Khodiyar mandir rajpara

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The Khodiyar Temple, located just outside Bhavnagar (15 km away), was built in the early 20th century, but it holds deep reverence among the devotees of Janbai (Khodiyar Mata). Situated on the banks of the Tataniya Lake, the temple is connected to a mountain-top shrine via a ropeway situated behind it. Lapsi (broken wheat sweet) is the main offering at the temple.

Brief History: Khodiyar Mata is revered as a warrior Hindu goddess, believed to have been born around 700 CE as a member of the Charan caste. It is said that she was the daughter of Mamad Ji Charan, blessed by Lord Shiva and Nagdev with seven daughters and a son. Among these daughters was Khodiyar Mata, whose temples are found across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Mumbai. There’s an intriguing folklore surrounding the goddess and the construction of this temple.

Legend has it that Maharaja Wakhatsinhji Gohil, who ruled Bhavnagar State from 1748 to 1816, commissioned the construction of this temple. He was a staunch devotee of Khodiyar Mata. Once, he prayed to the goddess to appear in her physical form in the capital of Bhavnagar, Seehor. Khodiyar Mata appeared before him and directed him, on the condition that he must not turn back to see if she was following him or not. Wakhatsinhji walked for hours until he reached Rajpara, a little before Seehor, just to verify if she was still there. The goddess remained true to her word, never advancing an inch forward. He and his sisters decided to settle there, and the temple was built at that spot.