Information of Umiya Mataji Temple, Unjha, Mehsana, Gujarat

Umiya Maataji Temple is situated in Unjha city of Mehsana district of Gujarat. It is located in the middle of the city where countless devotees pay a visit every day. The temple is around 1200 years old and was reconstructed about a century earlier with the assistance of local people. Till then, Umiya Maataji Temple continued to give blessing to the people. It is steadfastly believed that the city Unjha is prosperous due to the blessing of goddess Umiya.

Umiya Mataji Temple Religious Significance

According to traditional belief, goddess Umiya is one of the manifestations of goddess Parvati. She is the almighty divine mother of the universe. Her other incarnations are goddess Lakshmi, goddess Kali and goddess Saraswati. It is believed that whenever evil and devilish matters are upraised in the universe, goddess Umiya take various forms in order to destroy them, safeguard the good and restore the religion. On every occasion in the world where there is female power, there is mother Umiya as the source. She is also regarded as given birth to the cosmos and the benefactor of power and spirituality. Goddess Umiya is highly important for Kadva community and hence, Umiya Maataji Temple also has vital position for them.

There are several festivals which are celebrated in Umiya Maata Temple. The most important festival in the temple is Navratri. It is a nine days festival where different religious activities are performed. In Navratri, the deity of goddess Umiya is decorated with flowers. In the night of full moon during Navratri, lord Umiya is offered with prayers and Prasad. Furthermore, a grand celebration named Mahotsava is celebrated every 100 years in Umiya Maataji Temple. The celebration persists for one week. The Mahotsava was last celebrated in the year 1976. Thousands of devotees gather in this temple during Mahotsava and they put much effort in order to make this event successful. The other festivals which are organised in Umiya Maataji Temple are Diwali, New Year, Annkut, Baisakhi Purnima and Vasant Panchami.

Umiya Mataji Temple Mythology & History

According to Hindu mythology, the first incarnation of goddess Umiya was goddess Sati. In this avatar, Sati was the daughter of Daksh Prajapati and she married to lord Shiv. However, in this avatar, she ended up badly due to unfortunate event which occurred in Yagna celebration where Sati went without invitation. In the second incarnation, lord Sati again wished to marry lord Shiv. Goddess Sati took the form of goddess Parvati in second incarnation and become the divine wife of lord Shiv. It is believed that once lord Shiv went to destroy demons and brought goddess Umiya in the panel of Saraswati River. There she created 52 earthen figures and lord Shiv put life into them. These 50 figures become the great community of Kadva. Goddess Umiya also provided them blessing for joy, affluence and progress. She also made promise to the Kadva community to reach them when they require and when they recall her with devotion.

In accordance with mythological story, goddess Umiya was established by lord Shiv himself at Unjha city. Later king Vrajpal Sinhji created the temple in 156 BC. However, the temple was destroyed by Ullugh Khan. The present Umiya Maataji Temple was reconstructed with the support from Patidar community and Gaikwads government.

Umiya Mataji Temple Architectural Significance

The main shrine of Umiya Maataji Temple is around 63 feet high with the length of about 86 feet in East-West direction and 81 feet in North-South direction. The temple is divided into three parts which is peculiar in style and architecture. The first part is Mansarovar, the second part is the main temple complex and the third part is a Dharamshala. Traditionally, Umiya Maataji Temple was created from bricks and limestone which has given a distinct look and has shape the architecture totally different from rest of the temples. But After the destruction, new temple ground is also created with stonework which has firm and strong giving an interesting glory of the era it was built. Furthermore, many new structures such as shops, rest houses, tower and board hall has also been established in Umiya Maataji Temple ground.