Sri Chamunda Mata Temple
Sri Chamunda Mata Temple-Jodhpur
The famous Chamunda Mata Temple believed to be more than 600 years old is located at the top of the Mehrangarh Fort which is located on the south of the city of Jodhpur-Rajasthan.Chamunda Devi is one of the fearsome aspect of the ‘Devi’ or you can say one of the ‘Roops’ of Devi Maa.Chamunda Mata is also considered one of the many forms of Mata Shakti or more popularly Durga.
The temple was built by Rao Jodha (1416-1489) one of the most famous rulers of Mandore who reigned over the region from 1427-1489 AD.In addition to Chamunda Devi, the temple also houses a statuette of Kalika Devi.
The idol of Devi Chamunda Mataji was brought to the fort in the year 1460 by Rao Jodha as the goddess was his favourite. The idol was earlier based at Mandore. Soon after the idol was installed in the famous temple in Mehrangarh Fort, that was dedicated to Devi Chamunda Mataji. Even in the current times the royal families of Rajas and the Maharajas considers Devi Chamunda Mataji as the ‘Isht Devi” or the adopted goddess of their families. Devi Chamunda Mataji is a deity who is popularly worshiped even by the common people of Jodhpur.
History
Located in Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur, the temple was built by Rao Jodha at the time when he was building the fort here. The hill where he chose to build this fort was occupied by the hermit but he was removed from there, as a result, he cursed the king that his fort will have a shortage of water always.
To balance this curse by the saint he built the Chamunda Mata Temple inside the fort to protect the fort and its people. From that day Goddess Chamunda was the main deity of the Rajputs here.
The royal family, every year, on the 8th day of Navratri, performs a special pooja for the betterment of the kingdom. Thousands of people with their families visit the temple during this time. Devotees start to gather in front of the temple from midnight only. It is believed that Chamunda Mata fulfilled every deed of her devotees during this period.