By Anjali Solanki
Often, when we visit a temple, we receive prasad after the aarti, which could be fruits or some sweets. But what if I told you about a temple where the prasad consists of gold and silver jewelry and cash? Wouldn’t you be surprised? Yes, so on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri’s Ashtami, let me tell you the story of one such temple.
In the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, in Ratlam, there is a temple where people are given jewelry as prasad. The belief associated with this temple is that whatever is offered here as a donation doubles by the end of the year. Especially during Diwali, this temple sees a huge crowd. Before Diwali, people come here with full devotion, bringing bundles of cash and jewelry. During this time, the cash bundles and jewelry are kept in the temple itself. Proper entries are made for these offerings, and a token is provided to the devotees. After Bhai Dooj, they can return the token and take their offerings back if they wish.
A Dream Visited the King
It is said that Ratan Singh, the royal king of Ratlam, had a dream in which Goddess Lakshmi appeared and instructed him to build this temple. Following this, the king invested a portion of his royal treasury into constructing the temple and offered wealth for the peace and prosperity of his people. Since then, this tradition has continued.
Devotees came from Other States
Today, this temple is not limited to Ratlam alone. Devotees from Madhya Pradesh, as well as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, come here with their cash, jewelry, and treasures. During the five-day Diwali festival starting from Dhanteras, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is decorated like the treasure trove of Kubera. Garlands made of currency notes, gold and silver coins, and precious jewelry adorn Goddess Lakshmi. The unique aspect is that this wealth is not taken as a donation; rather, devotees offer it for decoration and take it back after Bhai Dooj.
No Security, Yet No Incidents
In the temple, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped alongside Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati. This tradition began with the worship of the family deity of kings and royals, which has now become a symbol of faith for the masses. According to the devotees, there is no special security arrangement in the temple, yet no untoward incident has ever occurred. The devotees consider this a miracle of the Goddes