Karmandir 
जय कैला मैया
About
Kaila Devi is a much-loved form of the Mother, worshipped at Kailadevi village in Karauli district, Rajasthan. Her white marble temple stands on the Trikut hill on the bank of the Kalisil river. The temple tradition reveres her as Mahayogini Mahamaya, the same divine girl who was born to Nanda and Yashoda at the time of Krishna's birth. Chamunda Mata sits beside her. She is the kuldevi of the Yaduvanshi royal family of Karauli and the beloved Mother of many families in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Her Chaitra mela is one of the biggest fairs of Rajasthan.
The story
When Kansa kept Devaki and Vasudev in prison, Lord Vishnu told Vasudev to leave the newborn Krishna with Yashoda in Gokul and bring back the baby girl just born to her. When Kansa tried to kill that girl, she slipped from his hands, appeared in her divine form and told him that the child he feared was already safe. The temple tradition says that this same Mahayogini Mahamaya is worshipped today as Kaila Devi. It also cites the Skanda Purana, where the Goddess says that in Kali Yuga her name will be Kaila and her devotees will worship her as Kaileshwari.
A local story tells how her murti came to Karauli. It is said that a yogi was bringing the murti from Nagarkot on a bullock cart to keep it safe. Before this, the Mother had appeared to a saint named Kedargiri and promised that she would come among the people of this region. In the middle of the forested hill, the bullock stopped and would not move on. Taking this as the Mother's wish, the murti was installed at that very spot.
Later the rulers of Karauli served the temple. In 1723 Maharaja Gopal Singh laid the foundation of the present temple and also installed the murti of Chamunda Ji, brought from Gagron. Facing the Mother is the shrine of her dear attendant Languriya, and the languriya bhajans sung for him fill her mela with music.
How they are shown
Two murtis sit side by side in the sanctum: the larger is Kaila Maiya, whose head is slightly tilted, and beside her is Chamunda Mata, a form of Mahakali. Both are dressed in rich poshak and chunri, so mostly their faces are seen. Kaila Maiya is revered as Mahamaya and Mahalakshmi, the gentle Mother who cares and protects; Chamunda beside her is the Mother's fierce power that drives evil away.
How to worship
Shukla Ashtami of every month
Red chunri, saree, coconut, sindoor, red and green bangles, dry fruits and flowers. By temple custom, sweets are not taken into the sanctum; laddus and other bhog are offered through the temple trust.
At home, place a picture of Kaila Maiya, light a diya and offer a red chunri, sindoor, a coconut or flowers. Chant 'Jai Kaila Rani' or read the verse 'Namaste'stu Mahamaye', then sing the aarti 'Om Jai Kaila Rani'. Many families of Braj and Rajasthan sing languriya bhajans together on Ashtami and in Navratri. End with a prayer for the well-being of the whole family and share the prasad.
Their festivals
- Chaitra Lakkhi Mela From Chaitra Krishna Dwadashi for about a fortnight, through the Chaitra Navratri
- Sharad Navratri Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami
- Monthly Shukla Ashtami (Durgashtami) Shukla Ashtami of every month
Aarti, chalisa and katha
Temples and tirth
Sources
- kailadevitemple.com/history
- kailadevitemple.com/the-temple
- kailadevitemple.com/fairs-and-festivals
- kailadevitemple.com/bhaint-prasad-and-offerings
- kailadevitemple.com/heritage-art
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaila_Devi_Temple
- bhaktibharat.com/mandir/kaila-devi-mandir
- bharatdiscovery.org/india/कैलादेवी_मन्दिर
- rajras.in/hi/?p=158110
- india-tours.com/fairs-and-festivals/kaila-devi-fair.html