Information of Kalika Mata Temple, Pavagadh, Panchmahal, Gujarat

Kalika Mata Temple is a popular Hindu temple situated in a hill station of a city named Pavagadh in district Panchmahal of Gujarat. The area of Pavagadh has a key communal of people who belong to the hill. The hill is situated within a distance of about 50 kilometre from Vadodara city of Gujarat. Kalika Mata Temple is dedicated to goddess Mahakali. Each year considerable number of devotees come in this temple in order to visit and worship the goddess.

Kalika Mata Temple Religious Significance

Goddess Mahakali is also termed as Great Kali, a renowned Hindu divinity. She is also regarded as the better half of lord Shiv, who is known as god of knowledge. The term Mahakali was derived from Sanskrit word Mahakala which is characterised as time and represent the death. Goddess Mahakali is also considered as a form of goddess Durga when she becomes angry and demonstrate rage. She is the goddess which resemble the deity beyond time. The colour of goddess Mahakali is dark blue and portrays the form of female power. Therefore, Hindu community consider goddess Mahakali as heavenly mother.

In Kalika Mata Temple, the statue of the goddess has four arms where every hand possesses diverse objects. For example, one hand possesses a sword, while the second hand possesses a trishul. In the other two hand of goddess Mahakali there are a head of a demon and a bowl respectively in order to accumulate the blood from the head. The dark red coloured eye of goddess Mahakali demonstrate her fury and the messy hair provides a violent appearance. The statue of goddess Mahakali also wears a circlet which is created from the heads of 108 demons. Every year during the festival of Diwali animal sacrifices are conducted in Kalika Mata Temple.

Kalika Mata Temple Mythology & History

The ancient temple of Kalika Mata Temple is not only famous for Hindu people, but also for Muslim pilgrims. The temple is grouped under the 51 Shakti Peeths of Hindu mythology. It is believed that among other parts of goddess Sati, the right toe has fallen in Kalika Mata Temple. Since the temple is situated in top of the hill, devotees require to climb around 250 stairs in order to reach there. Below the hill, there is a river named Vishwamitra which adds beauty to the temple. It is said that the stunning statue of mother Mahakali in the temple was created by an astute named Vishwamitra.

Kalika Mata Temple Architectural Significance

Kalika Mata Temple was constructed in very ritual and traditional way by following Hindu architectural styles. It possesses firming ramparts and there is also a crossing in the front side of the temple. Kalika Mata Temple also has slabs which is designed for making sacrifices of animals during the great festival of lord Kali in order to satisfy her. The inner portion of the temple has the head of goddess Kali in red colour. In Kalika Mata Temple there is also a statue of lord Bahu Charayantras.

Kalika Mata Temple is separated into two portions where the bottom floor is dedicated to goddess Kali and the top floor is related with Muslim community because there is a catacomb which is comparable to a mosque. A ropeway has been created in 1986 in order to reach the temple and make the trip much comfortable for devotees. However, most of the devotees take the long path towards the stairway in order to prove their devotion to lord Mahakali.