From Hinglaj to Kapadvanj
The original Shakti Peeth of Maa Hinglaj, Shobhna Maa’s pilgrimage, and how Shree Hinglaj Dham came to be.
Maa Hinglaj and the original Shakti Peeth
The original temple of Hinglaj Mata is a cave near the Hingol river in Balochistan, Pakistan. Tradition holds that part of Sati’s head fell here, which gives it a special place among the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Every April a pilgrimage there draws lakhs of devotees, but it is very hard for devotees from India to make the journey. Many communities worship Maa Hinglaj as their kuldevi (family goddess).
Shobhna Maa’s pilgrimage
With the blessings of Ahmedabad’s Mai bhakt Maftlal Maharaj, Shobhna Maa took up a life of devotion. On 22 October 2010 she travelled with 11 devotees to the Hinglaj Dham in Pakistan.
Moved by the darshan there, she resolved to build a similar Dham for Maa in Gujarat, so devotees here could receive Maa’s darshan too.
Building the Dham
After visiting many places, a site was chosen on the banks of the Vatrak river near Kapadvanj, close to the old shrines of Utkantheshwar Mahadev and Kedareshwar Mahadev.
The foundation was laid in 2015. Like the original at Hinglaj, the Dham is built as a cave: the mandir sits on a raised mound, and darshan of Maa is through an underground cave.
The pran pratishtha
The three-day pran pratishtha (consecration) was held from Phagun Sud 1 to 3 (16–18 February 2018), with the rituals performed by Acharya Riteshbhai Raval. Since then, the patotsav is celebrated every year on Phagun Sud 3.
- Day 1 (16 Feb): a procession through the village, mandap pravesh and agni sthapan (installing the sacred fire).
- Day 2 (17 Feb): a maha-abhishek of Maa with 1008 kalash, and the adhivas rituals.
- Day 3 (18 Feb): Maa Hinglaj installed in the nij mandir (sanctum) with Vedic mantras.
The akhand jyot and prasad from Hinglaj
Maa’s akhand jyot (eternal flame) was brought here from the original Hinglaj Dham in Balochistan. A thumro (the sacred bead mala of Hinglaj) and a yantra were also brought from there as prasad, and are installed in the cave. A panchdhatu (five-metal) Shri Yantra is enshrined at the Dham as well.
The Dham today
Daily pooja and aarti are performed by Shobhna Maa and the Dham’s pujari, Jatin Maharaj. The Dham also runs a gaushala (cow shelter) and an ashram.
Deities at the Dham
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