In India, people have
a true faith in god. We believe in each and every aspect related to god and
their stories. People do believe in many rituals and in mythological stories
especially related to god. There are many stories behind every mythological
place via temple, and people have considered these stories without raising a
voice or can say they blindly believe in this. There are many temples in India
where a mysterious story would be afflicted with it and the people have truly
believed in it.
And Maa sharda Devi
mandir is among the one temple which has been emerged on many faiths and
beliefs. This temple is also known as Maihar Devi Mandir. It is located in Maihar, District- Satna
(Madhya Pradesh), India. But this temple is also known for its belief that a
devotee who was died 900 years back still arrives at temple and worship her
early in the morning.
Local tradition reveals that the
warriors Alha and Udal, who had war with Prithvi Raj Chauhan, are associated
with this place. Both the brothers were very strong followers of Sharda Devi.
It is said that Alha penanced for 12 years and got the amaratva with the
blessings of Sharda Devi. Alha and Udal are said to be the first to visit the
goddess in this remote forest. It is believed that every morning, before the temple gate is opened,
Alaha comes and offers flowers and garland in adoration of Maa Sharda. When the
temple is opened in the morning at the appropriate time, fresh flowers and
garland are found offered to the deity. Alha used to call the mother goddess by the
name Sharda Mai and henceforth she became popular as Mata Sharda Mai. One can
see downhill behind the temple, the pond known as Alha Pond. Recently this pond
and the surrounding areas has been cleaned / renovated for the benefit of
pilgrims. At a distance of 2 km from this pond is situated the akhara of Alha
and Udal where they did practice of kushti. One more famous fact about Maihar
is that people of Maihar believe that ALHA is still alive and every morning at
4 AM he comes to the temple and perform puja. Several people tried to watch him
coming and doing puja but nobody till now has been succeeded.
Nobody as yet could solve the mystery. It is said that when Mata Sati,
wife of Lord Shiva, left for heavenly abode, Shiva carried her body in his
shoulder and started dancing in madness, and her necklace fell at the Trikoot
Hill people started calling it Maa ka Har and thus the name of the place has
been derived out it as Maihar.
This temple is known for the 1063 steps to the top. Millions of devotees
throng the temple all round the year. The introduction of Ropeway system from
September 2009 has been a great boon to the pilgrims (particularly the old and
the handicapped) to fulfill their wish to have the audience of Mother Goddess
Sharda.
Well nobody could assemble the real truth but everyone who have seen
that temple, believed in this story and seen the sign of Alha who comes every
morning and do ‘puja’ of Maa Sharda . But people are blessed with that view and
truly believe a story of a legend Alha.
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