Goddess Ashapura, a powerful manifestation of Mother Goddess
Shakti, is closely associated with Goddess Amba who is worshipped in
Gujarat and Rajasthan. The main temple dedicated to Maa Ashapura Devi is
located at Matanamadh in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
Story of Ashapura Mata
One of the most popular stories of Goddess Ashapura is
associated with a trader named Devchand, a Karad Vania. The trader was an
ardent devotee of Goddess Amba. He did not have any children.
Once during a navratri he was traveling through Rann of Kutch. He was fasting and he stopped at a particular spot and slept.
Once during a navratri he was traveling through Rann of Kutch. He was fasting and he stopped at a particular spot and slept.
That night he had a dream in which Goddess Amba asked him to
build a temple for her in the spot.
She told him that that he will find a coconut and chundri on the spot where the temple is to be built.
She told him that that he will find a coconut and chundri on the spot where the temple is to be built.
Mother Goddess also told him not to open the door for six
months after the temple was built. She told him that she would make her
presence felt inside the shrine during the six months.
Devchand built the temple and closed the door. A couple of
months before the expiry of six months he started hearing mantras in the
morning and evening. He grew impatient and opened the door to see what was
happening behind the closed doors.
He found a half-formed murti (idol) of Mother Goddess.
Even today, the murti of Goddess Ashapura is seen on her
knees. She appears as if she was attempting to stand up.
The priest or Mahant of the temple belongs to the order of Kapadi.
The main festival dedicated to the Goddess is Chaitra
Navratri (March – April) and Sharad Navratri (September – October)