​माँ थावेवाली की कथा – Maa Thawewali Ki Katha

Jai Maa Thawewali
जय माँ थावेवाली

माँ दुर्गा तीनो लोको में सर्व शक्तिमान है।  ब्रहमांड में मौजूद हर तरह की शक्ति इन्ही की कृपा से प्राप्त होती है और अंत में इन्ही में समाहित हो जाती है  इसीलिए माता दुर्गा को आदि शक्ति भी कहा जाता है देवताओ ने भी जब राक्षसों के साथ युद्घ में स्वयं को कमजोर महसूस किया तब माँ दुर्गा ने उनके शरणागत होने पर प्रचंड रूप धारण करके राक्षसों का संहार किया और देवताओ एवं धर्म की रक्षा की।

इस जगत की पालनहार माता ही है जिनकी कृपा से सबकुछ होता है। इसलिए इन को जगत जननी भी कहा जाता है। माँ दुर्गा अपने भक्तो और धरती पर धर्म की रक्षा और अधर्म का नाश करने के लिए अनेक रूप के प्रकट हुई है । भक्तगण इनको अलग-अलग रूपों और अलग-अलग नामो से पूजते है । कोई शीतला माता, कोई काली माता, कोई मंगला माता तो कोई माँ वैष्णवी के रूप में पूजता है। माँ दुर्गा के अनेक रूप और नाम है। माँ के इन्ही अनेक रूपों और नमो में से एक माँ थावेवाली भी है।

बिहार राज्य के गोपालगंज शहर से मात्र 6 किलोमीटर की दुरी पर सिवान जानेवाले राष्ट्रिये राजमार्ग पर थावे नाम का जगह है वही माता थावेवाली का प्रसिद्द मंदिर है। माँ थावेवाली को सिंहासिनी भवानी, रहषु भवानी और थावे भवानी भी कहा जाता है।  माँ थावेवाली असम के कामरूप से जहाँ माँ कामख्या का बड़ा प्राचीन और भव्य मंदिर है थावे आई थी इसलिए इनको कावरू कामख्या भी कहा जाता है।

प्राचीन काल में थावे में माता कामख्या के बहुत सचे भक्त श्री रहषु भगत जी रहते थे। वो माता की बहुत सच्चे मन से भक्ति करते थे और माता भी उनकी भक्ति से प्रसन्न थी। माता की कृपा से उनके अन्दर बहुत सी दिव्य शक्तिया भी थी। लेकिन वहा के तत्कालीन राजा मनन सिंह को उनकी भक्ति पसंद नहीं थी। वो रहषु भगत जी को ढोंगी-पाखंडी समझते थे । एक दिन राजा ने अपने सैनिको को रहषु भगत जी को पकड़कर दरबार में लाने का आदेश दिया ।  दरबार में आने पर राजा ने रहषु भगत जी को ढोंगी-पाखंडी आदि अभद्र शब्दों का प्रयोग कर अपमानित किया और उनके माता के सच्चे भक्त होने का मजाक उडाया । रहषु भगत जी ने राजा को विनम्रता पूर्वक समझाया की माता की कृपा से ही मै सबकुछ करता हूँ और मेरी भक्ति से प्रसन्न होकर वो मुझे दर्शन भी देती है । राजा मनन सिंह के घर भी माता की पूजा होती थी लेकिन माता ने कभी दर्शन नही दिया था और चुकी रहषु भगत जी एक अछूत जाती के थे और माता उनको दर्शन देती है ये बात रहषु भगत जी से सुनते ही राजा अत्यंत क्रोधित हो उठे और भगत जी को चुनौती दिए की यदि तुम वास्तव में माता के सच्छे भक्त हो तो मेरे सामने माता को बुलाकर दिखाओ नहीं तो तुम्हे दंड दिया जायेगा । भगत जी ने राजा को बार-बार और विनम्रता पूर्वक समझाया की महाराज अगर माता प्रकट हो गई तो अनर्थ हो जायेगा इसलिए आप अपना हठ छोड़ दीजिये और सच्चे मन से माता की भक्ति कीजिये । लेकिन राजा मनन सिंह अपने हठ पर अडे रहे । अब भगत जी के पास माता को बुलाने के अलावा कोई अन्य रास्ता नहीं बचा था । भगत जी ने माता का आह्वाहन किया । माता ने कामरूप से प्रस्थान किया और कोलकाता, पटना, आमी आदि स्थानों से होते जहाँ वो क्रमश: काली, पटनदेवी, अमिका भवानी आदि नमो से प्रसिद्ध है, थावे पहुची । माता ने भगत जी के मस्तक को फाड़कर अपना कंगन दिखाया । उनके आगमन से पुरे राज्य में प्रलय जैसी स्थिति हो गई । राजा और उनके राज-पाट का अंत हो गया ।

