History of Shree Modheshwari

(Matangi) Maa
Gujarati | English

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History of Shree Modheshwari

(Matangi) Maa
Gujarati English
|

Shree Modheshwari (Matangi)

Maa's Pragatya
The devil by the name of Karnat was erecting havoc in
the area of Dharmaranya. The people of the area were
fode-up because of Karnat terrorism, particularly. The
Brahmin as he used to harass them in their praying. All
the Brahmins got together and went to goddess Shri
Mata for help and protection from the devil. After
listening to problems of Brahmin the goddess got very
very angry. She started throwing out fire from her mouth

due to her anger from the fire a powerful goddess by

name of Matangi (Modheswari) was created by Shree
Mata. Matangi had eighteen arms each having a
weapon like trident, Kamandal, Shell, club, Pash, dagger
etc. Goddess Matangi killed devil Karnat (In another
version Shyamala sister of Matangi killed Karnat) It was
mahadev trij the day Karnat was killed. Brahmins of
Modhera celebrated that day with a feast and accepted
modheswari as their Kuldevi. Every year on the thirteen
day of Maha Month Modh Brahmins celebrate as
Kuldevi's day.

Modhera's History
As said earlier Modhera was known by various names in
different time such as Moherakpur, Dharmaranya, Satya
Mandir, Ved Bhuvan. The local people of Modhera are
known as Modhera. This is the motherland of Modh
Brahmin and Modh Baniyas. It was here only goddess
Matangi emerged. Yudhisthir and Lord Ram also visited
this town. The famous sun temple also built here. It is at
this place Brahmas daughter and wife of Sun Sangnya
and king Manu their prayer under the tree of Bakul. Lord
shiva also resided here by name of Dharmeswar. It is
believed that all th gods used to stay here. Court dancer
of Indra, Lokpals and dikpals also stayed here to do the
social work. All gods established this place as a
pilgrimage. Here there are places known as Shivkup,
Dharmavanpi, Bhutnath Mahadev, Mukteswar Mahadev,
Dhara tirth, Nag tirth, Indreswar Mahadev, Ganga kup
and Suvarna river is coincident very pious.
At this place Yamraj (Dharamraj) started his prayers for
one thousand years. Indraraj got scared for his thrown

Indrasan and asked one of his apsara to disturb Yamraj

in his prayers. She did not succeed. Dharmaraj told
Indra that he does not want his Indrasan. But would like
to see Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was pleased with Yamraj
and blessed him with a boon. Yamraj ask to Join his
name with the place was he began hi his prayers and
also asked Lord Shiva to resided there permanently.
Lord Shiva named the place as Darmaranya at he
himself stayed there as swayambhu by the name of
Dharmeshwar.
Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh created Brahmins
who were master in Vedas. So that they can turn
Dharmaranya in a centre of veda sanshkriti. The lords
asked to Vishwakarma to build houses forts and temples
reside for the Brahmins. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh
created six thousand Brahmins each. They also gave
them gotras and gotrasdevi. Brahmin could consented
on their work, Brahma created kamdhenu caw and on
order of Brahma kamdhenu created 36000 people by
digging earth by her nails. Those were known as
gobhuja or gobhva. They settled in nearest Modhera so
that village known by Gabhu. Brahma gave the
responsibility of protection of Dharmaranya to his
daughter Shreemata.
The devil by the name of Karnat was erecting havoc in
the area of Dharmaranya. The people of the area were
fade-up because of Karnat terrorism, particularly. The
Brahmin as he used to harass them in their praying. All
the Brahmins got together and went to goddess shri
Mata for help and protection from the devil. After
listening to problems of Brahmin the goddess got very

