History

Bahuchara Mata is a Hindu goddess of chastity and fertility and an incarnation of Shakti. She is considered patroness of the hijra community. Her primary temple is located in Becharaji town in Mehsana district of Gujarat, India.

The town is associated with Hindu goddess Bahuchara Mata worshipped as Bala. It is one of the three Shakti Peethas worshipped in Gujarat, the other being Ambaji and Pavagadh.
The town’s name is derived from Bahuchar Mata or Bahucharaji Mata, a popular deity or ‘Devi’ of Hindus. Earlier this town was a small village. Although, it is still a Gram Panchayat. Its development is mainly due to temple of Bahuchara Mata. Another reason for its development is the fact it was declared as Taluka Place or Taluka Panchayat and centre for shopping for peripheral villages. For the development of temple of Bahuchar Mata, Sayajirao Gaekwad extended the Gaekwar’s Baroda State Railway (GBSR) that was under the control of his state up to Becharaji.
The Temple of Bahuchara Mata is located in mid Bechraji town. It is 110 km from Ahmedabad and 35 km west of Mahesana. The main temple fort and gate was built by Manajirao Gakewad in Samvat 1839 or 1783 AD when he was Suba of Kadi. He gave 3 villages for the maintenance of the temple. These villages were subsequently taken over and Rs. 10,500/- per year was paid towards maintenance, which is merged and is now under Government control. For the development of this temple Sayajirao Gaekwad extended the GBSR railway that was under the control of his state up to Becharaji.

The centre temple was built by Maratha Fadanvesh. It has been renovated. Learned Saint Kapildev built the varakahdi temple and was then renovated by Kalari king Tejpal. That temple too has been again renovated.

On night of every Punam (15 th day of the month as per Vikram Samvat calendar) and on 8th day of Aso sud and Chaitri sud police with arms pay Guard of Honour to Mataji’s procession. It is also considered as important place for the ‘Hijras (Eunuchs)’.
‘Bahuchar Mata’ is a Hindu goddess. She was a daughter of a charan, Bapal dan Detha. She and her sisters were on journey with a caravan when a marauder named Bapiya attacked their caravan. It was common practice in charan men and women if overpowered by their enemies, not to surrender but to kill themselves. Shedding the blood of charan was considered heinous sin. When Bapiya attacked the caravan, Bahuchara and her sisters announced tragu and cut their breasts. Legend tells that Bapiya was cursed and became impotent. The curse was lifted only when he worshiped Bahuchara Mata by dressing and acting like a woman. Today Bahuchara Mata is considered patroness of—and worshipped by—the hijra community in India. Her followers believe in non-violence and consider killing of all animals and creatures a sin.

Shri Bahucharaji Mataji’s temple is one of the Shakti Piths where Daksha’s daughter Ma Bhagwati Sati’s hands had fallen. This place is a sidha Shakti Pith. In this complex of religious importance, there are three main temples viz. Adhya Sthan, Madhya Sthan and Main Temple. In the main temple, gold studded Bala Yantra made of crystal is being worshiped. Among the ten main goddesses in the whole universe, Shri Balatripur Sundari Shri Bahucharma is a sidh shakti. From religious point this place has the same importance as other religious places like Ambaji, Pavagadh, Dhwarka, Somnath, Palitana, Girnar and Dakor.
Shri Bahucharaji Mata rides rooster. During Solanki dynasty period in Gujarat, rooster was a symbol on the state’s flag. There are many miracles and legend associated with the Mataji’s rooster. Devotees of Mataji consider rooster sacred and worship it.

Parents desirous of children and parents of new born children having physical disability or for their well being offer various offerings to Mataji with devotion.

Chaul kriya (babri) is one of the 16 sankskars as per Hindu religion and is performed by offering hair of children near the Mansarovar lake. Its being said that even Lord Krishna’s babri was also performed at this lake.

Shri Bahucharaji Mata is kuldevi for many castes in Gujarat and they all come here with devotion and reverence and carry out chaul kriya (babri) of their children.

Besides the three main temples within the temple complex, there are others temple of Shri Ganesh, Shri Narsangveer Mandir, Shri Neelkanth Mahadev, Shri Saheriya Mahadev, Shri Sidhanath Mahadev, Shri Gutaeshwar Mahadev, Shri Bhuleshwar Mahadev, Shri Kachrolia Hanuman, Shri Chachar. Opposite Shri Chachar there is Hanuman temple, Havan place, Akshayapatra ni deri, cock house, Mataji’s seat, Dipmala, and guest houses with decorative arches and pillars.

In a true sense Bahucharaji is a religious place where Tripur Sundari Bahucharaji resides at adya Shakti place. At this place Ma Bahgwati came personally to help her devotees.