Central India
Chhattisgarh
One prominent temple of Danteshwari is located in the area of Bastar and is one of the revered 52 Shakti Peethas. Goddess Danteshwari is also revered as the kuldevi, or familial divinity, for various local populations.
The Bamleshwari's Temple in Rajnandgaon, the Kudargarhi or Bagheshwari's Temple in Surajpur District, the Dindeshwari's Temple in Malhar, the Banjari Mata Temple in Raipur, the Mawali Mata Temple in Tarponga, the Jatmai Mata Temple in Raipur, Budhi Mai in Raigarh, Tuturiya Mata Temple in Borsi, and Ranjeet Mata Temple in Ganiyari all contribute to the Shakti tradition of the state.
A statue of the female form of Hanuman, residing in Ratanpur District, is an intriguing aspect among these sacred locations. The idol of female Hanuman was found by a king, named Prithvi Devju of Ratanpur.
Madhya Pradesh
Among the renowned temples of regional goddesses, the Ratangarh Mata Temple is located in the Pali district. On Trikuta Hill, one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, the renowned shrine of Sharda Devi is located. The historical Jagadambi Temple in Chattarpur, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Achhru Mata Temple in Todi, the Iccha Devi Temple in Burhanpur, the Bhadwa Mata Temple in Bhadwa, the Bheswa Mata Temple in Bhainswa Mataji, the Lakeshwari Temple in Chitoli and more are all included in the mosaic. Bambar Baini Temple in Laundi, Chhatarpur district, the Maihar Devi Temple in Pipariya Khurd, the Tikitoriya Devi Temple in Tikhi, and the Nahan Devi Temple in Kakarhata are examples of some other temples of the goddesses that draw the local devotees.
Temple of Bijasan Mata is located in Indore. A group of nine sister goddesses considered Navadurga, reside together in the temple in the form of stone. The temple of the goddess is in Pushkar, Rajasthan, where goddesses are described as seven sisters worshipped as miraculous goddesses in villages.
Sunarhai Devi's temple is located in Jabalpur. The goddess is depicted with four hands, the lower right hand in Abhaya mudra, and carrying two swords in the upper and a trident in the lower left hand. The three hands carrying attributes are also pointing in three directions.
Badi Mata is a regional Hindu goddess of disease, worshipped by some Saharia and Kamar tribes in Madhya Pradesh. She is also one of seven sister goddesses with similar associations, named Sitala Mata, Phul Mata, Pansahi Mata, Gusulia Mata, Kankar Mata, and Malbal.
Western India
Rajasthan
The Khangar community holds Gajanan Mata as the kuldevi, and the depiction of her sitting on a lotus atop an elephant and a tiger signifies a unique symbolism. Nimbaja Mata is the kuldevi of the Shrimali Brahmins and her temple is located in Jalore district. A lineage-linked with spiritual history can be observed with Jajwala Mataji, the kuldevi of the Pushkarna Bhardwaj Vyas dynasty, and The Osiyan or Sachiya Mata's Temple in Osian district, acting as the kuldevi for several castes.
In Mount Abu, a hill station in western Rajasthan, there are two temples: Arbuda Devi Temple and Kunjal Mata Temple. In addition to the Dadhimati Mata Temple in Nagaur District, the Bhanwar Mata Temple in Chhoti Sadri, and the Jeenmata Temple in Sikar District, there is a temple dedicated to Avari Mata in Chittorgarh. Karni Mata's temple is located in the town of Deshnoke and it is famous for its rats, which are treated as sacred and given protection in the temple. Tanot Mata Temple in Jaisalmera is maintained by India's Border Security Force (BSF). Kaika Devi's Temple is located in Keladevi. She is shown sitting with Chamunda. Her idol is larger with her neck slightly bent. The Latiyal Maa Temple in Phalodi, the Nandi Devi Temple in Banswara, Pallu Wali Mata Temple is located in Pallu, Rathasen Mata Temple in Jhalon Ka Gurha, Neemach Mata Temple in Udaipur, Sarund Mata Temple in Saroond and the Nakkash Ki Devi Temple in Hindaun, are some other shrines of regional goddesses that draw followers.
Rani Sati, also called Narayani Devi, was a Rajasthani woman who committed sati on her husband’s death and is now regarded as a goddess. She is worshipped in various parts of India. In Rani Sati Temple in the Shekhavati region, she is represented by a trident with two eyes. Rani Bhatiyani was a Rajput princess who committed sati on her husband’s death and is now regarded as a goddess. She is worshipped in Western Rajasthan by the Dolhi community
Shila Devi is a Durga idol enshrined in Amer Fort in Jaipur. The idol of the goddess was recovered from the sea in the form of a Shila (Slab). Her temple is located in Deshnoke. Suswani Mata is another form of the goddess regarded as an incarnation of Durga and worshipped by both Jain and Hindus in Rajasthan.
