A pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Shri Jeen Mata Ji is
considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimages of our times. Mata is popular
amongst its devotees as Moonh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata, which
means, the Mother who fulfills whatever Her children wish for. The temple has
been constructed in the style of architecture adopted by Pratihar and Chauhan
of Rajputs. There are twenty four pillars with panels of figures finely carved
on them.
This is a unique temple from every point of view. This
place attracts more than 2 million visitors every year. Devotees who throng the
mandir from all parts of India and abroad have an unflinching faith of the
Mata-ensouled in each newer generation of their families. Stories of Mata’s
miracles run like folklore in these families. There are scores of living examples
of Mata’s largesse-even professionally qualified individuals who have been
witness and recipients of her blessings. It is widely believed that Mata comes
alive on a staunch devout’s call. At this point, Her soul embodies itself in
the body of the devotee and Mata addresses the concern of the devout. But, such
instances are rarest of rare now and increasingly limited to families with
highest spiritual values.
Since the year 1979, when the Shri JeenMata trust was
formed, the management of the trust has undertaken a number of developmental
activities aimed at making the pooja a comfortable and satisfying experience
for the Yatris. So far, over Rs. 1 Crore have been invested by the trust for
providing various infrastructural and other facilities. The trust continues to
reinvest the offerings and donations received in carrying out improvements in
various kinds of Yatri facilities.
The call of Mata
The journey to the Holy place starts with the Call of
Mata. It is not only a belief but also a strong experience of one and all that
the Divine Mother sends a call to her children. And once a person receives it,
wherever he is, is bound to visit the Mother to receive Her unbounded love and
blessings. A popular slogan in the local folklore beautifully expresses it- Maa
ka Bulawa aaya Hai - which means that The Mother Herself Calls! It is also a
matter of experience by almost all those who visit the Holy Shrine that upon
the Call of Mata, a person needs to just take one step and leave the rest to
Her and his journey gets completed with Her divine blessings. Simultaneously,
it is also believed that unless there is a call or Bulawa no one can visit the
mandir or have Her blessings, howsoever high or mighty one may be.
History
There is a popular belief which has come down to people
through the centuries that in a village Ghoghu of Churu, King Ghangh loved and
married an Apsara (nymph) on the condition that he would not visit her palace
without prior information to her (Apsara). King Ghangh got a son called Harsha
and a daughter Jeen. Afterwards, Apsara again conceived but as chance would
have it, king Ghangh went to her palace without prior intimation and thus
violated solemn vow he had made to the Apsara. Instantly, she left the king and
fled away with her son Harsha and daughter Jeen whom she abandoned at the place
where presently the temple stands. The brother Harsha loved and fulfilled all
desires of his sister. Harsha got married on the desire of her sister. Wife of
Harsh could not tolerate the love and affection of her husband with his sister.
She succeeded in her evil designs to create misunderstanding between the two.
As a result, Jeen left the place of her brother to a life of severe austerity
and penance in the forests. The brother realized his mistake and reached for
Jeen. But he could not convince her to change her mind. Harsh, the brother,
also decided to practice the same austerity and penance and undertook the
devotion to the Almighty on a different mountain. The two children practiced
extreme asceticism atop separate hills in thick forests. With time Jeen gained
status of `Durga’ as her Avatar and Harsh achieved the incarnation of
`Bhairon’- helper of `Shiva’. In time, a Chauhan ruler built a temple at that
place. The main temple has a very high Shikhar (Pinnacle) in the midst.
Goddess Jeen Mata is Devi herself, the very embodiment
of divine cosmic power. The deity is Mahishasura Mardini Durga having eight
arms. The miraculous deity fulfills the wishes of all her devotees. Whosoever
acts unholily in the temple precincts is punished with a divine retribution.
Mahishasura was demon in the form of a buffalo. He waged a fierce battle with
Shri Durga. He with his forces affronted the goddess with all his demonic
powers. The battle with Durga has been beautifully described in the third
chapter of Shri Durga Saptashati. Finally, Durga pressed Mahisha with her foot
and struck his neck with her lance. The lion too suppressed Mahisha (then in
the buffalo form). This lion riding eight-armed form of Durga is Mahishasura Mardini.
Here, Jeen Mata is worshipped in her eight-armed form.
Later, the saint of Puri Sampradaya had visited this
place and established a Dhuni (Hawan Kund/Hole Hearth). Great Saint Kapil Muni
had come to this place and with his asceticism, he generated continous water
from the mountains that created a Kund (Water Pond). The Mata is bathed with
this holy jal (water of pond) by the head priest of mandir everyday. The holy
jal rids the bhakts (devouts of the Mata) of their stubbornest of ills.
Mugal Emperor Aurangzeb wanted to raze to the ground the
Mandir of Mata. Being invoked by Her priests, the Mata let out its army of
bhairons (a specie of fly family) which brought the Emperor and his soldiers to
their knees. He sought pardon and the Kind hearted Mataji excused him from Her
anger. Aurangzeb donated akhand (Ever-glow) oil lamp from his Delhi palace.
This lamp is still glowing in the sacred sanctorium of the Mata.
