Chotiladham in Surendranagar district. Here sits Chamunda Ma, an incarnation of the 64 Joganimas. Seated at a height of 1,000 and 173 feet, Chamunda Ma is the tribal goddess of Hindus. On the day of Poonam there is no place to even set foot here. People come from all over Gujarat to have darshan of Mataji. Mataji’s darshan is seen when one climbs approximately one thousand steps. Mataji’s place is on top of the hill. So today we know about some legends and interesting history connected with Chotila temple.
How did the name Chamunda come about?
This is thousands of years ago. When there were demons named Chand and Mund on earth. These two demons made people’s lives haram. The people cried out and the demons tormented the sages too. One day all the people and sages gathered together and started worshiping Mataji to get rid of these demons. Sages performed Yajna and invoked Mataji and miraculously Adya Shakti appeared from the Havan Kund. This Mahashakti is known as Chamunda since this Mahashakti killed both the demons named Chand and Mund.
What is belief?
One of the pilgrimage destinations in Gujarat is the Chotila Chamunda Mataji Temple, a legendary pilgrimage destination. It is also said that Chamunda is also a Tantric goddess. If someone is harassing you by using something bad on you, chanting the name of Chamunda Mata destroys the bad elements. There is also a belief that if a woman’s hair is falling out a lot, if she believes in giving the wrong Chotal to Mataji, her hair will become long and thick. Pilgrims come to Chotila from far and wide to have darshan, Chamunda Mataji fulfills all their wishes, many people even come from far away to have darshan of Mataji. Devotees who come here feel the presence of Mataji.
Why doesn’t anyone stop after evening aarti on Chotila Dungar?
Thousands of devotees visit Mataji daily in Chotila. Devotees throng the hill from early morning to evening aarti. But after the evening aarti all the people including the priest come down from the hill. Even the priest does not stay in the temple. No human being moves there except only the idol of Mataji. Behind this there is a belief among the people that even today Kalabhairav stands guard outside the actual temple. Protects mother.
It is also said that a lion is also seen roaming on the hill at night. Mataji has allowed five persons including the priest to stay on the hill only during Navratri days. Importantly, Chamunda is riding a lion. One hand holds weapons like a trident and a sword. Maa Chamunda’s abode is believed to be on a banyan tree.
What about Chotila Dungar Trust?
Amritgiri Dolatgiri Gosai of Chotila Dungar Trust said that if a night stay is done on the hill, it is not possible to maintain its sanctity. And no one has to stay overnight and we don’t stay overnight either
