Surat, December 14: This is one temple with a difference. The deities of Mamadev temple of Katargam area, Lord Mamadev and Lord Kalbhairav, are appeased by their devotees with the offerings of two lighted cigarettes and sweets.
This is what precisely Chandrika Patel, a housewife of Katargam, does on her daily darshan of the deities here. Her prayers are for a good husband for her daughter.
The temple witnesses a rush of devotees on amavas days. On amavas days, thousands of devotees from the city and surrounding areas throng to the temple with their offerings of cigarettes for the fulfillment of their wishes.
According to the temple authorities, most of the devotees come here with wishes of marriage and children. Nobody returns empty-handed as Mamadev Bhagwan answers the prayers offered with true faith, they said.
The practice of offering cigarettes to the deities has been going on from the last 15 years. The practice was started by Shree Shree 108 Gangadas Maharaj of the Mamadev temple in Surat. Gangadas Maharaj had visited the Mamadev temple at Gondal about 16 years ago where he was told by the temple mahant that the Lord could be appeased by the offerings of lighted cigarettes and sweets.
Gangadas Maharaj still serves at the temple. He said: ‘‘Most of the devotees visit on the amavas day with their offerings of cigarettes and sweets. Amavas is the only day in the month when Lord Mamadev fulfills the wishes of the devotees.’’
Ashok Jirawala, senior member of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Association (FOGWA), a staunch believer of Lord Mamadev, was blessed with a child last year after he visited the temple on every amavas day for two years.
Another believer of Lord Mamadev, Ronak Patel, said: ‘‘I have offered more than six packets of Gold Flake cigarettes and six kgs of sweets to Lord Mamadev for 10 continuous days keeping a wish for my daughter’s marriage. My wish came true and my daughter married last month. Though my wish has come true, I have still continued my visit to the temple and offer two cigarettes everyday.’’
2 comments:
Hi here i am introducing The God which is worshipped not with agarabattises...but with cigarretes...
The God is known as MAMADEV
Surat, December 14: This is one temple with a difference. The deities of Mamadev temple of Katargam area, Lord Mamadev and Lord Kalbhairav, are appeased by their devotees with the offerings of two lighted cigarettes and sweets.
This is what precisely Chandrika Patel, a housewife of Katargam, does on her daily darshan of the deities here. Her prayers are for a good husband for her daughter.
The temple witnesses a rush of devotees on amavas days. On amavas days, thousands of devotees from the city and surrounding areas throng to the temple with their offerings of cigarettes for the fulfillment of their wishes.
According to the temple authorities, most of the devotees come here with wishes of marriage and children. Nobody returns empty-handed as Mamadev Bhagwan answers the prayers offered with true faith, they said.
The practice of offering cigarettes to the deities has been going on from the last 15 years. The practice was started by Shree Shree 108 Gangadas Maharaj of the Mamadev temple in Surat. Gangadas Maharaj had visited the Mamadev temple at Gondal about 16 years ago where he was told by the temple mahant that the Lord could be appeased by the offerings of lighted cigarettes and sweets.
Gangadas Maharaj still serves at the temple. He said: ‘‘Most of the devotees visit on the amavas day with their offerings of cigarettes and sweets. Amavas is the only day in the month when Lord Mamadev fulfills the wishes of the devotees.’’
Ashok Jirawala, senior member of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Association (FOGWA), a staunch believer of Lord Mamadev, was blessed with a child last year after he visited the temple on every amavas day for two years.
Another believer of Lord Mamadev, Ronak Patel, said: ‘‘I have offered more than six packets of Gold Flake cigarettes and six kgs of sweets to Lord Mamadev for 10 continuous days keeping a wish for my daughter’s marriage. My wish came true and my daughter married last month. Though my wish has come true, I have still continued my visit to the temple and offer two cigarettes everyday.’’
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