Gangaur is a festival celebrated in Rajasthan and neighboring states for Goddess Parvati worshipped as Gangaur Devi. Lal Sagar ki Mata Temple is located in Jodhpur and is now dedicated to Santoshi Mata. Santoshi Mata is the goddess of satisfaction. She emerged in the 1960s in folklore, probably in western India. The 1975 film Jai Santoshi Maa elevated her to the pan-Indian Hindu pantheon. Now she is worshipped as a mainstream deity, but she is not mentioned in any Hindu epics or scriptures and is regarded as a daughter of Ganesha. She is depicted with four arms, carrying a sword, trident, rice bowl, and her lower right hand in Abhaya Mudra.
Gujarat
Gujarat is home to several kuldevi and a diverse culture of regional goddesses. Among them, Bahuchar Mata is a well-known deity associated with chastity and fertility. She is depicted with four arms, carrying a sword, scriptures, a trident, and one right hand in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a rooster. She is also a patron goddess of the Hijras, a community of eunuchs, intersex and transgender people. Sadhi Mata is the kuldevi of the Raval Yogi Community. She is depicted in a standing position, with eight arms, holding various attributes and lifting a man with his hair. Ambaji Temple of the goddess Ambika is located in Banaskantha district and is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Harsidhi or Harshal is a form of Durga worshipped as kuldevi by many communities like Kshatriya, Brahmin, Rajput, and Vaishya in Gujarat and central India. She is usually shown seated on a lion, or a swing and holding a sword and a trident, and has a red complexion. Additionally, Ashapura Mata is one of the primary deities of the Kutch region, who fulfills the wish & desires. She is the kuldevi of many communities in Kutch. Her idol at the Ghumli temple is depicted with four arms, carrying a trident and sword in her upper arms and lower hand in Abhaya and Varada Mudra. Some of her idols are shown with 7 pairs of eyes.
Meldi Maa is another popular goddess. As per the legend, she was created from the mel (dirt) of goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali to kill a demon who was hiding in sewage. She is also one of the tribal goddesses of the Vagri community in Gujarat and is depicted with four arms, carrying a sword, chakra, bottle, mace, lotus, trident, dagger, and one right hand in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a goat. Hadak Mata, Vihat Mata, Vahanvati Maa, and Ranvali Mata are some other goddesses worshipped in the Vagri community. Hadak Mata is depicted with four arms, carrying a sword, damru, trident, and one hand in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a dog. Vihat Mata is depicted with twenty arms, carrying various attributes, and one hand in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a water buffalo. Vahanvati Maa is the goddess who protects sailors and boaters while Ranvali Mata is one of the goddesses of dessert. Vahanvati Maa is depicted with four arms carrying various attributes and she is shown on a lion or a boat on calender arts. Verai Mata is another goddess with similar iconography as Vihat Mata. She is shown with eight hands carrying various weapons and buffalo as her mount.
Khodiyar Mata is the goddess of the Charan-Gadhvi community in Gujarat and Rajasthan. She is depicted standing beside a crocodile with two arms, holding and trident and one of her right hands in Abhaya mudra. As per a legend, her name was Janbai and she was one of the seven warrior sisters. She once saved her brother’s life who was bitten by a poisonous sting. She dove underwater to Nagaloka, the region of the Nagas, and returned with amrita (the potion of immortality) riding on a crocodile. She is often portrayed with her six sisters, all wearing black clothes and holding a trident. The traditions around Umiya Mata, the kuldevi of the Kadava Patidars, are mainly found in North Gujarat. She is depicted with six arms, carrying a sword, shield, trident, lotus, chakra, and one right hand in Abhaya mudra. Her mount is a cow.
Some other goddesses are Gel Mata, depicted with four arms, carrying a sword, trident, chakra, and one right hand in Abhaya mudra, and seated on a ram, Tapkeshwari inshrined in Kutch district, and Nagbai Maa, depicted with six arms, carrying a sword, dagger, trident, fire, served head, and one right hand in Abhaya mudra. The Temple of Chamunda is located in Chotila, a small town. She is depicted as a guardian deity with a companion or sister named Chotila, with a lion as their mount. Dasha, also known as Momai Maa, is associated with underprivileged classes and is shown with two or four arms and a camel mount, whereas Jivantika Mata protects children and is shown with eight arms bearing various qualities. Mogal Maa, dressed in black, holds a sword and a snake and is a fierce goddess who protects and feeds her devotee. Dhavdi Maa has a rare depiction as she is shown with Rhinoceros as her mount. She has four arms, carrying a sword, trident, sickle, and one right hand in Abhaya mudra. Nagar Devi is a local form of Bhadrakali as the goddess of the city. She is shown with different mounts that are changed every day. Her temple is located in Ahmedabad. Gujarat's spiritual diversity features Gatral Maa, depicted with four arms, carrying a sword, chakra, trident, and a bowl, Harkor of the Lohana clan, Shakti Mata of the Zala clan, Siriyal Mata of Savla, and Modheshwari, who represents a local manifestation of eighteen armed Durga in the Modh community of Gujarat. While Semoj Maa is a regional four-armed Durga. Randal Maa is a local form of Sanjna, the consort of Surya worshipped with her shadow image, Chhaya. Shaktambika Mataji is Kuldevi of Gautami sect Brahmins. Devi Mogra is a goddess for the Satpuda tribal people. Nagneshwari Mata is a folk goddess in Gujarat associated with naga. She is depicted coming out from a snake and having four arms, carrying a sword, milk bowl, lotus, and trident.
