The Kodiyar Mata temple, Bhavnagar

Khodiyar Maa is the Hindu goddess who appeared in the story of Mamaniya Gadhvi in about AD 700.

Mamaniya Gadhvi had a superb relationship with the then ruler - Maharaj Shilbhadra. The ruler's ministers envied this exceptional relationship and prepared a way to get rid of Mamaniya Gadhvi. They were not very successful at persuading the ruler, but they succeeded in persuading the ruler's wife (queen).

One day the doorkeepers did not let him go into the palace. Mamaniya asked for the reason. He was told that a childless man is not worthy of the king's presence. Mamaniya returned home and wanted to ask Lord Shiva for help. When Lord Shiva did not appear, he decided to give his life away as a final sacrifice. Just when he was about to make it, Lord Shiva appeared and took him to the Snake Kingdom - Nagaloka to see the King of Snakes - Naga-dev.

After hearing his story full of humiliation, the Nagdev's daughters decided to help too. When Mamaniya came home, with his wife he prepared, as advised by the Nagdev's daughters, eight cradles in expectation of a great event. One day eight snakes crawled into the house and Mamaniya had suddenly seven daughters and one son. One of the daughters was Khodiyar Maa. After showing many miraculous powers, people consider her to be a goddess and she has temples and shrines too. Her vehicle is the crocodile and she has many other names such as Khodal, Trishuldhari, Maavdi. Goddess is considered as a daughter of Charan (Ni Dikri).Her temples are found all over Gujarat, Rajashtan and Mumbai but main four are Matel Near Wankaner, Bhavnagar(Rajpara village), Galdhare and Tataniya. Temple at Matel is huge and sometime people see the crocodile while doing the puja for maa khodiyar. Crocodile comes from the river which is located in front of temple. Another popular temple of Mataji is at near Bhavnagar city at Rajpara village. There is lake near temple known as Tataniya Dharo and for the same reason goddess is also known as Tataniya dhara wali. Gujarati film 'Jai Khodiyar Maa' was once box office hit again with Garba CD of Hemant Chauhan with same title.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

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