माता ने जहा दर्शन दिया वही उनके मंदिर का निर्माण किया गया । रहशु भगत जी मंदिर भी माता के मंदिर के पास ही है । यह कहा जाता है की माँ थावेवाली के दर्शन के पश्चात रहशु भगत जी का दर्शन भी अवश्य करना चाहिए तभी माता प्रसन्न होती है ।

माँ थावेवाली बहुत दयालु और कृपालु है । अपने शरण में आये हुवे सभी भक्तो का कल्याण करती है । हर सुख-दुःख में लोग माँ के शरण में जाते है और करुणामई माँ किसी को भी निराश नहीं करती है सबकी मनोकामना पूरी करती है । थावे के आस-पास किसी के घर शादी-व्याह जैसा शुभकार्य हो या किसी को कोई दुःख बीमारी हो हल परिस्थिति में लोग माता की शरण में जाते है और माता उनका कार्य सिद्ध करती है मंगल करती है । माँ हर घडी और हर सुख-दुःख में अपने भक्तो पर करुणा और ममता की छाँव रखती है ।
देश-विदेह में रहने वाले लोग जब साल-दो साल पर अपने घर आते है तो सबसे पहला और सबसे महतापूर्ण काम होता है माता थावेवाली का दर्शन करना । उनसे अपने और अपनों के लिए सुखद और समृद्ध जीवन की कामना करना । प्रतिदिन हजारो की संख्या में श्रद्धालु माता के दर्शन करने आते है और अपनी मनोकामनाये पूरी करते है । परन्तु अफ़सोस इस बात की है की इतना अधिक आस्था और श्रधा का केंद्र होते हुवे भी इस स्थान का विकाश और व्यस्था जितना बढ़िया होना चाहिए उतना नहीं हुआ है । आज भी तीर्थयात्रियों के लिए दर्शन और विश्राम आदि की संतोषजनक व्यवस्था नहीं हो पायी है । और यह स्थान इतना प्रचीन होते हुवे भी एक क्षेत्र विशेष तक ही सिमित है । अतः आम जनता और प्रशासन को मिल-जुल कर माता के स्थान का समुचित विकाश और व्वस्था करना चाहिए ताकि थावे वाली माता का स्थान विश्व के मानचित्र पर एक महत्वपूर्ण धार्मिक स्थल बन कर सामने आये ।

थावे की चर्चा हो तो वहा के प्रशिद्ध और अति स्वादिष्ट मिठाई पुडिकिया को कैसे भुलाया जा सकता है । आप जब भी थावे जाये पुदुकिया मिठाई अवश्य खाये ।

जय माता की !

– अजीत तिवारी
काशी टेंगराही, गोपालगंज
www.jaimaathawewali.com

 

