Sachiya Mata Temple

Hindu temple in Rajasthan, India
26°54′14″N 72°48′59″E / 26.9038°N 72.8165°E / 26.9038; 72.8165ArchitectureCreatorGurjara Pratihara period

The Sachchiya Mata Temple is a Hindu temple located in Osian, near Jodhpur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

The mother Hindu goddess Sachiya (also spelled as Sachayay Mata and Sachchiyay Mata, Hindi: सच्चियाय माता/सच्चिया माता) is worshipped by many castes and communities living in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and North India.This temple was built during the Gurjara pratihara period .[1]

Maa Jagat Bhawani Shri Sachchiyay Mataji was historically called Shri Osiya Mataji.

An archaeological team found many samples, statues, and paintings there. Depictions included the ancient deity of Harihar (half Shiva and half Vishnu), Vasudeva with baby Krishna on his head, Krishna fighting with a horse, the killing of Putna, Kalidaman, Govardhan dharan, and butter stealing along with images of Balram which seem to represent him as the incarnation of Seshnaga.[not verified in body]

According to Jain legends, Acharya Ratnaprabhasuri in (c. 457 BCE) restored the life of son of a prominent brahman following this even the villagers converted to Jainism and this place for origination of Oswal community.[2][3] Witnessing the power of Ratnaprabhasuri Goddess Chamunda was compelled to become a Jain vegetarian deity[2][4] and became the protector deity of the temple, protecting devotees who worship image of Mahavira in the temple.[5] Ratnaprabhasuri then named her Sachiya Mata as she truthfully advised Ratnaprabhasuri to stay in Osian during Chaturmas.[6] The Sachiya Mata Temple also equally old and important situated on a hill north-east of Mahavira Jain temple, Osian , enable us some clues to understand the social history of that period. This has many decorative features of a Jain temple. However, it is dedicated to Sachiya Mata, though Jains also worship here, which also is a matter of interest to understand the emergence of Jain community in this city.

Osiya was once a large town. Telivada was situated 3 miles (4.8 km) away in Tinvari village. Pandit ji ki Dhani (now the small village of Pandit pur) is 6 miles (9.7 km) away. A further 6 miles (9.7 km) away is Kshatripura. At 24 miles (39 km) is Lohavat, home of iron smiths. 108 temples were found in Osiya.

Osiya is situated about 37 miles (60 km) from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It is connected by roads and trains with Jodhpur and Pokharan.

Legend

Sachchiya Mata at Osian temple, Rajasthan
Sachchiya Mata temple, 1897

Goddess Sachi was a daughter of the king Pauloma. The benevolent King Pauloma ruled a great kingdom, sponsoring many Brahmins (for example, Shukracharya). Vrut (Vritra) was the chief of Pauloma's army, and he wanted to marry Sachi. However, Sachi considered this proposal insulting, as she did not want to marry a servant of her father. Knowing the thoughts of Sachi, Vrut left the service of Pauloma and worshipped Lord Shiva, a common god of the Asuras. Shiva gave Vrut his blessings, and the boon that he could not be killed by any known weapons. Vrut, with his magic, assembled a great army, and with this virtue of immortality, he set out to win the Aryan lands and carve out a kingdom greater than Pauloma's.

It was the duty of Indra, the king of the gods, to defend the kingdom from Vrut. Knowing that Vrut had the blessing of immortality, Indra approached Sage Dadhichi, for Dadhichi had bones tougher than any known weapon. Dadhichi gave his bones to Indra, by performing a self-sacrifice, and Indra prepared a weapon, known as Vajra, from these bones. (The highest award of bravery in India, the Param Vir Chakra, bears the symbol of Vajra.) Since bones had never before been used for a weapon, this defied the condition of immortality for Vrut. Sachchiya Mata also known as Chamunda devi which is described in Durga Saptshati.

The armies met on the battlefield, but Indra proposed that instead of allowing the full forces to fight, resulting in huge carnage, he and Vrut alone should fight; the victor would take over the other's army and would marry Sachi. Indra emerged from this challenge victorious.

Panels of Dieties

Ganesha panel, sachiya Mata temple, 8th-10th cent. , Pratihara dynasty
Varaha sachiya Mata temple, 8th-10th cent. , Pratihara dynasty
Headless Narasimha,sachiya Mata temple, 8th-10th cent. , Pratihara dynasty

See also

References

  1. ^ Chaitanya, Krishna (1987). Arts of India.
  2. ^ a b Dundas 2002, p. 149. sfn error: no target: CITEREFDundas2002 (help)
  3. ^ Hassan 1989, p. 260. sfn error: no target: CITEREFHassan1989 (help)
  4. ^ Babb 2015, p. 123. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBabb2015 (help)
  5. ^ Babb 2004, p. 169. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBabb2004 (help)
  6. ^ Qvarnström 2010, p. 42. sfn error: no target: CITEREFQvarnström2010 (help)

External links

  • Pictures of Sachiya Mata Temple, Osian
  • Sachiya Mata Temple, Jodhpur
  • Shri Sachchiyay Mataji Temple, Sardarshahar
  • Information on Shri Sachchiyay Mataji (Shri Osiya Mataji) Temple
  • shriosiyamataji.org
  • http://www.missionkuldevi.in/2015/07/sachchiyay-mata-temple-osiyan-rajasthan-html/
  • http://www.missionkuldevi.in/2016/12/sachiya-mata-katha-mahatmya-shlok-itihas-hindi/

26°43′34″N 72°54′43″E / 26.72601°N 72.91181°E / 26.72601; 72.91181