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KULDEVI They are also called as family goddess. It is told that some 64 Charan kanya became Sati, in process of saving that kul (nukh). We have 12/13 kuldevis for our various surnames (kul). Here I am trying to give as many details as possible about them. Also I will tell you which matajis have a vahan(vahan= Animal they travel with) Here are surnames with there kuldevis:
1. Parmar(Rana2.Sumaria,nagaria,Jhanakaria,Karania,Gada, vadvala),Bhundia,Solanki,Wadhia(wanza)=Dhanani,Virparia,Chandaria,Bid,Mamania=Sachai Chamunda maa mataji 3.Chheda, Nagda= Amba maa 5.Gangar,Bhawsar Kshtriya samaj= Sri Hingraj maa 7.Harania= Sri Malan Mataji 9.Mandalia= Sri Pithdai maa (Pithad mataji) 4.Pattani,Gala,Galayai,Pathad=Sri Vishal mataji and saval mataji 6.Gosrani=Sri Dadal Mataji 8.Shethia= Chakreshwari maa 10.Bharakhada,Karia:Harsiddhi maa 12.Balvimaa ,vara kutums and desai kutums kuldevi also khatri Kakaiya kuldevi mandirs Varotra,vervade,Balva,kutyana,vasavada.Makwana (luhar)= Balvi mataji 14.Bhokataria, Haria, Gudhka,Maru,Dodhia,Malde, Bhanvad-Parmar, Vadher :Momai Maa(Dasha maa) 16.Kadva-Patidar: Umiya Maa 18.Chudasama:Khodiyar Maa 20.Kotecha, Sodha,Ruparel,Savjani :Randal mataji

11.Sri Tulja Bhavani Mataji kuldevi of Nandha 13.Thanki, Dave, Pandit,Bardai Brahmanis,Chauhan, Jadejas= Sri Ashapura maa 15.Nayi,Valand: Sri Limbach Mataji 17.Gosai:Bahuchar mataji 19.Katwa : Shree Brahamani Mataji

-223.PURECHAPORECHA.NUKHH DUTIYA.= SHIKOTAR MAATAJI.(VHAANVATI MAA).

22.Jhalas= Sri Shakti maa.

21.Jethwas= Vindhyavasini

VHAANVATI MAA/SHIKOTAR MAA /SHINGOTAR MAA.

GUJARAT SAURASHTRA PORBANDAR CITY AT BHATIA BAZAR,NEAR KHARWA WADA.MAINLY PURECHA /PORECHA FAMILY OF NUKHH DUTIYA /DHUTIYA. GOTRAJJ=SAANAS MEMBERS (KULDEVI-FAMILY GODDESS).NAME BY SHIKOTAR OR VHAANVATI MAA.MAIN TEMPLE OF DEVI SITUATED AT SOMAALIYA BAT NEAR DUBAI.AT ROUTE OF PORBANDAR TO SOUTH AFRICA. PRIST:BALWANTRAI RAJGURU.SON OF LATE VAJESHANKAR RAJGURU.(PURECHA / PORECHA FAMILY PRIST.).ADD:HARIBHAI THANKI'S HOUSE,SATSANG CHOWK,CHAANYA, VIA PORBANDAR. HARSHIDHHI MAA ALSO CALLING AS VHAANVATI -SHINGOTAR -SHIKOTAR MAA. TAMPLE SITUATED AT HARSHAD. ON THE ROUTE OF PORBANDAR TO DWARKA. 35.K.M. FROM PORBANDAR.

DURGA

Durga is the divine mother in our religion she fights evil and destroys demons. However durga has many other forms of killing evil theses are some of them:These forms of durga became to one mataji this was durga.She had 10 heads and 10 arms all containing deadly weapons.