सिंहासनी भवानी माँ थावेवाली की ​प्रार्थना

Maa Thawewali
सिंहासनी भवानी माँ थावेवाली की ​प्रार्थना

ॐ शैलपुत्री ब्रह्मचारिणी  नमोस्तुते ।
श्री स्कन्दमाता महागौरी पूजत गणेश ॥

ॐ काण्मांडा कालरात्रि नमोस्तुते ।

श्री चंद्रघण्​टा ध्यावत ब्रह्माविष्णुमहेश ॥

ॐ कात्यायनी सिद्धरात्रि नमोस्तुते ।

श्री महाकाली  तेरा रूप अनेक ॥

ॐ सिंहासनी भवानी थावे वाली नमोस्तुते ।
शत्रु संहारो मेरे निवारो दुःख क्लेश ॥

—:जय माँ थावेवाली :—

स्रोत : ‘रहषु भगत की अमर कहानी’ पुस्तक से संकलित

Nine Forms of Maa Durga

Nine forms of Maa Durga
Nine Forms of Maa Durga

Maa Durga is worshipped in many different forms. She is a form of “SHAKTI”. The evolution of Shri Maha Saraswati, Shri Maha Laxmi and Shri Mahakali (the 3 main forms of “SHAKTI”) took place from “Shri Brahma”, “Shri Vishnu” and “Shri Mahesh” respectively. Each of these 3 deities gave rise to 3 more forms and hence in all, these 9 forms together are known as “Nav-Durga”.

1. Maa Shailputri – The Navratri commences with the 1st night devoted to the puja of Maa “Shailputri”. “Shail” means mountains; “Parvati”, the daughter of king of Mountains Himavan, is known as “Shailputri”. HER 2 hands, display a trident and a lotus. She is mounted upon a bull.

2. Maa Bhramcharni – One hand holds a “Kumbha” or water port and the other rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Maa Bhramcharni is store-house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is her most adorned ornament.

3. Maa Chandraghanta – Worshipped on the 3rd night this Maa Durga “SHAKTI” is astride a tiger, displays a golden hue to HER skin, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of HER hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night.

4. Maa Kushmanda – The 4th night begins the worship of Maa “Kushmanda”, possessed of eight arms, holding weapons and a mala or rosary. Her mount is a tiger and She emanates a solar like aura. “Kumbh Bhand” means to see cosmic vivacity in Pindi shape or knowledge of cosmic intricacies in human race. The abode of Maa “Kushmanda” is in Bhimaparvat.

5. Maa Skandmata – Using a lion as a vehicle She holds her son, “SKAND” in her lap while displaying 3 eyes and 4 hands; two hands hold lotuses while the other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Its said, by the mercy of Maa “Skandmata”, even the idiot becomes an ocean of knowledge such as “Kalidas”.

6. Maa Kaatyayani – As mother, Maa “Kaatyayani” stayed in the Ashram of sage Katyayan for penance, hence She named as “Kaatyayani”. This 6th Shakti is also astride a lion with 3 eyes and 4 arms. One left hand holds a weapon and the other a lotus. The other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Her complexion is golden coloured.

7. Maa Kaalratri – Black skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of “giving” and “protecting”. She is mounted upon a Donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Maa “Kaalratri” is the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness. Maa Kaalratri’s famous shrine is in Calcutta.

8. Maa Mahagauri – Four arms with the fairest complexion of all the Durga Shaktis. Peace and compassion radiate from Her being and She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull. Maa “Mahagauri can be seen in a temple at Kankhal near pilgrim centre Haridwar.

9. Maa Siddhiratri- Ensconced upon a lotus, most commonly, with 4 arms, and is the possessor of 26 different wishes to grant Her bhakts. Maa Siddhiratri’s famous pilgrim centre, is located in Nanda Parvat in the Himalayas.

Aarti Thawewali Maa

Jai Maa Thawewali

Aarti Thawewali Maa

om jai maa thawewali sumirau jo singhasni bhawani |
kate-sankat deve karu, hone purn mansha man-mani ||

katara ghas ke dhan banawe,rahshuji jab lagawe dhyan |
saat baagh daye jhare chawal, shakti sabne ma ki jani ||

om jai maa thawewali, sumirau jo singhasni bhavani |
kamakhya,aami,ghodaghat, saat jagaha ko apni maa ||

mastak fadi nikali hath, bhakt rahshuji ki bani kahani |
om jai maa thawewali, sumirau jo singhasini bhawani ||

manchaha fal pawe, jab man-mukh bole maa ki bani |
om jai maa thawewali,sumirau jo singhasini bhawani ||

lijiye har sankat hamar, kijiye maiya svapan sakar |
sabki jholi bharnewali, he maiya devi dani ||

***

How to reach Maata Temple Thawe

how to reach thawe temple

The Temple of “Maa Thawewali” is situated in “Thawe”, in Gopalganj District in the State of Bihar, INDIA. This is only 6 K.M. from Gopalganj town on the Gopalganj-Siwan National Highway.