very angry. She started throwing out fire from her mouth
due to her anger from the fire a powerful goddess by
name of Matangi (Modheswari) was created by Shree
Mata. Matangi had eighteen arms each having a
weapon like trident, Kamandal, Shell club, Pash dagger
etc. Goddess Matangi killed devil Karnat (In another
version Shyamala sister of Matangi killed Karnat) It was
Mahadev Trij the day Karnat was killed. Brahmins of
Modhera celebrated that day with a feast and accepted
Modheswari as their Kuldevi. Every year on the thirteen
day of Maha Month Modh Brahmins celebrate as
Kuldevi's day.
In the third yuga the reinsertion of Vishnu Lord Ram his
wife sita and his brothers came here to offer. Their
repentance as Ram had killed devil the raven who was
also a Brahmin. When they entered Dharmaranya the
speed of their chariots and music went dawn. Even their
elephants and horses speed lessened. Ram was
surprised to see all these and asked his guru Vashistha
the reason. Vashistha said that they have to walk down
to this pilgrimage instead of riding a vehicle or animal.
Ram agreed to this and all of them started walking. After
offering his Prayers to Matangi Ram stayed at the bank
of river Suvarna and prayed Rameswar and Kameswar.
Ram saw the people of Dharmaranya have migrated to
other places and the Brahmins also had left the town.
One day Ram heard a sound of woman's crying. He
sent his people to find out who she is. The lady refused
to say anything except for Ram. So Ram went to her,
consoled her and asked her problem. She said though
you have come here, this town will remain as it is

without people. The well were people used to have a

holy deep, today pigs are swims are messing up the
place. So please reestablish this town and oblige me.
Ram agreed to do so and called back all the Brahmins
who had left the town. He got houses and temples
reconstructed. Ram wanted to donate something more,
but the Brahmins said that they cannot accept any
donation without permission of Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesh. Ram worshiped Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh
they allowed Brahmins to accept the donation. Ram
gave fifty five villages. (According to other legend four
hundred) as a donation.
Hanuman also went around and asked Baniyas to
resettle in Dharmaranya. Ram constructed many
temples there and a beautiful fort surrounding the city.
About 1, 25, 000 Baniya settled in the town with blessing
of Ram. Ram also asked hanuman to protect the town.
So that nobody can disturb by prayers of Brahmins.
When Ram revisited the place he performed a Havan
there. He created Sitapur and gifted it to Brahmins.
The happiness of Dharmaranya was not long lived. The
people of Modhera were in trouble again. King of
Kanyakubj Kanoj Aamraj started bothering them. The
king had given up his religion and accepted Buddhism.
Because of his order even people were forced to change
their religion. Aamraj got his daughter Ratnaganga
Married to the King of Vallbhi and gave away
Dharmaranya as a wedding gift to her. She used to
believe in Jain religion. She took away all the rights of
Brahmin, though Brahmins tried to prove that the land
was gifted by Ram, but nobody was prepared to listen to

them. The Brahmins went to king, he insulted them and

said if Hanuman is suppose to protect you and your land
go out get him here to protect you.
The Brahmins came back to Dharmaranya and decide to
go to Rameswar were Hanuman is residing and seek for
his help. Few were in two minds they argued that after
going there is Hanuman doesn't meet us then what to
do. About fifteen thousand Brahmins were in favor of
such smart argument so they were by caste as
Chaturvedi. At last they also agreed to go there. Though
their twenty and Trivedh's eleven representatives total
thirty one started for Rameswar to meet Hanuman.
They had to suffer a lot during their journey. They had to
face cold wave, heat and rain. The arrangement for food
and water was inadequate, oven the rest house were
not proper, many a days they had to go without food.
Because of this twenty representatives were fed up and
started walking back. But the Remain representatives
with a strong will reached to Rameswar and prayed
Hanuman. Hanuman was pleased and met them as a
Brahmin. He heard the story of Brahmins and as boon
he gave them hair of armpit in two packets and said that
when Aamraj will touch this racket everything around
him will catch fire, at that time Brahmins should stay
away. Aamraj will come to you people asking for
forgiveness and when he promises to give dharmaranya
back to you, you will give him this second packet, if you
sprinkle these hair all around the fire will go off.
Brahmins went to kanyakubj and gave the first packet to
the king. Seeing hair in it the king got angry and threw