MHAKALI

This goddess is called KALI , she has a curved sword in her right hand and a rope in another.She had a necklace of human heads around her neck. Mahakali is worshiped all around the world, she has many religious places were devotees and pilgrimes go( Go to the pilgrimage page)

About saraswati mataji

Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music and knowledge is the wife of brahma, the creator of the world, She is a beautiful women with a milk-white complexion, depicted sitting or

-3standing on a water lily and playing on a lute. Saraswati presides over and is the protector of the arts. She is credited with invention of writing. A ceremony held on the fith day of the expanding-moon fortnight during the month of magh is connected with this mataji. Devotion to saraswati takes place with or without her image in front of a vessel containing a pen, inkstand and a book. The articles from the proper substitute for the goddess, who is also named as vagvadini the deity of eloquence. Devotees chant prayers from the scriptures and place flowers and offereings on the bject vessel. Saraswati mataji. Is also the goddess of speech, the power th power through which knowledge expresses itslf in action. In the vedas(holy book), Saraswati maa is primarily a river, but in the garba she is celebarted as a river and as a deity.On the day consecrated to saraswati, musical instuments are cleansed, placed on a alter and worshipped as her abode. On diwali day of puja for sraswati mataji is called sarda (chopra) pujan.

AMBAJI
Navratri the festival of nine nights is celebrated to pay reverence to the benign Goddess Durga. The festival is the celebration of the eternal truth that truth prevails, whatever the circumstances. As the dark clouds bid adieu to us, the pleasant season of Sharad (Autumn) ushers in and with it begins an array of festivities. Though it is celebrated in almost all parts of India, the celebrations in Gujarat, Mumbai and Mysore holds more prominence. People pay homage to the nine manifestations of the female principle � Shakti, the very basis of our existence. Each day is dedicated to one of the nine manifestations of the Divine Goddess, the embodiment of immense prowess, intellect and generosity. Colorful Torans adorn the threshold of each house; people are ready to welcome their cherished Goddess to their humble abodes. As the Sun recedes to the background and darkness sets in, one can sense the enthusiasm, which pervades the air. Resonant drumbeats and foot tapping garba.

-4In navaratriwe dress the murti of Amba maa in colourful clothing and jwelery. Here is an image of her when she is Dressed

Amba Annapurna Ashapuri Andaal Abhirami Aaval Aavrai Bahuchara Boot Ballaad Balvi Bhavani Balechi Bhramaani Bhagwati Baavisi Bhadrakali Beejbaai Bhuvaneshwari Chamunda Charudi Chintapurni Chehar

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Durga Dasha Dhanlaxmi Ganga Gayatri Geeta Gauri Gotraad Gheldi Harshidhhi Hinglaj Holbaai Jatukali Jwalamukhi Jogad Jivantika Kali Kaumaari Kamaxi Kamlaai Khodiyaar Khambhlaav Kaamadhenu Kankaai Karoli

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Kaamakhya Laxmi Limbachh Lalita Meldi Maatangi Momai Mogal Marriamman Nagbaai Parvati Peethal Ravechi Rajbaai Randal Radha Ruxmani Shakti Savitri Sita Sheetala Sonbaai Sosai Santoshi Sachhai

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Shingotar Sonal Togal Triveni Tulja Taara Tulsi Umiya Yamuna Varudi Vaishnavi Varaahi Vahanvati

Mataji Pilgrimages
Many Hindu people go to pilgrimages mostly mataji ones they probally go to these places because to do the darshan,yatra or even to to puja and darshan to the mataji. People also go to that religious place because that is there kuldevi(family goddess) Chamunda maa is my kuldevi and I have visited that religious place many times. The place is called chotila, However your kuldevi might be diffrerent because there is up to 12 to 13 kuldevis in hinduism. Matajis religious places are scatered all over india, but most in Gujurat. Some of these places have been here for thousands and thousands of years. Mataji comes to protect us from evil and when she does come , Mataji comes in different forms(Avatars), This is why we have some may matajis in the hindu religion. Here are some religious places were you could go:Ambaji/Arasur = Amba maa Pavaghad = Mahakali maa