Distance from the nearest towns & cities are given below:

From (City/Town) Distance (in K.M.)
Gopalganj 6 K.M.
Siwan 28 K.M.
Chapra 94 K.M.
Patna 174 K.M.
Gorakhpur 120 K.M.
Varansi 230 K.M.
Lucknow 385 K.M.
New Delhi 929 K.M.

There are several ways to reach Maa’s Temple

By Rail

There is a very good railway network that connects “Thawe” to the different parts of the state and other cities of our country. The nearest railway junction Siwan is directly connected to the four metro cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata & Chennai. This is also well connected to other city of our country. Gorakhpur and Patna the major rail heads are also directly connected to “Thawe” via Siwan & Chapra. From National Capital New Delhi, many Express & Super fast Trains are available to reach Patna and Siwan via Lucknow-Mughalsarai and Kanpur-Varanasi, Lucknow-Gorakhpur respectively. Thawe also having railway junction. After arrival at Patna or Siwan one can reach Maa’s Temple very easily by train or Bus. Also Taxi service is available from Patna, Siwan, Gopalganj, Chapra & Gorakhpur through out the day.

By Road

There is a good road network in the state that connects different places within state along with other parts of the country. Many National Highways pass through the state. Regular Bus and Taxi services are available from major cities of Bihar and East Uttar Pradesh (Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Varanasi etc.) through out the day.

By Air

Patna the Capital City of Bihar, is well connected to different cities of the country through regular flights. From Patna very good Rail and Road transport facility is available to reach the Maa’s Temple.

History of Thawewali Maa


Godess Navadurga

This holy story pertains to about 14th century AD. King ‘Manan Singh’ from ‘Chero’ dynasty was ruler of ‘Hathuwa’. Although Manan Singh was a devotee of Maa Durga but he was having a proud nature. He claimed to be the greatest devotee of Maa Durga and did not like other saints and religious persons. People were not happy with the King due to his unkind nature and behavior.

The fort in which the king resided was located at present ‘Thawe’. One ‘Rahashu’ lived in the same village who was a true devotee of ‘Maa Kamakhya’. People used to call him ‘Rahashu Bhagat’ to convey their respect to him.

Once there was a great famine in the state of Hathuwa. People started to die due to hunger. There was very bad condition everywhere, but the king continued to levy tax even in that miserable condition. Poor people became sadder due to the cruel attitude of the king. They did pray to ‘Maa Kamakhya’ for relief. To relieve her devotees from their grief and pain, Maa Kamakhya appeared in midnight while sitting on seven lions and told to Rahashu Bhagat to cut ‘Katara’ (grass) and to worship her in midnight. Rahashu Bhagat used to cut ‘Katara’ (grass) whole day and yielded it in midenight by seven lions of Maa Kamakhya. Thus he got ‘Manasara’ (a type of holy Rice). Every morning Rahashu Bhagat distributed the Manasara among poor people. Rahashu Bhagat became very famous because he had relieved the poor people from their hunger.

When the king came to know about all these developments, he became very angry and called Rahashu Bhagat and insulted him. The king ordered Rahashu Bhagat to call Maa Kamakhya to prove his true devotion.

Rahashu Bhagat requested the king not to do so and suggested the King to pray the Maa with an honest heart but the king insisted to call Maa and threatened Rahashu Bhagat to kill in case of disobedience. At last, helpless Rahashu Bhagat started to pray Maa Kamakhya to call her. On the call from her true devotee, Maa Kamakhya started her journey sitting on seven lions from Kamrupa (Assam) where she is known as ‘Kamakhya Devi’ to Thawe.

