the Royal Dynasty of lord Shree Ram. The symbol of ‘Om´ stands for the external sound in Hinduism. We are a very lucky generation that we can witness to this auspicious moments.
Location of Mata Ashapura temple
Mata no madh is located about 100 km from Bhuj and 50 km from Nakhatrana. The Mata no Madh village is located in Lakhpat taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat.
How to reach ‘Mata na madh’?
By air: Mata na Madh Temple is about 100 km from Bhuj Airport. You can rent a car and travel via the Bhuj–Nakhatrana Highway.
By Train: Mata na madh temple 100 km to Bhuj Railway station
By Road – GSRTC buses, and other private vehicles
Most of the devotees come to Mata na Madh by road because of the airport and train facility available only up to Bhuj that is about 100 km away from Mata na Madh. So people have to take GSRTC buses or any private vehicles from Bhuj. From all the talukas of Kutch there are GSRTC buses for Mata no Madh. There are GSRTC buses also from other districts to Mata no Madh. The train route up to Mata no Madh is still to be built.
Jay Ashapura Ma.
