With the start of Navratri 2020, devotees throng to offer prayers to different temples Maa Durga and seek her blessings.
Tanot Mata Temple History
On this holy occasion, let’s take a sojourn to Tanot Mata Temple in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district which speaks stories of miracles, legends and surprises. The bombs dropped from the neighbouring nation, Pakistan during India-Pakistan war in 1965, failed to destroy this holy temple which is situated near the Indo-Pak border, 120-km North West of Jaisalmer city in Thar Desert of Rajasthan.
Let’s study about this temple in detail:
1. Nestled in the quaint village of Tanot in Jaisalmer, Tanot Mata temple speaks stories of faith and utmost devotion of local people
2. According to the locals, Pakistan Army dropped over 3,000 bombs on this temple with an aim to destroy it along with the Indian Army. However, none of the 3,000 bombs could even touch the temple premises or the Indian soldiers.
3. Similar story was repeated in the War of 1971 when the BSF’s coy repulsed an attack from Pakistan.
4. Tanot Mata (goddess), according to Charan literature, is an incarnation of Hinglaj Mata.
5. The temple’s location is near the battle site of Longiwala of the India –Pakistan war of 1971.
6. Due to the miraculous sacred powers of this temple, the locals have immense faith in the goddess.
6. Do visit its museum where the unexploded bombs are still kept. The museum is managed by BSF teams.
7. This highly revered temple was constructed in 847 AD and the idol of the deity was also installed at the same time.
8 The construction of this temple began soon after Bhati Rajput King Tanu Rao made Tanot as the capital of his kingdom.
9. Later, RAC started maintaining the temple and then BSF took over the temple’s responsibility, in 1965.
10. The temple has beautiful surroundings, all covered with yellow sand dunes of the Thar Desert which give a striking contrast to blue vistas of the sky.