Pureganics at 11:13, 20 March 2026

2026-03-20T11:13:17Z

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{{Short description|Hindu goddess}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| caption = [[Murti]] of the deity
| image = Ashapura Maa.jpg
| venerated_in = [[Shaktism]]
| region = [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]]
}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

'''Ashapura Mata''' is an aspect of [[Devi]], a Hindu goddess. She is one of the [[Kuladevi|kuldevis]] of [[Kutch District|Kutch]] and [[Rajasthan]], and the Jadeja clan of Gujarat, Chauhans and Patiyats inhabiting the western Indian provinces. She is a goddess regarded to fulfill the wishes of her adherents.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Neve |first1=Geert de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E196AgAAQBAJ&dq=ashapura+mata&pg=PA221 |title=The Meaning of the Local: Politics of Place in Urban India |last2=Donner |first2=Henrike |date=2007-01-24 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-135-39216-1 |pages=221 |language=en}}</ref>

Her temples are mainly found in [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]]. She is considered to be an expansion of goddess [[Shakambhari|Shakambhari Devi]].

Rajput Kuldevi<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Rajput Kuldevi |url=https://www.rajputkuldevi.com/ |access-date=2025-03-12}}</ref>

==Veneration==
She is [[kuldevi]] of numerous communities in [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]].

=== Rajasthan ===
Ashapura Mata is kuldevi of the [[Chauhan Dynasty]], also known as Songara Chauhan of [[Sambhar Lake Town|Shakambhari]] (Sambhar Lake City, Rajasthan), from where Great Chauhan ruler [[Prithviraj Chauhan]] belongs. the first temple of Shakambhari Mata The origin of which can be traced back to almost 1300 years or more at Sambhar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shakumbhari Devi Temple {{!}} Significance of Shakumbhari Devi Temple – AstroVedpedia |url=https://www.astroved.com/astropedia/en/temples/north-india/shakumbhari-devi-temple |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=Astroved Astropedia |language=en}}</ref>

The second temple was built by Rao Lakshman Chauhan in the 10th century, 945–970 AD, at [[Nadol]]. He was from the same Chauhan dynasty of Sakambhari. As he became ruler of Nadol with the blessings obtained from Sakambhari Devi by fulfilling his wish, Sakambhari devi became famous as "'''Ashapura mata".'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Sanjay |date=2017-11-04 |title=The Goddess who fulfills hopes - Ashapura Mata Temple Nadol |url=https://www.missionkuldevi.in/en/2017/11/ashapura-mata-temple-nadol/ |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=Mission Kuldevi - Indian Castes and their Gods |language=en-US}}</ref>

The branch of the Songara Chauhans of Jalor came from Nadol to Jalor. They established the Ashapura Mata Temple at [[Modran, Rajasthan|Modran]] village near Jalore, most probably in the 12th century where Patiyats of Dhansa now worship Ashapura Mata as their Kuldevi. According to the popular legend, Maharaja of [[Junagadh]] Khangar Chudasama's wife, Sheetal Solankini, accepted her as Kuldevi after fulfilling her hope of having a son. The king named his son [[Navaghana (king)|Navagan]] Ronedhan, who became the great king of Junagadh.

Ashapura Mata is also kuldevi of Hada Chauhan dynasty of Hadoti region.

===Kutch===
The temple was built in the 14th century by two Karad [[Bania (caste)|Vanias]], Ajo and Anagor at [[Mata no Madh]]. She is the kuldevi of [[Jadeja|Kutchi Jadeja Rajput]]s, [[Bhanushali]], Gosar, Savla & Poladia community. The Patels of charotar in piplav also worship Ashapuri Mata as Kuldevi.

===Central Gujarat===
[[Chauhan dynasty|Chauhan]], Baria Rajputs like ''Purabia Chauhans'' also worship her as a kuldevi. The ''Deora chauhan'' Rajputs also worship her as their kuldevi. The [[Brahmin]] communities like Billore, Gaur Lata Thanki, Pandit and Dave Pushkarna, [[Sompura Salat]] also worship her as a kuldevi. The [[Vaishya]] community [[Vijayvargiya]] worships her. The [[Brahma Kshatri]] caste worships her as their kuldevi.

