nalchha mata temple mandsaur

Nalchha Mata Temple

Established on the border of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states of India, Mandsaur is said to be a town that is historically and spiritually important. Nalchha Mata Temple was established in a hamlet named Nalchha near Mandsaur Tehsil in Mandsaur District of Madhya Pradesh. It is the only of its kind in the world where Goddess Durga, in the form of Nalchha Mata, is sitting with Kalbhairav. According to the old scriptures found in the vicinity, the historic significance of the Mandsaur dates back to Mahabharatha times.

Nalchha Mata Temple Location

 Nalchha Mata temple is on the west side of the Nalchha village beside a sewer. Situated on a small hill, the temple is approximately 2.8 km away from the famous Pashupatinath Temple. The surrounding view is beautiful, and a garden of lush green grass inside the establishment also serves as a picnic spot with swings for kids. Nalchha Mata temple is one of the 180 temples around that area. In the radius of 10 km itself, one can find 127 Hindu temples. Nalchha village comes under the Nalchha Panchayat that belongs to Ujjain Division. It is 298 km away from Bhopal, the state capital of Madhya Pradesh.

Nalchha Mata Temple History

The history of this temple dates back thousands of years. Nalchha Mata temple was established in the era of King Dashratha, father of Lord Rama. Once Dashratha reached Malwa from Chitrakoot while hunting. During the hunt, Dashratha mistakenly killed Shravan Kumar, who was on the journey to the famous four abodes with his parents. Shravan Kumar was the only caretaker for his blind parents. Shravan Kumar’s parents cursed King Dashratha after this sin that he committed. For the atonement of this sin, Dashratha established the idols of Goddess Bhairavi and Lord Bhairav and worshipped them for a long time. People believe that these statues are in the same conditions as were established thousands of years back by Dashratha. Though the infrastructure has been repaired quite a few times since then, the murti of a lion at the entrance and the oil lamp holders are still the same.

 

Nalchha Mata Murti

Nalchha Mata Murti is one of its kind where deity Goddess Durga, in the form of Goddess Nalchha, is sitting along with Bhairavji. The idols of Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva are seen erected, and their murtis being together is rarely seen. These ancient murtis are said to be miraculous among the devotees.

Interestingly, the face of mata in the Murti or the idol appears like a girl in the morning, like a lady during the day and like an old woman post evening.  

Significance

It is believed that Maa Nalchha changes three times a day. She is in her childhood and puberty during the afternoon in the morning. In the night, she turns into old age.

This temple is said to be miraculous, being thousand years old. The childless couples visit every year during Navratri days to worship them. After one year, they come again with their newly born kids to thank the Goddess and Lord Bhairav for listening to their prayers. Many devotees having epidemics are also said to be cured after worshipping them. People visit from different parts of the country during Navratri, as this temple has the utmost age-old sculptures of Goddes Bhairavi and God Bhairav. The seeds of wheat are sown during Navratri in the feet of Goddess, and if they germinate nicely, then it is believed that the coming year will be filled with prosperity, and the coming monsoon will be good. Leather items like the belt and purse are strictly forbidden inside the temple premises to maintain the piousness of the temple. Moreover, the Archaeological Conservation Department of India declared the temple under-protected monuments. The temple has been added to the plan of religious tourism by the Tourism Development Corporation of Madhya Pradesh. 

Conclusion

Nalchha Mata is not only worshipped by the people of Madhya Pradesh but is also popular among distinct places of the country. The holy shrine is considered a famous place after the Pashupatinath temple, where  The premises have a good space without any city crowd. It is significant to worship Goddess Durga and Bhairavnathji during Navratri as the devotees believe that their prayers are listened to and fulfilled by them. It’s also a rare sight to see them sitting together. This ancient temple is famous among devotees to receive the blessings of Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva. Navratri is a significant time where the idol of Goddess Nalchha is covered with beautiful dresses and jewelry to celebrate the festival of Navratri.

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Mystery of India is a culture and society website that presents facts about India, that have been erased from history. It updates regularly about matters related to India (like history, festivals, temples, sacred places, Culture, tradition, archaeology), the latest developments in Indian society and religions.
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