History

“Himja” means daughter of Himalaya. After killing the demon Mahisasur, his son Raktaketu started haressing Maa Ambaji.The Gods requested Devi Parvati to adapt the form of Himjamata. The story goes that after 11 days of war, Parvati was victorious by killing Raktaketu.

“Devgam”, is a religious place situated in Banas Kantha district near Radhanpur. The temple of "SHRI HIMJAMATAJI", built according to the rules as laid down in Shilp Shastra. There is a Dharamshala in the west wing of the temple. It is built by Shri. Gulabdas (Zarola), name of whom is sculpted on the shila (stone), which can be seen on the right side of the wall when one enters the main door.

Idol of Ashta-Bhuja (8 arms) Jagdambamata is situated underground (Garbgraha) the temple. According to Scholars (Vidvans) it is on the basis of Valkhilya Puraan. Below the mandir at the back of the idol there is a an ancient small opening sculpted in the wall (Pigeon Hole). In this Pigeon Hole there is a beautiful idol of Devi Himjamata. In one hand of the devi there is a “bijoroo” and the other hand is on the head of a sitting child. Surrounding the idol there are apsaras waving chamaars. There is peethsthaan on the right hand side of the main Pigeon Hole. Above the Pigeon Hole there is a place of "Oghadji Maharaj". There is a sculpture of trishul in the Pigeon Hole. Temple is beautiful and surrounded by Digpals(security guards).

History says that, muslim forces attacked Somnath, Pravaspatn and reached the borders of Devgam, but the village was protected by Maa Himja. Every month according to hindu calendar on the Vad of 11th till amavasya Maa Himja was resting in a "well" known as “Bhadrakoop”. Even though with 10 inches of rain, daughter of Himalaya(Himjama) would stay in the Bhadrakoop for the last 5 days as she could not bear the extreme heat. By bribing some local Baniya, a Mughal soldier got to know of this weakness of the goddess and attacked Devgam from this period of Vad 11th to amavasya and captured Devgam. Himjamata did not come out of Bhadrakoop. So, in this day and date this area is considered a bad omen and even though there is a lot of rain in the mornings, by evening this well is parch dry. This is the result of the bad omen. On the spot of the well there is a big pot hole.

It is said that in 14 or 15 century a brahmin person named Janardan from "Bhadrakoop" or "Rudrakoop", 2 miles away from Devgam meditated for a long time. After attaining enlightment (“siddhi”) and finishing the meditation he heard Mataji telling him to go to "Himmatpur" which was previously known as Devgam, due to muslim torture at that place. At this present place Shri Janardhan Maharaj established Bhagavati Himja and then Bhagavati Mata showed him magic and appeared before him. At the same place 135 yrs ago Nanda Bhatta named Zarola brahmin meditated and pleased mataji. Mataji appeared before him too. As a result of this reality at that place a permanent mandir was built and idol of Mataji was established.

In 1890 A.D. Shri Gulabdas Gangaram Shrimant a zarola Vanik Vaishnav from Village Kungher, taluka Patan of district Mehesana, had no son. So he made a wish that if a son would be born in his family, he would spent his whole fortune on Maa Himjamata temple. It so happened that at the age of 60 he produced a son and so a beautiful temple of Himjamata was erected for Rs.50,000, 100 years ago. And in this temple a statue of the goddess was established.

Next to it, is a Shivalay which has an idol of Sidhhanath Mahadev. It is 2-3 miles away from the root place of Jalyodhar Nagar or Valkhilya Nagar. A brick was brought from Bhadrakoop at the time of the pratishtha of Mataji’s Mandir. It is said that a gold kalash was found in the near by field of Bhadrakoop. The kalash found in the field by the farmer was given to the then nawab of Radhanpur. Believing the magic, the nawab gave the kalash to the temple which is at Devgam.

There was also a place name "Thali" which was about 5 miles away from Devgam, which no more exists. Further from here there is a place a mile away called "Godh" known as "Zarola Hills" (“Zarola Timba”).

There is also a “Well” known as Rudrakoop which Zarolas’ believe is the main place (prabhavsthaan) of "DEVI HIMBDIMATA". It is also said that Devi Durga’s statue (pratima) was also found from the same place.

Himja-Parvati is aadhya shakti of Valkhilya samaj. She is worshipped by them as their kuldevi. Zarolas’ believe that their kuldevi "SHRI HIMJAMATAJI" and kuleshwar "SIDHHANATHJI" were from Devgam, district Radhanpur of Banas-Kantha and have built a grand temple to that effect.

Every year on the day of Mahasud poornima, all the Zarolas’ gather here and celebrate for three days. On the last day procession of "SHRI HIMJAMATAJI" is taken out known as “Shobha Yatra” visiting houses on the way.

This is the glorious history of our kuldevi "SHRI HIMJAMATAJI".