Ashapura Mata Temple

History

The tourism corporation route places Mata no Madh with Lakhpat, Koteshwar and Narayan Sarovar in Kutch spiritual circuits — Ashapura being the Devi anchor of that day segment.

Regional melas around Ashapura Jayanti and Navaratri draw Kutch and Sindh-border communities; infrastructure improves in winter tourist season.

Stories

A temple twice rebuilt after earthquakes

Mata no Madh is a village in Lakhpat taluka of Kutch. Its Ashapura Mata temple is said to have been built in the 14th century by two Karad Vanias, Ajo and Anagor, ministers at the Kutch court. It was damaged by the earthquake of 1819 and rebuilt in 1823 by Sundarji Shivji and Mehta Vallabhaji.

The 2001 earthquake damaged it again, and it was repaired. The shrine houses a red-painted stone image of the goddess, which an old account says came from Jashod in Marwar.

The army that lost its sight

Local legend says that in 1762 the army of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro of Sindh attacked the temple, and his soldiers were struck blind by the curse of Ashapura. The ruler then vowed to place a huge bell in the temple.

When his soldiers regained their sight, he kept his word. Tradition says the large bell still hangs in the temple.

Kuldevi of Kutch

Ashapura Mata is the household deity, kuldevi, of the Jadeja Rajputs who ruled Kutch and of several other communities, and is seen as the guardian goddess of the region. Her name is read as 'the one who fulfils hopes'.

Lakhs of devotees from Gujarat and even Mumbai come to Mata no Madh at the annual Navratri fair, the Ashvin Navratri being especially important. Her temples are also found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of Gujarat.

Good to know

Kutch Devi pilgrimage listed on Gujarat Tourism TCGL tour

Mata no Madh — Ashapura Mata shrine

Often bundled with Koteshwar/Narayan Sarovar yatra

Getting there

Road from Bhuj across Kutch; plan long drives and seasonal road conditions. Bhuj airport and rail serve as hubs.