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Ashapura Devi |
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There once lived a girl called Gayatri in Mata nu Madh (the village where Ashapura maa’s temple is built today) she was a great devotee of the Goddess Ashapura. The entire village would come to the temple during Navratri to hear her sing the Aarti of the Goddess. She was the only child of her father, who was the temple priest. One year, during Navratri Gayatri’s father had a friend come in from the city to visit this temple. He came to the temple only to fall in love with the sweet words in the Aarti which was sung by Gayatri. He asked Gayatri’s father for Gayatri’s had in marriage with his son. The priest agreed, thinking his daughter will be happy. When Gayatri herd about this she ran to Ashapura Maa’s temple and accused the Goddess for trying to send Gayatri away from her. She cried and begged the Goddess to help her. Later that day, as she was walking across the fields she met a handsome man. He didn’t look of her village and was very good-looking indeed. He was very angry at that time, complaining about the heat, lack of energy in the village. She did not know that this was the man she was going to marry. His name was Shankar. When they were introduced, Gayatri thought he might not like her, although it was the total opposite. He really liked Gayatri; however she told him he had to prove to her how much he liked her.He came crawling to the temple of the goddess Ashapura all the way from his home, and as he entered the temple, Gayatri was astonished at his commitment to her, and faith in Maa Ashapura. |
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When a vow such as what Shankar proposed is completed, Ashapura maa’s image in the temple which is normally decorated with flowers is supposed to miraculously drop a flower. This did not happen. People said that there is a sinner in the temple. They asked everyone to leave, including Shankar. The flower still did not drop. When Gayatri left, the flower automatically dropped. She rushed back to the temple, and asked the goddess for forgiveness. Gayatri then agreed to the marriage It was a grand wedding performed in such splendor and excitement which the village had never seen before. Gayatri set off to Mumbai with her Husband (Shankar). Her mother-in-law was like any typical mother-in-law. She was not kind to Gayatri (because of her background) and did not like Gayatri. Within days Gayatri had all those issues resolved. She also arranged for a temple of the Goddess Ashapura in their home. |
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Months passed, and Gayatri was not able to conceive any children. They went to the doctor, who told them that Gayatri may never be able to conceive any children. Heartbroken Gayatri, then only worshipped Ashapura maa, hoping that the goddess will fulfill her wish. It wasn’t long before Ashapura maa sent a message to Gayatri in the form of a priest. He told Gayatri to have faith and devotion on Maa Ashapura, and she will surely fulfill her wish. However, he also told her that if she wants to have a child she will have to sacrifice her husband, and if she wants her husband she will have to sacrifice her child. Gayatri was confused, and her emotions were overtaken with grief, sorrow and depression. Her mother-in-law was pressuring her to have a child, and soon enough surprisingly Gayatri was pregnant. She told her husband to not go anywhere till she gives birth, however he had to go for an urgent conference call. On his way, he had a car accident and he was in a critical state. When Gayatri and her mother-in-law were informed, her mother-in-law collapsed with a heart attack. She too, was in a critical state. Gayatri then, with no option walked from Mumbai to Mata Nu Madh (Kutch), praying to the goddess. She walked bare feet, across the desert. She was determined to pray to the goddess for the life of her husband and her mother-in-law. She overcame a storm, a sand storm and finally reached to Maa’s temple. she sat there the whole nigt and cried. The follwg morning,gaytri got th news that her mother in law and shnar were both fine. They were on their way to maas temple. She thanked the goddess for blessing her. She sang the beautiful aarti of madhwali maa ashapura. They all soon gatered the temple and performed th aarti to the goddess maa desh devi maa ashapura. |
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