At a glance
- Navratri fairs: Karni Mata, Jeen Mata, Kaila Devi and Shila Devi draw their biggest crowds in the Navratras of Chaitra and Ashvin.
- Fairs on other dates: Sheetla Mata, around Sheetalashtami (Chaitra Krishna paksha) · Narayani Mata, Vaishakh Shukla · Rani Sati, a special puja on Bhadrapad Amavasya.
- Tanot Mata (Jaisalmer): the shells fired at her temple in the 1965 war are said not to have exploded.
Main folk goddesses
- Karni MataRat temple goddessMain placeDeshnok, near BikanerKuldevi ofThe Charans; the Rathore rulers of BikanerKnown forHer temple's rats, called kabaFull notes →
- Jeen MataBhanwaron ki DeviMain placeJeen Mata village near Raivasa, SikarKuldevi ofMany clans of ShekhawatiKnown forHer brother Harsh is worshipped as Harsh BhairavFull notes →
- Kaila DeviLakkhi fair goddessMain placeNear Karauli, on the Kalisil riverKuldevi ofThe Jadon (Yadav) rulers of KarauliKnown forLanguriya songs; believed to be YogmayaFull notes →
- Sheetla MataSmallpox goddessMain placeSheel ki Doongri, ChaksuKnown forCold food is offered to her at BasodaFull notes →
- Shila DeviIdol from BengalMain placeAmer Fort, JaipurKnown forMan Singh I brought it from eastern Bengal
- Aai MataSeervi kuldeviMain placeBilaraKuldevi ofThe Seervis
- Sakrai Mata (Shakambhari)Shakambhari of ShekhawatiMain placeSakrai, near UdaipurwatiKuldevi ofThe KhandelwalsKnown forLegend: she gave food in a famine; Nath priests
- Narayani MataSati goddess of AlwarMain placeAbout 80 km south-west of AlwarKuldevi ofThe Nai (Sain) communityKnown forLegend: she became sati with her husband
- Rani SatiDadiji of JhunjhunuMain placeJhunjhunuKuldevi ofThe AgarwalsKnown forAlso called Narayani; a trishul is worshipped, not an idol
- Tanot MataBorder goddessMain placeTanot, JaisalmerKuldevi ofThe Bhati rulers of JaisalmerKnown forForm of Hinglaj, identified with Awad Mata; called the Vaishno Devi of the Thar
- Jamwai MataKachhwaha kuldeviMain placeJamwa RamgarhKuldevi ofThe KachhwahasKnown forThe town takes its name from her temple
- Chamunda MataIshtdevi of JodhpurMain placeMehrangarh Fort, JodhpurKnown forRao Jodha brought her from Mandore
- Sachiya MataOswal kuldeviMain placeOsianKuldevi ofThe OswalsKnown forTemple of the Gurjara-Pratihara period
- Tripura SundariTartai Mata of BanswaraMain placeUmrai, near Talwara, BanswaraKnown forBlack-stone idol with eighteen arms
- Ambika MataKhajuraho of MewarMain placeJagat, about 50 km from UdaipurKnown forNagara-style temple, believed built in 961 CE
- Sugali MataAuwa's goddess of 1857Main placeAuwa, PaliKuldevi ofThe thakurs of AuwaKnown forIn 1857 the British carried off her idol
Remember: often mixed up
- Two NarayanisNarayani Mata near Alwar, kuldevi of the Nai community · Rani Sati, also called Narayani, at Jhunjhunu, kuldevi of the Agarwals.
- Two Lakkhi fairs in ChaitraKaila Devi at Karauli · Sheetla Mata at Chaksu.
- Shila or SheetlaShila Devi is at Amer Fort · Sheetla Mata is at Chaksu.
Test yourself: asked in exams
CET Graduation Level 2022 · Q24
Match the following – Kuldevi — Caste (1) Karni mata — (i) Nai/Nayee (2) Sakrai mata — (ii) Seervi (3) Aai mata — (iii) Khandelwal (4) Narayani mata — (iv) Charan
- (1)1-iv, 2-i, 3-ii, 4-iii
- (2)1-ii, 2-i, 3-iv,4-iii
- (3)1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-i
- (4)1-iv, 2-iii, 3-i, 4-ii
Show answer
✓ (3) 1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-i
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