the packet away. Then all there the palace caught fire.
King got scared and went to Brahmins for forgiveness
and promised to give them back the town. Brahmins
gave him the second packet containing the hair of right
armpit by which the fire was distinguished. The king
made new documents of town and handed over to
Brahmins.
The last Rajput king of Gujarat Karndev Vaghela was
defeated by the general Afzalkhan of sultan Alaudin
Khilji in savant 1356. The Muslims started ruling Gujarat.
They started destroying temples and merchant towards
Modhera to enquire it. The Modh Brahmins were not
only educated but they were brave worriers also. Jyesti
Malls Brahmins used to lead in the army. Brahmins and
Baniyas were brave under the leadership of
Vithaleshwar all the Brahmins got together and fought
with Muslims bravely for about six months. The Muslims
who had defeated Gujarat were about to face a defeat
by Modhs. They agreed to sign a treaty. The Treats said
that if people of Modhera give them 5000 gold coins the
Muslims will retreat.
On the day of Holi the treaty was signed. The doors of
Modhera were opened. Muslims did not abide by the
treaty and attacked the town and looted the temple of
Modhera and also destroyed the sun temple. The
Brahmins immersed the idol of goddess in Dharma Vav
so that Muslims can not damage it and people of
Modhera migrated to different Places.
After centuries Gayakwad started ruling Baroda. They
protected temples from further destructions. But

Brahmins and Baniyas of Modhera had already migrated

to other places and due to that Modhera did not prosper
again.
Sayaji Rao was crowned as king. He made railway
traveling easier by laying the railway lines. This emoted
Modhs go to Modhera and offer their prayer at Dharma
Vav (The wall) in which they believed that the idol was
immersed. The temple was destroyed. So Modhs
thought of reconstruction of temple.
The lead was taken by advocate Shri Nathubhai
Girdharlal basically hailed from Viramgam, but settled in
Patan. He gave up his profession and took a vow that till
the temple is reconstruction he will not ware shoes and
will not tie a pagadi. A committee far such noble cause
was appointed. They went to all the surrounding villages
and collected the funds with great labors. Finally in 1962
the reconstruction work started and on the thirteenth day
of Maha 1966 it was completed. The idol was place in
the temple by Shashtri Hathibhai Harishankar of
Jamnagar and Shashtri Ramkrishna Harshjee of
Ahmedabad. A dharmashala, Fort, was built. Shri
Purshottamdas Thakurdas supported late.Nathubhai
very strongly. But unfortunately after their death no good
administrative was found. Due to that Late.Bhogilal
Saraiya requested the industrialist Shri Ramnlal
Lallubhai to take over the administration. He agreed and
appointed a new committee with the help of his brother
Late.Shri Ratanlal. He generated some fund to construct
new rooms for Dharmasala and temple was repaired.
Later under the leadership of Shri Chandrakantbhai
Jagabhai and Dayashankar Vishvanath Trivedi other

jobs for the development of temple were taken up. For

the people who visit Modherswari temple there are
furnished rooms to stay, there are facility of bathrooms
and toilets, a lodge for food and a hall to perform
religious rites. There is also adequate facility to store
water and one gaushala is also built.

Modh's Origin
Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh created Brahmins
who were master in Vedas. So that they can turn
Dharmaranya in a centre of veda sanshkriti. The lords
asked to Vishwakarma to build houses forts and temples
reside for the Brahmins. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh
created six thousand Brahmins each. They also gave
them gotras and gotrasdevi. According to historians the
people created by vishnu were sober and honest nature,
the people created by Brahma were of rajas nature and
people created by Shiva were of angry nature.
Brahmin could consented on their work, Brahma created
Kamdhenu caw and on order of Brahma Kamdhenu
created 36000 people by digging earth by her nails.
Those were known as Gobhuja or Gobhva. They settled
in nearest Modhera so that village known by Gabhu.
Adhalja, Mandaliya, Madhukara, Modh Modi, Teli Modi,
Champaneri Modi, Prema Modi all were parts of Modh
Vaniks and Modh famers were known Modh Patel.