Unnao, (Brijendra Pratap Singh). Navratri is starting with the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. Where a huge crowd is seen in the goddess temples during these holy days. Maa Shankari Devi situated in the town is established as the presiding deity and worshipable goddess of the area in the form of ancient Siddhapeeth.
There is a huge crowd in Durga Temple located on Salind Road of the town, Shitala Temple located in Ummedrai Bazaar, Phoolmati Devi Temple located in Brahmin Tola, Mata Hinglaj Devi Temple located in Mirzapur village. Mother’s special blessings are showered on the devotees who visit Siddhpeeth Mata Manshadevi temple with true heart at Pandakheda in the same tehsil area.
History of Mata Shankari Devi Temple
This stone idol of Maa Shankari Devi, established along the Hardoi-Unnao road in the town, was thrown by the Mughal rulers in the Rani Talab located in the town. Mother gave a dream to a Mahant of the city to take me out of the pond and establish me there. Mahant told the dream to the citizens and in the morning in the presence of the citizens, the Brahmin took out the stone from the same place and placed it under a tree named Chandramauli. Then gradually the temple was constructed.
Where worship started. Maa Shankari Devi was seated in the form of an ancient stone under a rare species of tree called Chandramauli inside the temple. This stone has been described by the Archeology and Antiquities Department, Lucknow as being hundreds of years old and dating back to the 12th century. Temple priest Devkinandan said that the centuries-old temple remains a symbol of faith in the area. For the citizens and residents of the area, the mother is present as a deity. It fulfills the wishes of the devotees and no one returns empty handed.
The specialty of the temple is that no one ever returned empty handed from here.
According to Devki Nandan, the priest of Maa Shankaridevi temple, there is a huge crowd every day in the Maa Shankaridevi temple located on the Unnao-Hardoi road side of the city. But on the holy occasion of Navratri, a crowd of thousands gathers. Those who do not have children, they make a vow to Mata Rani and with the blessings of their mother, their empty womb gets filled. By offering branches and offerings in her name, the head shaving ceremony of the child received by the mother’s grace is performed at the mother’s doorstep to appease her.
Apart from this, all the residents of Safipur Nagar belonging to the Hindu community, first of all bring the daughter-in-law to the doorstep of Mata Rani in the form of a family deity and only after seeing and worshiping the mother, she is taken to her home so that the blessings of the mother remain. Not only this, it is believed that the baby shower of girls is held at their mother’s doorstep because till date no one has made any girl unfit at their mother’s doorstep.
There is a crowd at the mother’s doorstep to see the girl and the baby shower. It is said that whoever asked for anything at mother’s doorstep got it and no one returned empty handed. Mother has fulfilled everyone’s wishes. In Navratri, especially after the New Day puja, the puja ends with Bhandara on the last day.
How to reach Maa’s temple
The ancient Siddhpeeth temple of Maa Shankari Devi Mata is situated in Safipur town, 27 km from the district headquarters, on the Unnao-Hardoi road. Devotees coming from Unnao or Hardoi can come by roadways or private bus. At the same time, Balamau Passenger is also suitable. From which one can get down at Safipur station and reach the temple.
Also read- Shardiya Navratri 2024: Crowd of devotees gathered in the temples of Mother Goddess in Kanpur… Temples are resonating with the chants of Jai Mata Di.