-8Chotila = Chamunda maa Rajapara/Galadhara/matel = Khodiyar maa Shankulpoor/bahucharji = Bahuchar maa Dadve = Randal maa Unjha/sidasar = Umiya maa Koteshwar = Saraswati maa Kheda = Meldi maa Varanasi= Anapoorna maa Shanala = Shakti Maa Martoli = Chehar maa Moviya = Santoshi maa Khedbhrahmand = Brahamani maa Moragadh = Momai maa Koyla = Harsiddhi ma Amdavad = Bhadrakali maa Mumba = Mumbadevi maa Kutch = Ashapura maa Gondal = Bhuvaneshwari maa Arnej = Boot Bhavani maa Tuljapur = Tulja maa Delmad = Limbach maa Jammu Kashmir = Vaishnodevi

The 51 Shakti Piths

It is said in purans that Lord Shankar with his wife Sati came to the yagna organised by his father-in-law Daksh. Daksh, the father of Sati insulted Lord Shankar, there upon Sati surrendered herself to yagna and embraced to death. Being mad Lord Shankar held her dead body on his shoulder and stated Tandav-Dance. That had created havoc in

-9the world and all the creatures and human beings plunged into loud wailing. The Gods were frightened requested Lord Visnu, so he had thrown his 'Sudarshan Chakra' which had split the body into different sections. As per 'Tantra Chudanrani" and " Gyanaranay" the different parts of her body and ornaments wore by her were fallen at 51 places. These places were established as ' Shakti Piths' Maa Mahakalika temple, Pawagadh is one of the biggest tourist and pilgrimage centres in the dynamic state of Gujarat which attracts lakhs ot tourists and pilgrims every year and tops the list of educational institutions' excursion programmes. From the city of Baroda, at a distance of 45 Kms. the old town of Pawagadh is located. The entire area is mainly forest land and very picturesque. Champaner has a rich, rare and little known history. It goes back to early stone age on the basis of pre-historic stone tools recovered from the area. The rocks have the appearance of light yellow with tinge of red, like champaka flower or flame of the fire. Thus, the name Champaner to the town and Pawagadh to the hill fort. The town set up in the 8th century A.D by the Chauda dynasty, remained the political capital of Gujarat till 1536. The area is dotted with structures of archeological importance. The entire area is declared as protected area by the Archeological Survey of India. On the hill top, the ancient famous temple of Mahakalika is located. It is beleived to be one of the 51 Shakti Peeths. The right toe of Goddess Kalika fell here. On the ground floor of the temple is Shakti Peeth and idol of Goddess Kali visited by Hindus and on the roof of the building is a Mazar of a Peer, visited by Muslim devotees. In the same structure, two places of worship stand and two sets of devotees visit them in perfect peace and harmony. A unique distinction indeed. Goddess Mahakalika has been fulfilling wishes of millions of devotees for thousands of years.

Ambaji
At a distance of 65 Kms from Palanpur and 45 Kms from Mt. Abu near Gujarat Rajasthan border the religious town of Ambaji is located. This town is famous for the Maa Ambaji temple, one of the richest and holiest temple in Gujarat attracting lakhs of pilgrims from Gujarat and neighbouring