Maharashtra
Bhavani is a form of Durga and she is venerated throughout Maharashtra. Numerous communities, including numerous Rajputs, Marathas, Deshastha Brahmins of Maharashtra, and Agris of Konkan, regard Bhavai as a Kuldevi. According to local lore, Bhavani gave the Chandrahasa sword to Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire, for the war against Bijapur Sultanate's army.
Renuka. also called Yellamma, is predominantly worshipped in Maharashtra and the south Indian states, as the “Mother of the Universe”. As per the legend, Renuka had the divine power to collect water in unbaked pots. Once she had adulterous thoughts after seeing a king making love to his wife on a riverbank and because of that, she lost her powers. Knowing all this, Sage Jamadagni, the husband of Renuka, orders his son Parashurama, an incarnation of Vishnu, to behead Renuka. Renuka ran and took refuge in the hut of a low-caste woman. Ultimately, Parashurama found her and beheaded her, along with the low-caste woman who was trying to stop him. Charmed by Parashurama’s loyalty, Jamadagni gave him a boon. Parashurama wanted his mother alive and in a hurry, he accidentally placed the head of his mother with the body of the low-caste woman. The low-caste woman with Renuka’s head had started to be worshipped as Yellamma. Another goddess associated with Renuka is Ekvira. She is the kuldevi of the Koli community and is considered an incarnation of Renuka, and her temple is located in the Karla Caves of Pune, while Ekaveerika Devi is considered to be the elder sister of Renuka and her temple is located in Mahur.
Mhalsa, also known as Mahalasa Devi, is worshipped in Marathi culture as the spouse of the highly regarded folk god Khandoba, who is thought to be an avatar of Shiva. Banai, on the other hand, is Khandoba's second consort and the patron goddess of the Dhangar community, a sheep-herding caste.
Yamai Devi's temple in Satara, Mothi Devi stands as an eight-armed scarlet face avatar of Durga, with a scarlet face and a tiger mount, in her temple in Khamgaon, and Mumba Devi, the goddess of Mumbai, patronizing Marathi Agris (salt collectors) and Kolis (fisherfolk) communities. Chattushringi Devi's temple in Pune honors her as the guardian deity of the city, and Manu Devi in Jalgaon District, is the kuldevi of the Baviskar Family. Navadurga is local form of Durga and the Kuldevta Gaud Saraswat Brahmins and Daivadnya Brahmins in Goa & Maharashtra. The Saptashrungi temple at Saptashurngi is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, honoring this form of Durga whose name refers to her abode on seven hills. The shrine of Vajreshwari Devi in Vajreshwari depicts her wielding a sword, mace, and trident, accompanied by the goddesses Saptashrungi and Renuka on her left and Kalika on her right. Aday and Durgay's temple in Sindhudurg District, and are recognized as the Pujare community's kuldevi(s). Jivdani Mata's temple in Virar, Bhima Devi's temple at Phalani honors a form of Kali, who is accompanied by her lion and horse mounts. Chattushringi in Pune, Rupa Devi in Satara, Taljai Mata atop Taljai Hill in Pune, and Navlai Devi in Kotwal village of Poladpur Tehsi, are among other regional deities.
The Ambabai Temple, also known as the Mahalaxmi Mandir, is a major Hindu shrine dedicated to Mahalakshmi. The goddess is revered as the Supreme Mother in this temple and is called Ambabi by the local community.
Goa
Mandodari emerges as the Betki village deity, distinct from the Mandodari known as Ravana's wife. Mahalasa Narayani, a form of Mohini, plays an important role as the Kuladevi of Goa's various communities. Devi Chimulkarin's temple is in Chimbel, while Kelbai Devi's temple is in Maem. Other goddess temples in the state include Bhumika Devi's residing in Orgao and Haldonkarin Devi's shrine in Betqui.
