Acharya Karan V – Mounted on a rooster, having a sword, scriptures and a Trishul, showering her devotees with blessings, that is Puja of Bahuchara Mata – the Goddess who is much venerated primarily by the Hijra or Kinnar community in India.

According to a popular legend, Goddess and her sisters were going with their father in a caravan. Their caravan was waylaid by a man called Bapiya with the intention of looting and plundering. Bahuchara belonged to the “Charan” community whose people especially females were well known to immolate themselves rather than being taken as a hostage by their enemies.

Goddess and her sisters also were forced to thrust themselves to the same fate. Consequently, Bapiya bore the punishment for forcing her and sisters to commit suicide, having been cursed as an impotent man. Bapiya realized his mistake. He bowed himself before Bahuchara Mata, performing puja to regain his manhood. Finally, he got reprieved. Later, Mata Bahuchara came to be known as a Hindu goddess venerated by the Hijra community in India. Goddess is considered to be an incarnation of Shakti who, herself, is an avatar of Mata Parvati.

In a popular cult of Bahuchara Mata Puja, the followers give up masculinity as a sacrifice to the Mata. The goddess is believed to come into the dreams of impotent men, suggesting them to give up their false masculinity by dressing up like a woman and becoming her follower. The famous temple of the Goddess is situated in Bahucharaji town in Gujrat. Built in the late 18th century, the temple is laden with carvings of stone all over the place. The temple premise is thronged by more than 15 lakh devotees every year who sing the Aarti of the Mata, paying their obeisance:

“Jai Devi Jai Devi Maa jai Bahuchara Badee
Jo ya nazar nihari, Boda Garh Wadi
Ek Hath Maa Trishul Sohe,
Beej Kapar Dadi.
Trija Haath Maa Chakra
Chuthe Khadag Dari”

Depending on the days, Mata Bahuchara’s mount or “Sawaari” keeps changing. For example, on Monday, it is Nandi, Lion on Tuesdays, Tiger on Wednesdays, Swan on Thursdays and Peacock and Elephant is on Fridays and Saturdays respectively. The firm belief of devotees visiting here while facing all kinds of hardships strengthens the power of faith in the Bahuchara Mata Puja.