Dadhimati Mataji Temple Manglod, Rajasthan
An ancient Shakti Peeth is situated in Jayal tehsil, about 44 km north-east of Nagaur district headquarters, between the villages named Goth and Manglod, which is famous by the name of Dadhimati Mata temple. ‘Dahima’ (Dadhich) Brahmins consider Dadhimati Mata as their family deity and consider this temple as the temple built by their ancestors.
According to a record obtained from here, the construction of this temple is believed to be around Vikram Samvat 665 (608 AD), according to which donations for the construction of this temple were made by Dadhich Brahmins, whose head was ‘Avighna Nag’. Some scholars, based on the letters of the inscription script and the area of rule of Gupta kings in Rajasthan, believe that this temple was built in the last days of the Gupta reign in the fourth century. Some scholars, disagreeing with the above period, date it to the 9th century.
Dadhimati was the sister of sage Dadhichi. Dadhimati Mata is considered to be the incarnation of Mahalakshmi. Dadhimati is believed to be born through the sky on Magh Shukla Saptami (Rath Saptami). Dadhimati Mata Temple, dedicated to Goddess Mahamatya, is considered to be the oldest temple in North India, which is older than the Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur (Maharashtra).
Story of Dadhimati Mata-
“Yogamaya Mahalakshmi” appeared in the form of Bhagwati Narayani Dadhimati Mata in the house of Maharishi Atharva to provide fearlessness to the living beings of the world and to kill the demon Vikatasura. Due to fear of the goddess, Vikatasura hid in Dadhisagar, then Bhagwati churned Dadhisagar and killed Vikatasura in the evening on Magh Shukla Ashtami. For this reason the same date is known as Jayashtami.Because of killing Vikatasura by churning Dadhisagar, Lord Brahma named him Dadhimathi and blessed Maharishi Atharva to have a son. Brahmaji blessed Bhagwati Dadhimathi to be the family deity of his brother Dadhichi, protecting his lineage. Maharishi Dadhichi, son of Atharva and brother of Dadhimati, offered his bones to the gods to kill the demon king Vritrasura for the welfare of the world and to protect religion. Then Dadhichi’s pregnant wife Swarcha got ready to commit Sati. Then the gods reminded that the radiance of the sage in your womb is the incarnation of Rudra. First you give birth to him. On this, the sage’s wife took out her womb and handed it over to the Ashvattha tree established by the sage in the ashram and prayed to Goddess Dadhimathi that she is our family deity, please protect this child. Maharishi Dadhichi’s son was named Piplad because he grew up under the Peepal tree in the company of Kuldevi Dadhimathi. When Lord Vishnu disintegrated Sati’s body with Sudarshan Chakra, the 52 places where Sati’s body parts fell were called the 52 sacred Shaktipeeths. Bhagwati Sati Kakapal fell between two villages named Goth Manglod, 96 km north of Pushkar area, which became famous by the name “Kapal Siddha Peeth”. ‘Kapal Peeth Tirtha’ Goth Manglod is in Jayal tehsil, 44 km east of Nagaur.
