Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The Bijasan Mata Temple, located in Indore, has a history spanning over a thousand years. The temple is renowned for housing nine forms of the Goddess, each representing a different aspect of the divine.

The area around the temple was once a forest, home to black deer and gained fame for being a centre of ‘tantra’ and ‘siddhi’ practices. Earlier, the idol of the Goddess was seated on a stone platform (chabutra).

Later, Maharaja Shivajirao Holkar, the ruler of Indore, built the temple in 1760 in the Maratha architectural style. The Holkar rulers of the time took special interest in the temple’s construction and many developmental works have been undertaken since then.

Significance of the temple Bijasan Mata is considered a symbol of good fortune and fertility, and many newlywed couples from across India visit the temple to seek her blessings for a blissful married life.

It is said that legendary warriors Alha and Udal also prayed to the Goddess for victory over the King of Mandu.

Devotees revere the nine different forms of the Goddess and there is an influx of visitors, particularly during the Chaitra (spring) and Sharadiya (autumn) Navratri.

During this time, a grand fair is also held, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees from all over the country.

The temple is also famous for its worship of Kalratri, a form of the Goddess, believed to help eliminate negative forces and grant spiritual powers. Development work pending According to Anand Van Goswami, the priest of the temple, there is a pond in the temple complex that never runs dry.

However, despite the temple’s significance and the constant influx of devotees, some developmental work has been delayed.

The temple administration is yet to complete the renovation of the pond, and the overall focus on improving the temple’s infrastructure is lacking. The priest suggested that more attention from the local authorities was needed, considering the large gatherings during festivals.