Goddess Kaila Devi is a revered deity in the state of Rajasthan, India. Her temple, known as the Kaila Devi Temple, is situated in the village of Kaila in the Karauli district of Rajasthan. The story of Goddess Kaila Devi is steeped in mythology and local legends.
The goddess Kaila Devi is venerated as an embodiment of the
primordial energy, Mahayogini Maya, who incarnated as the daughter of
Nanda-Yashoda in Gokul. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, Vasudev, the
father of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, received instructions from Bhagavan Vishnu to
leave baby Krishna with Yashoda and bring back the newborn daughter to the cell
where he was imprisoned by Kansa along with his wife Devaki. When Kansa
attempted to harm the infant girl, she revealed her divine form, warning him
that Bhagavan Sri Krishna was already safe and at the opportune time he will
put an end to his tyrant rule. She is now worshipped as Kaila Devi, as well as
Vindhyavasini and Hinglaj Mata at other locations.
A comprehensive account of Kaila Devi Ji is provided in the
Skanda Purana's 65th Adhyaya, where the goddess declared that in the Kalyug
era, she would be known as Kaila and worshipped as Kaileshwari by her devotees.
The fascinating tale of the devi's idol reaching village of
Kaila in the Karauli district unfolds in the Skanda Purana. The Goddess is
believed to have arrived in the forests of Karauli around the 11th century CE.
According to folklore, Kaila Devi appeared to a local sage
named Kedargiri, assuring him that she would manifest among the people of the
region and bless and protect them. Legend has it that a yogi, escaping from
Nagarkot, transported the murti on a bullock cart to protect it from invaders.
The bullock halted in the central part of a hill amidst dense forest in the present-day
Kaila Village and adamantly refused to move. By divine decree, the statue was
enshrined at that very spot, where it stands to this day.