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Shri Rani Sati Dadi Temple

Jhunjhunu, Jhunjhunu district (Shekhawati), Rajasthan

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Shri Rani Sati Dadi Temple
Photo: Ankit Sihag, CC BY-SA 4.0

About

This grand white marble temple in Jhunjhunu town is the main shrine of Dadi ji, Narayani Devi, whom her devotees revere as a form of Shakti. There is no idol in the sanctum; a decorated trishul is worshipped as the symbol of Shakti, along with a painting of Dadi ji. The complex also has temples of Hanuman ji, Sita ji, Thakur ji, Ganesh ji and Shiv ji, and a large Shiv murti stands in a garden. The walls inside are covered with paintings and glass work. Dadi ji is the kuldevi of many Marwari and Agrawal families, who come here from all over India.

The story

Devotees believe that in an earlier birth Narayani Devi was Uttara, wife of the brave Abhimanyu of the Mahabharata, and that by Shri Krishna's grace the two were born again in Kaliyug as Narayani and Tandhan Das.

Narayani was born in Dokwa village, in the home of Gursamal ji. She was married to Tandhan Das ji, son of Jaliram ji of the Jalan family of Hisar. Views on when she lived differ widely, from the 13th to the 17th century. Tandhan Das ji owned a fine horse that the son of the ruler of Hisar wanted. When he refused to give it up, a fight followed and Tandhan Das ji fell in it. The legend says Narayani then showed great courage, took up arms and defeated the attackers. She blessed Rana ji, the loyal attendant who looked after the horse, saying that his name would be taken along with hers; devotees say this is how the name 'Rani Sati Dadi' came about.

In time Jhunjhunu became the centre of her worship, and worship at this spot is said to go back more than 400 years. Today devotees worship her as Narayani, a form of Maa Durga, and lovingly call her 'Dadi ji'.

Visiting

October to March is the best season; Shekhawati summers are very harsh. The temple is in Jhunjhunu town itself, and pilgrims often combine it with Khatu Shyam Ji, Salasar Balaji and Jeen Mata. The Shekhawati region is also known for its old havelis covered with paintings.

Devta dhams

Sources