===South Gujarat===
The [[Lohana]]s worship her as their kuldevi.

===Saurashtra===
[[Sindhi people|Sindhi]]s like the Khichda group, worship Ashapura Mata as their kuldevi. In Gujarat Junaghad, Devchandani Parivar worship her as kuldevi, where her temple is located beside [[Uparkot]].

==Temples==
[[File:Nadol Ashapura temple.jpg|thumb|Nadol Ashapura temple]]
in Gujarat the temple 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.<ref name="k">{{Cite book |last=Dilipsinh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oPUFiGRH07IC&q=ashapura&pg=PA73 |title=Kutch in Festival and Custom |date=2004 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=978-81-241-0998-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=k2/> The original temple located 80 km from [[Bhuj]], and apparently thousands of years old was renovated around 1300 AD by [[Karad]] [[Bania (caste)|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.<ref name=k2/> Every year at [[Navratri]] annual fair at Mata no Madh, [[lakh]]s of devotees turn up to pay their respects to the goddess form all over Gujarat and even [[Mumbai]].<ref>[http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/people-turn-up-in-lakhs-at-mata-no-madh-in-kutch/228782/ People turn up in lakhs at Mata no Madh in Kutch] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516014816/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/people-turn-up-in-lakhs-at-mata-no-madh-in-kutch/228782/ |date=16 May 2008 }}</ref> 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 [[Rajkot]], [[Jasdan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maaashapura.com/ |title=Home |website=maaashapura.com |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204065251/http://www.maaashapura.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Morbi]], [[Gondal, India|Gondal]], [[Jamnagar]],<ref name=c>[http://www.jamnagar.org/gopgumli.htm Jamnagar]</ref> [[Ghumli]],<ref name=c/> where the Jadejas, who migrated from Kutch, built her temples and installed her as clan deity.<ref name=k2>[http://www.desigujju.com/gujarattourism/en/place/25/Mata_No_Madh_Ma_Ashapura From Bhuj, the capital of erstwhile state of Kutch, about 80 km to the north is the temple of Ma Ashapura at Mata no Madh. It has become a live symbol of faith of people of Kutch in the last 600 years.]</ref><ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/84371697@N00/5220634834/ Bhuj]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kutchforever.com/Religious.aspx |title=The Goddess 'Ashapura' is not only the family holy being of the rulers of Kutch, but also the family deity of all the branches of Jadeja in Saurashtra. The temple of Ashapura is open for all irrespective of caste, belief or religion. |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705203852/http://www.kutchforever.com/Religious.aspx |archive-date=5 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In [[Ghumli]], in the Barda hills, [[Gujarat]], 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 the 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 [[Pokhran]], [[Modran, Rajasthan|Modran]], Morseem and [[Nadol]]. In [[Mumbai]] also there is a famous temple of Ashapura Mata.
[[File:Ashapura Mata Bangalore.jpg|thumb|282x282px|Murti of the Devi in Bannerghatta, Bangalore.]]
In [[Bangalore]], there is a temple dedicated to her named "Sh. Ashapura Mataji Mandir" that is located near [[Bannerghatta National Park]].

In [[Pune]], there is temple near Gangadham on Katraj Kondhwa Road. In Thane also a famous Ashapura Temple located near Kapurvadi.

==See also==
[[File:Ashapura Maa Nadol.jpg|thumb|Ashapura Maa Nadol]][[File:Entrance gate of nadol Ashapura temple.jpg|thumb|Entrance gate of Nadol Ashapura temple, under construction in 2023]]
* [[Mata no Madh]]
* [https://www.rajputkuldevi.com/ Rajput Kuldevi]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Mother goddesses]]
[[Category:Charan]]
[[Category:Tutelary goddesses]]
[[Category:Culture of Kutch]]
[[Category:Hindu folk deities]]
[[Category:Folk deities of Rajasthan]]

Ashapura Mata - Revision history

Pureganics at 11:13, 20 March 2026