Sakrai Mata Ji’s place near Sikar in Sikar district of Rajasthan is one of the famous religious places of Rajasthan. The mountain range named Malket has come here and has become a circle shape. Between which there is a cool shade of big mango trees and a thin stream of Shakraganga is flowing between them. Which also gets expanded by coming in small pools at some places. This is where the temple of Sakray Mata is situated in a grand form on the right bank of Shakraganga. The Sakrai Mata Temple was built in the year 1972-80. The ancient temple which was here before this was built around 1053 AD. This is the oldest pilgrimage site of Shekhawati. Three fairs are held here in a year. Nine days in Navratri in the month of Chaitra and Asoj and four days in Bhadrapada. It is also a Siddhpeeth.
History of Sakrai Mata Temple
The mythological history of Sakrai Mata Temple tells that here, Shakra i.e. Indra did penance. As a result of which the stream flowing here became famous as Shakraganga, and the idols of Jagadamba installed here were known as Shakramata. Later the word Sakkarai Mata became from Shakramata. Historian Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha has told the word Shankara to be Sakrai Mata. Due to which it is also called Shakambhari Mata Temple. It is also said that the Pandavas had passed from here. There are many other such fables prevalent. This place is very old. As a proof of which the Hindi translation of three inscriptions related to the restoration of the temple received from here is presented.
This translation was done by historian Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha in 1953 when he came here. The oldest inscription is of Samvat 749 II Ashadha Sudi 2. At the beginning of this inscription there is praise of Sakrai Devi. Then there is the introduction of those who built the pavilion of this temple. The first among those who built the temple pavilion were Seth Yashovardan of the Dhesar dynasty, his son Rama, his sons Mandan and Seth Mandan of the Dharkar dynasty, his son Yashovardan, his son Garg Anantar, Bhattiyak of another lineage, his son Vardhan, his sons Ganaditya and Deval as well as Thirdly, the descendant Shiva is in the name of his son Shankar, his son Vaishnavaka, his son Aditya Vardhan etc. Together these sethos had built a pavilion in front of Bhagwati Shankara Devi (Sakrai Mata).
The second inscription is placed outside the northern part of this temple. The middle part of this article is messed up. Which doesn’t get the full meaning. It appears to be from the time of Vigraj Chauhan. In this the names of Vachhraj and his wife Dayika are read. Vachharaj was the uncle of Vigraraj. This is found in the inscriptions of Harsha. It describes the restoration of Sakrai Mata Temple. In the end, Samvat 55 Magha Sudi Panchami is written. It is assumed that the first two digits 1 and 0 have been omitted. The exact samvat should be 1055.
The third article is of 1057. The meaning of this article is as follows – On the day of Samvat (105) 6th Sawan Vadi, during the reign of Maharajadhiraj Rare, the son of Shri Shivhari and his nephew Siddharaj got the pavilion of Shankara Devi done. The work was done by Ahil, the son of Seevat, who regularly bows at the feet of the goddess. Bahuru’s son Dev Roop dug the praise.
In this description, other inferences can also be made from the eras of the second and third inscriptions. As there is only one year difference between the two Samvats. Which doesn’t fit well with regards to renovations. Therefore, the era of any one of the last days inscriptions must be quite ancient.
Siddhpeeth
Here there is the throne of Nath panthis for management. The first Nathpanthi abbot was Shivnathji Maharaj. Whom it is told that he was the son of a Maharaja of Kashmir. and had retired along with his other three brothers. When Shivnath ji came here, a Gurjar Bhopa used to worship Sakrai Mata. Whose name was Jella. Within a few days, both of them became friends and Shivnath Ji Maharaj started worshiping here, because Jaila had to come from another village for worship. One day both the devotees of Mata started discussing each other’s miracle and in this matter Shivnath ji took the form of a lion, when he came to the former state, he became completely detached from life and he decided to take life’s samadhi. . Simultaneously, ten of his disciples also took the same decision, but one of them, who was a Yadav, was a resident of a nearby village named Rajpura. Left for mother’s management. In this dynasty, the abbot still lives here. Shivnath ji had attained accomplishment here, hence it is also called a Siddhapeeth. The temple has been built here on the footprints of these Shivnath ji. Along with this, their temples are also built in Hothraj, Rajpura, and Pushkar.
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After Shri Shivnath ji Maharaj, the names of Ghuninath ji, Dayanath ji, Prithvinath ji, Karninath ji, Shivnath ji (II) are found. The most important name is that of Gulabnath ji, the guru of abbot Shri Balaknath ji. He was a very simple vocalist, erudite and tactful Mahatma. He is credited with specially worshiping this place. During these times a new temple was constructed at a cost of lakhs.
Apart from the temple of Shri Sakrai Mata ji here, there is a temple of Jai Shankar on the left side of Shakraganga which is very ancient. The idol located in it is a Gupta carpet. This is a Madan Mohan ji’s temple. Which is about 500 years old. This and Jai Shankar’s temple are built almost in the same way. Apart from Mother’s place here, there is a place called Kho Kund about one and a half kilometer away. Where is the pool of cold water. And there is a dense shade of mangoes and red kaneros all around. There is a legend that here Ravana did penance to Lord Shiva and there is a temple of Ravanakeshwar Mahadev with the same name. It is said that earlier there were 84 temples, but now only three remain. Nag Kund is a short distance away from this. Where snake statues are especially visible. Apart from these places, there are places named Tapkeshwar and Varahi Mata at some distance away. Where there is a nice beautiful view. In this way, being an important pilgrimage place, this place is not only a religious center but also an important tourist center for nature lovers.
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