Maa Khodal Maa (Khodiyar Maa)
Khodiyar Maa is the Hindu goddess who materializes in the story of Mamaniya Gadhvi in about 700 AD. Mamaniya Gadhvi had a excellent relationship with the then ruler – Maharaj Shilbhadra. The ruler’s minister envied this excellent relationship and arranged a system to get rid of Mamaniya Gadhvi. They were not very successful to influence the ruler, but they succeeded in persuading the ruler’s wife. One day the doorkeepers did not let him go into the palace.
Mamaniya asked for the cause. He was told that a childless man is not appeal of the king’s existence. Mamaniya returned home and required to invite Lord Shiva for help. While Lord Shiva did not show, he sure to give his life away as a finishing sacrifices. Presently while he was about to make it, Lord Shiva appeared, he resolute to give his life away as a last sacrifice. Now when he was about to make it, Lord Shiva appear and took him to the Snake Kingdom – Naglok to perceive the king of Snakes – Nagdev. Behind inquiry his is legend full of humiliation, the Nagdev’s daughters resolute to help too.
When Mamaniya came home, with his wife he organized, as advised by the Nagdev’s daughters, eight cradles in belief of a huge incident. One day eight snakes crawled into the house and Mamaniya had swiftly seven daughters and one son. One of the daughters was khodiyar Maa. Behind presentation many amazing powers, citizens believe her to be goddess and has temples and memorial too.
Her vehicle is the crocodile and she has many other names such as Khodal, Trishuldhari, Maavdi. Goddess is considered as a daughter of Charan. Her temples are found all over Gujarat, Rajashtan and Mumbai, but the most important four are – Matel Near Wankaner, Rajpura village near Bhavnagar, Galdhare and Daathaniya. Temple at Matel is huge and people gather on the riverbank near the temple to see a crocodile, the Goddess’ mount. Another popular temple of Mataji is near Bhavnagar city at Rajpara village. There is lake near temple known as Tataniya Dharo, and for the same reason goddess is also known as Tataniya Dharawali. A Gujarati film ‘Jai Khodiyar Maa’,