- 10 Rajasthan every year. The original seat of Ambaji Mata is on Gabbar Hilltop, which is 3 Kms away from Ambaji town. Ambaji Mata temple is one of the 51 shakti peeths where it is believed the heart of Goddess Parvati fell. Ambaji Mata temple at Gabbar is very ancient, origin of which is lost in antiquity. It is believed that Goddess Amba was one of the deities of Pre-Aryan race, which Aryans absorbed in their pantheon. On the Gabbar Hill the footsteps of Goddess are imprinted. The imprint of Her chariot is also found here. It is believed that the tonsure ceremony of Lord Krishna also took place here. Ambaji temple has a golden yantra made jointly with the yantra of Nepal Shaktipeeth at Ujjain. There are 51 shlokas on the yantra. Lakhs of devotees visit the temple every year especially on Purnima days culminating into a large mela on Bhadarvi Purnima. Goddess Ambaji Mata has been fulfilling wishes of her devotees for thousands of years. There are three major sites to be visited on Gabbar Hill. One is the Holy New Temple of Mata Ambaji, where there are some Foot prints incurved on the rock. The other one is Holy Tree of Pipal, under which Lord Krishna's hairs were removed as a ritual in his childhood. And the third one is Cave of Ambaji, where devotees can hear voice of the swinging of Mataji. Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust has also planned to resurface the surrounding rocks at the Gabbar temple and to enlarge the Gabbar Chowk, with marble floorings. It is also decided to repair all the foot steps on the way to Gabbar and to construct a broad Sun Set Point on the top of Gabbar Hill. The Temple trust has also proposed to design a big parking plot, restaurant, canteen and shopping complex at the bottom of the Gabbar Hill

Chotila
dedicated to Goddess Chamunda is built on a hill called chotila at a height of 1,173 feet. The temple is crowded with tourists and pilgrims all round the year specially during the Navratri Festival. The Chotila village is sited at the foot of the Chotila hill.At the end of the navaratri festival a big havan is taken place on

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top of the chotila hill. Chotila has more than 700 steps. At the bottom when you come down from chotila hill there are many shops were you can by many religious items such as matajis chundari,kunko(religious powder), cassetts and lots more.thestory is when Demons Chand and Mund came to conquer Devi Mahakali and in the fight that ensues, the Devi cut their heads and presented these to Maa Ambika, who in turn told Mahakali that you will be worshipped as Chamunda Devi. Virji Bhagat's Place - Chotila Sayala's Lalji Bhagat, Virpur;s Jalaram Bapa and Chotila's Virji Bhagat have been the renowned and religious souls of Gujarat. Virji Bhagat was born in the Bhalada region in the year 1876. Bhoj Khachar belonging to the Darbar race had great faith in Virji Bhagat's preachings. He had also offered a piece of land to Virji Bhagat where the temple was later built in 1925.

Koteshwar
Just 8 km away from Ambaji near the Origin of the Vedic Vargin River Saraswati, there is an ancient temple of Shri Koteshwar Mahadev, attached with a Holy Kund and the flows of river Saraswati from the Mouth of Cow Gaumukh , incurved in a rock. As per a legend

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there was an Ashram of Rushi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, near Valmiki Mahadev temple and the King of Mevad, Maha Rana Pratap had renovated this holy temple, It is said that during the Mutiny of Independence in 1857, Nana Saheb Peshwa had taken his abode in the cave of this temple. This Place is a beautiful & peaceful in forest. Khodiyar maa Mata khodiyar has many religious mandirs were you can go. Here are the four main ones: Rajapra, Matel, Galdhara and Aiyavej. At Rajapra there is a hill and at the top thereis maa khodiyar's main shrine, many khodiyar maas bhakts and devotees of khodiyar mataji come here. Maa khodiyar's shrine was discovered in 1800 A.D. Khodiyar maa's shrine is both historical and very religious. At matel there is a lake next to the temple called, Matel dhara The entire Matel town continues to use the lake water for their consumption and domestic usage without filtering it or any other sort of treatment. There is a trishul at the temple that keeps growing by a grain-size every year. At Galdhara It is believed to be the oldest shrine of Khodiyar Maa. It is said that Maa Khodiyar used to emerge from the Dhari lake

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to play Chaupat with the ancestor of the mahants of Galdhara, Shri Sajuma. In Aiyavej the shrine of Khodiyar Maa has a peculiar miracle associated with it. The temple has a neem tree near it. The leaves of branches that spread over the temple are sweet in taste (contrary to the nature of neem leaves). Whereas the ones that spread elsewhere taste bitter. This is a miracle of Khodiyar Maa that sweetens the neem leaves. It tells us what Khodiyar maas bhakti can do to her followers.