Gehlot - led Rajasthan govt brings restrictions on Navratri celebrations at Barmer's Hinglaj Mata temple

 

 

In the wake of coming Navratri when Hindus all around the country visit their Kuldevis to pay their tributes as a ritual that ha been followed since generations, the Gehlot govt in Rajasthan has welcomed the festival with an enraging order to the Hinglaj Mata temple in Barmer. As per the recently issued order, the Rajasthan state govt has barred Barmer's Hinglaj Mata temple from any kind of celebrations during Navratri.

 

 

 

 

In a notice issued to the temple authorities on Sept 23 (Friday), the local police station has ordered to put all kind of programs that were planned to celebrate Navratri, on a hold. Apparently the authorities have thought of it as the only solution to the issue of expected violence that might erupts between two groups. The notice mentions a strict warning that if at all, the celebrations and programs continue to be held despite of the notice, strict action will be taken on the temple and the temple authorities.

 

In a tweet Author and Journalist Tarun Vijay brought the incident to light stating, "A black day for Hindus. Rajasthan’s Cong govt bans all dharmic activities in India’s largest Hinglaj Mata temple Barmer under a fake pretext. See police order. What Baweja and Shehbaz didnt do to Balochistan Hinglaj mata mandir Gehlot did in Rajasthan. Protest as much as you can." In yet another tweet, he mentioned, "Can admin /police issue a notice on any pretext to a Church banning Christmas celebration or to a mosque prohibiting Eid celebrations without govt’s approval ? Here in Barmer (Raj) police bans Navratra programmes in a Hinglaj Mata temple . Where hv all the brave Hindus gone ? Help pls"

 

 

 

 

 

The Rajasthan govt's recent move is clearly provocative, as despite of severe incidents of violence taking place earlier, similar action was never taken against place of worship of any other religion that too during such crucial times for a community. The murder of Kanhaiya Lal on Jun 28, this year, in Udaipur by a Muslim man based on the 'Prophet row' had been an incident of some serious and prolonged communal tension not only in Rajasthan but elsewhere in the country as well.

  

Besides, serious communal riots took placefollowing the incident in Karauli, Alwar, Jodhpur and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan. However, such restrictions were never demanded by the govt during Eid that followed the coming month. Now are the recent restrictions issued on Barmer's Hinglaj Mata temple, also an outcome of the vote bank politics of the Ashok Gehlot - led Rajasthan govt, is a question to be raised.

 

 

 

 

 

Hinglaj Mata is worshiped all over India and is the Kuldevi of many Kshatriyas. People from almost 60 communities across India and Pakistan are followers of Hinglaj Mata. The main temple of the goddess is located in Balochistan. Hinglaj Mata is believed to be the form of Mata Parvati. The original temple in Pakistan's Balochistan is considered to be highly sacred by Kshatriyas, however, as cross border movement makes the journey to the temple not accessible easily, the temple in Rajasthan's Barmer becomes an important temple visited by lakhs of devotees during Navratri.

 

According to the legends, when Sati, the consort of Mahadev, had sacrificed herself to fire, Shiva enraged by the act, had turned into Veer Bhadra. Drowned in grief and burning with rage, Veer Bhadra was carrying Sati's body everywhere with him and causing destruction. To end this destruction, Vishnu had to use his Sudarshan Chakra to destroy Sati's body so that Veer Bhadra can overcome his grief by detaching himself from the material remains of the goddess.

 

 

After Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra destroyed Sati's body, it is believed that her body was divided into 51 parts which fell at different places on earth. These places were developed as Shaktipeeth later. The Hinglaj Mata Mandir located on the bank of river Hingola in Balochistan is counted to be an important Shaktipeeth and it is believed that Mata Sati's forehead was fallen there which is why the place is of religious significance to Hindus.

 

The story implies the significance that Hindus associate with Hinglaj Mata temple in Barmer, as after the one in Pakistan's Balochistan, the one in Barmer is the only largest temple of the goddess in the country. Besides, it also explains the gravity of the issue for Hindus. The act of Rajasthan govt, undoubtedly, is an act of provocation against Hindus.

 

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