Jeen Mata Temple

Jeenmata village (near Rewasa), Sikar district, Rajasthan

Devta dhams

About

The Jeen Mata temple stands in a forested valley of the Aravalli hills, about 30 km south of Sikar, and the village around it is named after the goddess. Jeen Mata is worshipped as a form of Maa Durga, and her murti has eight arms. She is the kuldevi of many families of Shekhawati, and many bring their small children here for the jadula, the first haircut. On the hilltop above stands the temple of Harsh Bhairav Nath, who is revered as her brother. The temple is very old and has been repaired and rebuilt many times, and an akhand jyoti burns here.

The story

Folk tradition says that Jeen Mata's name was Jeevan, and that she was born into a Chauhan royal family at Ghanghu village in today's Churu district. Her elder brother was Harsh. One day a quarrel with her sister-in-law led to a rift between brother and sister, and in sorrow Jeevan left home and went to do tapasya at a place called Kajal Shikhar in the Aravalli hills. Devotees believe that through her tapasya here she came to be worshipped as the goddess, Jeen Mata. On the high hill nearby, her brother Harsh is worshipped as Harsh Bhairav.

A popular story from the Mughal period says that when an army came to damage the temple, huge swarms of bhanwar, or bees, came out and drove the soldiers away. It is said that afterwards oil for the temple's akhand jyoti was sent from the Delhi court. Because of this story, Jeen Mata is lovingly called 'Bhanwaron wali Devi', the goddess of the bees.

Visiting

October to March is the best season. Navratri brings big crowds, so families with elders may find other days easier. The temple is surrounded by forest and hills, about 108 km from Jaipur. Khatu Shyam Ji and Salasar Balaji are in the same region, and pilgrims often visit all three together.

Festivals

Chaitra Navratri mela
Ashwin (Sharad) Navratri mela

Devta dhams

Sources