Rahashu Bhagat again requested the King to drop his insistence but the king did not agree and forced Rahashu Bhagat to call Maa. Meanwhile Maa appeared in Vindhyachal for sometime and was called Maa ‘Vindhyavasni Devi’. In her way to Thawe Maa reached Kalighat in Calcutta and was called Maa ‘Kalka Devi’. Rahashu Bhagat again requested king to quit his wish and warned him for mass destruction but the king was not agreed.

In her way to Thawe Maa stayed at Patna for a while and was called ‘PatanDevi’. Then Maa appeared in ‘Aami’ and ‘Ghodaghat’ was called ‘AmbikaBhawanii’ and ‘Ghod Devi’ respectively.

When Maa reached ‘Thawe’ the weather and appearance of the place began to change. Due to hundreds of thunders King’s palace fell and destroyed. Everyone was feared. The devotees of Maa started to pray her to save them as they had known that Maa had reached Thawe.

After sometime, Maa appeared through broken head of Rahashu Bhagat and showed her right hand wearing a ‘Kanagan’ (Bracelet). The four handed Maa appeared sitting on the seven lions and blessed her devotees. On the pray from her true devotees, Maa made the things normal and disappeared.

Rahashu Bhagat got ‘Moksha’ (heaven). The king, his palace and all his empire came to end. The remnants of the palace may be seen even today around the temple of Maa at Thawe.

The devotee of Maa built a temple where Maa appeared. They also built a ‘Rahashu-Temple’ where Rahashu Bhagat used to pray Maa. It is said that after ‘Darshan’ (visit) of Maa Thawewali, Darshan of Rahashu-Temple is mandatory to please Maa.

Maa is also called ‘Singhasini Bhawani’. Maa Thawewali is very kind and generous to her devotees and fulfills all their wishes.

“Jai Maa Thawewali”

N. B.: (This story is based upon the information taken from the people of Thawe. Maximum care has been taken to avoid any error, but if any fault would have been occurred, the writer conveys his ascent to amend it while brought to his notice. Your worthy suggestions in this regard are heartily welcome.)

About Thawewali Maa

Maa Thawewali
About Thawewali Maa

The Goddess Maa “Shakti” is the “Supreme power” which saturates the entire of the universe, and from which the Universe has emanated. There is nothing in the world, which is not “Shakti” in its essence. Shakti is the Great Mother of the Universe. Maa fights and vanquishes the evil forces to protect her Bhaktas (Devotees). She is always on the lookout for ways and means of helping her Devotee. Maa is very “Karunamayi”, “Kripalu” and “Dayalu” (Kindhearted).

There are several names and forms of Maa Shakti. Bhaktas (devotees) worship her by many names in many forms, Maa Thawewali is one of them. There are 52 “SHAKTIPITHAs” in all over India, this place is also as like as “SHAKTIPITHA”.

The holy place of Maa Thawewali is situated in Thawe in Gopalganj District in Bihar, INDIA. Maa has arrived here from her another holy place Kamrup, Assam where she well known as “Maa Kamakhya” on the prayer of her great devotee “Shree Rahshu Bhagat Ji”. Maa also known as “Singhasini Devi”. Thawewali Maa is very kind hearted and taking care of her devotee. No one has come empty handed from Maata temple. Maa has always answered the prayers of her devotees.

The time of Morning Aarti – between 5:00 to 7:00 am and in Evening 7:00 pm (depends on season). Devotees worship maa with “Laddo”, “Peda”, “Narial” & “Chunari”.

Two days in week Monday and Friday are very important for worshiping to make pleased Maa. On these days Devotees gathered and worship Maa in large number in comparison to other days. The special Mela is organized during two times in year, in the month of “Chaitrya” (March) and “Ashvin” (October) on the great occasion of “Navratra”.

Maa has given each one of her devotees what they deserve to get. Maa needs no expensive preparation from us. She needs few inexpensive and common things. Maa needs nothing from her devotees except few things like devotion Bhakti), pureness (Pavitrata), and love. Greatness and miracles of Maa needs no description in words it is an invaluable experience of an individual who has to experience it in their own SHARDHA and BHAKTI.