Bahuchara Mata (; ) is a Hindu goddess of chastity and fertility in her maiden aspect, of the incarnation of the Hinglaj. The goddess grants favours, especially to male children, and cures diseases. Like other divinities in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Bahuchara is of Charan origin. She is also considered the patroness of the hijra community. Her primary temple is located in Becharaji town in Mehsana district of Gujarat, India.

History and legends

Bahuchara was born in the Detha clan of Maru-Charanas in Ujala (Ujlan) village in present-day Jaisalmer district. Her father was Bapaldan Detha of Kharoda (Umerkot) while her mother Deval was from Ujlan. As per Gadhavi Samarthdan Mahiya, she lived around 1309 CE. Bahuchara was one of the eight sisters, thus named: Bahucarā, Būṭa, Balāla, Vīru, Hīru, Rāmeśvarī, Khetū, Pātū. Her mother Deval is herself considered a sagat and worshipped as a patron goddess by Detha Charanas and Sodha Rajputs.

Her father Bapaldan was a renowned poet who obtained a jagir in sasan in Saurashtra and founded Bapalka. After Deval's passing in Kharoda, he sent his servants to bring Bahuchara, But, and Balal. While on the way, their caravan was attacked by Bapiya, a koli bandit, at Shankhalpur or Shakatpur in the Chunval region. Enraged at the attack, Bahuchara and her sisters proceeded to commit trāgā, a Chāraṇa practice of suicide by ritual mutilation, and thus cursing Bapiya to lose his manhood and become a eunuch. Bapiya begged to be forgiven, but the curse enacted through trāgā could not be undone. He went down on his knees and said beseechingly, "It was not my fault. I lived out of robbery, but I never targeted Brahman and Chāraṇa. I unfortunately happened to target Chāraṇa’s carriage without knowing it."

Showing mercy, Bahuchara ordered him to build a shrine to her and worship her at the place, and proclaimed if a "naturally emasculated man" wearing women's clothing worships her, then they would achieve her blessings and find a place in her abode after death. Bapiya built her shrine under a varakhada tree in Shankhalpur. Thus, Bahuchara came to be worshipped in the Chunwal town, now known as Becharaji; Būta-Bhavānī at Arnej, near Kot; and Balāla Devī at Bakulkoo, near Sihor.

Temple ritualists

The ritual responsibilities at the shrine were divided among three groups, i.e. the Solanki Rajput landholders from the nearby village of Kalri, a Muslim group called the Kamalias, and the hijras (eunuchs) or Paviyas. A portion of the temple funds were distributed to these three types of traditional temple servants. Historically, a Rajput officiated over the rituals of the temple, whereafter in 1859, Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda appointed a southern Brahmin for the first time displacing the Rajput officiants. The primary followers of the goddess are traditionally Rajputs, Kolis, Charanas, Bhils, and Hijras. Bahuchara was the patron deity of Solanki rulers. Historically, animal sacrifices was performed at the shrine by Bhils, Kamaliyas, etc. They were also been seen as her staunchest servants. The group claims their right as caretakers of the Mother-Goddess at a temple. They were formerly renouncers and had an authorized position in the temple for revenue management. The exclusive right system called ijara continued until 1954 when it was abolished. Kamāliyas used to visit several villages once a year to receive part of the harvest.

Temple

thumb|Bahuchara Mata Temple complex in Mehsana district

Bahucharaji Temple is located in Bahucharaji town in Mehsana district of Gujarat, India. It is 82 km from Ahmedabad and 35 km west of Mahesana. According to the Bombay Gazetteer, the original shrine was built by a king called Sankhal Raj in 1152 CE and the first surviving mention of the shrine was found in an inscription dating 1280 CE. No major changes were made in the temple architecture until the eighteenth century.

Notes

References

  • Aggleton, Peter. Culture, Society and Sexuality: A Reader, Taylor & Francis 2007, p. 240
  • Abbott, Elizabeth. A History of Celibacy, James Clarke & Co. 2001, pp. 329–330
  • Ellingson, Stephen. Religion and Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspective, Routledge 2002
  • Young, Serenity. Courtesans and Tantric Consorts, Routledge 2004, p. 111
  • Official site of the Shri Bahucharaji Temple
  • Bahucharaji Mata Temple in Becharaji near Mehsana
  • Bahuchara Mata: Liberator, Protector and Mother of the Hijras in Gujarat