Acharya Karan V – In Kutch, Gujarat, Ashapura Mata is regarded and worshipped as a Goddess who is capable of fulfilling all the wishes of her devotees. Ashapura Mata is one of the many manifestations of Devi who, in turn, is an aspect of Mata Paravati or Shakti. Not only from Gujarat, but people from all over the world visit the Ashapura Temples, hoping to have their desires fulfilled. Mata Ashapura’s temples are primarily located in Gujarat. One going for a worship of the Mata for the first time may be a little fascinated by the fact that the idols of the Mata have got seven pair of eyes.

Mata Ashapura has also got the distinction of being venerated as KulDevi or a Clan Deity. In Gujarat and the adjoining states like Rajasthan and Harayana, there are number of clans, including Jain, Jadeja, Chauhans, Brahmin and Kshatriya, who consider Ashapura as their Kuldevi. All these communities regularly pay homage to Mata Ashapur, performing various kinds of designated rituals, hoping to have a shower of goodwill and prosperity from the Devi.

The first temple of the Mata, believed to be built around 1300 AD, is at “Matano Madh” in Kutch. The Jadejas accepted the Mata as their clan deity as, by the blessings of Ashapura, they won many battles. Around Navaratri, the temple is thronged by millions of devotees, singing the aarti to seek the blessings of the Mata,

“Jai Ashapura Mata Ki, Ham Arti Utaren,
Arti Utaren Nayna Tumko Hi Nihare Jai Ashapura

Angan Tore Door Door Se, Balak Tore Aven,
Darshan Tore Pakar Asha! Man Magan Ho Javen,
Man Magan Ho Javen Akhiyan Aansoo Hi Bahaven,
Jai Ashapura.”

Apart from Navaratri, one can find devotees singing the above aarti of the Mata regularly, three times in a day, the aarti known as Mangala Aarti in the early hours of the morning, followed by another one around 9 am, ending with the last one in the evening known as Sandhya Aarti. One visiting the temples of Mata Ashapura can feel the faith and hope reverberating in the air, with devotees hoping to have the Goddess shower blessings on them.