The flag was hoisted after 500 years on the summit of the famous Mahakali temple located in Panchmahal district of Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the flag here on Saturday after the dargah above the temple was shifted with the consent of its caretakers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hoisted the flag on the top of the temple after the dargah over the famous Mahakali temple in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district was shifted with the consent of its caretakers. PM Modi said that the flag hoisted in the Mahakali temple is not only a symbol of spirituality, but it shows that despite the passage of centuries, our faith is strong. He said that the ensign was not hoisted over the Mahakali temple in Gujarat for five centuries, even during the 75 years of independence.

Ashok Pandya, the trustee of the temple, told that the spire of the temple was destroyed by Sultan Mahmud Begada about 500 years ago. However, the spire of this temple, built in the 11th century on the Pavagadh hill, has been re-established under a redevelopment plan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Mahakali temple on Saturday, he said. Pandya said that the Prime Minister also unfurled the traditional red flag on the newly constructed summit. The temple is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is visited by lakhs of devotees every year.

It is worth mentioning that the redevelopment of the Mahakali temple has been done at a cost of Rs 125 crore, including widening of the steps of the temple situated on the hill and surrounding Includes beautification of the area. The new temple complex is built in three levels and is spread over an area of ​​30,000 square feet.

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is being decorated with gold. There are two temple gates, they are made of silver. The urn on the top of the temple is also made of gold. At the same time, the temple has a total of 12 golden urns. Which gives the temple a grand appearance. The most important thing is that the same devotee family has donated one and a half kilos of gold to the temple.

Due to the Dargah of Adanshah Pir, the temple could not be rebuilt. This dargah was built just above the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Controversy ensued about this for many years. The matter also went to the Gujarat High Court, but to no avail. After long negotiations, about 4 years ago, under an agreement, the dargah was removed from the sanctum sanctorum and made in a corner in the temple courtyard and the reconstruction of the temple started. The sanctum sanctorum of this grand Mahakali temple is made of gold and there are a total of 12 gold-plated urns on its shikharas and yogashala.

Sultan Mahmud Begada had broken the top of the temple,

In the foothills of the Pavagadh hills, there is a place named Champaner, which was built by Maharaj Vanraj Chavda in the name of his wise minister Champa. The Archaeological Survey of India has declared it a protected area. According to the information, this temple was attacked by Muslim Sultan Mohammad Begdo in Vikram Samvat 1540. This temple was rebuilt by Kanakakriti Maharaj Digambar Bhatrak. This temple was once called Shatrunjaya Mandir. On the roof of the temple was the Dargah of Adanshah Pir, a holy place for Muslims, which has now been shifted to a corner of the courtyard. A large number of Muslim devotees come here to have darshan.

Pandya told that it is believed that sage Vishwamitra had consecrated the idol of Goddess Kalika in Pavagadh. The original spire of the temple was demolished by Sultan Mahmud Begada during an attack on Champaner in the 15th century. He told that the dargah of Pir Sadanshah was built on top of the temple shortly after the shikhara was demolished. Pandya said, ‘A pillar or peak is needed to hoist the Fataka. Since the temple did not have a shikhara, the Fataka was not hoisted during these years. When the redevelopment work started a few years back, we requested the caretakers of the dargah to allow the dargah to be shifted so that the shikhara of the temple can be reconstructed.

Story of Rawal Raja of Pavagadh

Pavagadh is situated on a hill, about 46 km from Vadodara. Mata Kali is seated on a high peak here. Religiously and historically important, this place is also associated with the ruler of Rawal dynasty and was once ruled here. According to folk tales, once during the Navratri festival, Maa Kali took the form of a beautiful woman and participated in the Garba. The king there cast an evil eye on the beautiful woman doing garba, as a result of which the mother cursed her, due to which her kingdom was torn apart. Shortly after this, Mohammad Begdo had conquered Pavagadh.

This place got its name because of Pavagadh –

it was almost impossible to climb this inaccessible mountain in ancient times. Due to being surrounded by trenches on all sides, the velocity of wind is also very high here, hence it is called Pavagadh i.e. a place where the abode of Pawan (wind) is always the same.

Importance of the temple, why it became Shaktipeeth –

According to Devi Purana, Mother Sati gave up her life by the power of yoga because of not being able to bear the humiliation of Shiva in the yagya of Prajapati Daksha. Distressed by the death of Sati, Shivshankar wandered throughout the universe, carrying her dead body, performing a tandava dance. To save the universe, Lord Vishnu cut the dead body of Sati into pieces with a chakra. At that time, where the parts, clothes and ornaments of Mother Sati fell, they became Shaktipeeths. The breastbone of Sati had fallen on Pavagadh. Due to the fall of the breast of Jagatjanani, this place is considered highly revered and holy. Here there is an idol of Goddess Kali, who is worshiped in the southern way i.e. Tantric worship.

Mythological and Historical Importance of Pavagadh

This temple dates back to the time of Shri Ram. It was called ‘Shatrunjaya Mandir’. It is also believed that Vishwamitra had installed the idol of Maa Kali. The one who flows here is named Vishwamitri. It is believed that apart from Lord Rama, his sons Lava and Kush, many Buddhist monks attained salvation here. Here Sage Vishwamitra did severe penance for Mother Kali. The Shaktipeeth situated on the Pavagadh mountain is one of the 52 Shaktipeeths. Pavagadh also holds great importance for the Jain sect. This site was included in the list of World Heritage by the world organization UNESCO in 2004.

The temple was redeveloped with 125 crores.

Pandya said that there is a folklore that Sadanshah was a Hindu and that his original name was Sahdev Joshi who had accepted Islam to please Begada. It is also believed that Sadanshah played an important role in saving the temple from its complete destruction. Pandya said, “An agreement was reached to move the dargah closer to the temple amicably.” Significantly, the temple was redeveloped at a cost of Rs 125 crore, which included widening of the steps of the temple situated on the hill and beautification of the surrounding area.

Narendra Modi came here at 9 am on June 18 and to hoist the flag at the Pavagadh Shaktipeeth.

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