Umiya Mata Mandir, Unja, Gujarat.

Unjha, located in Mehsana district of Gujarat is known to be the biggest spice and oil seed market of Asia but it is also the most visited place for Maa Umiya, the almighty mother Goddess of the universe. This deity is preached as the kuldevi of the Kadva Patidar community. Maa Saraswati, Maa Lakshmi and Maa kali are the deity’s various incarnations. Maa Umiya is worshiped by the devotees as the source and the giver of strength and divinity.

Location

Maa Umiya Temple was established by Lord Shankar himself at Unjha, in Mehsana district of Gujarat. Unjha is located at approximately 100 kilometres distance from Ahmadabad city in Gujarat.

History

On the border of U.P and Bihar, the King of Madhvati, Vrajpal Sinhji had lost the battle to Chandrasen who was the King of Mahet. That is why he had to flee to Gujarat, and he came to Siddhpur for Matrus Sraddha. There he met his own community members, and on their insistence he stayed at Unjha and then settled there. He established the temple of Umiya Mataji in the BC 156, Vikram Samvat 212 and did a big Havana.

Current Temple was made with the contribution from each house Patidar Community house in the Vikram Samvat 1943, and the year 188 AD.The construction of the temple was started by Shri Ram Chandra Mansukh lal and after him by Shri Rai Bahadur Bechardas Lashkari. During this time, contribution was made by the Gaikwads government and also by Patidar community. In the Vastupujan of the temple, the representatives of the Gaikwads were present and they offered valuable clothes to the deity. And they offered their respects to Shree Bechardas Lashkari also. At that time, Shree Ngardas Ugar das Ptel Mollot and Shree Kushaldas Rusate offered the Gold Shikhar with the Rs.2000/- offerings.

Legend

According to the old mythological stories, Maa Umiya Temple was established by Lord Shankar himself at Unjha. In the year 156 BC Vikram Samvat- 212, King Vrajpal Sinhji constructed the temple. King Avnipat had done a very big yagna with the one lakh twenty five thousand coconuts and a well full of ghee. In the Vikram Samvat 1122/24, Vegda Gami constructed the temple which was demolished by Alluddin Khilji’s commander Ulugh Khan. That temple was where currently the Mollot wing houses the Sheshshayi. The statue of the Mataji is carefully preserved at Mollot’s big Madh and today there is a Gokh there. It is the true foundation of the Umiya Mata temple.