Sankata Mata: Devi who helps in times of serious troubles

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Is there any end to human misery? One misery follows the other with just a few starry twinkles of good tidings that interrupt inbetween. Sankata Mata Temple is meant for resolving Sankat or perils.

Usually, it is a regular human experience that the mind does not entertain spiritual thoughts when everything is going right in life for the person.

It is when the problems attack from all sides, that he begins to think about God the saviour. When the problem is unsurmountable by human efforts, then humans think of God.

Sometimes, we also forget that God helps those who help themselves. So only when the efforts are complete from your side, will God come to diffuse the situation.

When the problems are sent in our direction, the solution also follows it behind. But sometimes the problems do not end despite struggles and prayer.

If a problem does not end at all, it is attributed to our karma which has to be suffered and got over with and also because there was an important lesson to learn from this experience.

It is also a known fact that we get opportunity to go to pilgrimages only when the time is right and when we are ripe. When karma ends, we are automatically given a chance to visit the pilgrimage centres

One such centre is the Siddhapeeth on the bank of the Ganga Ghat, whose deity is named as Maa Sankata. The temple is about 6 km away from the railway station of Varanasi.

When Lord Shiva was greatly distressed over Satis death by immolation, he took to the worship of Sankata Mata due to whose worship, he found Parvati as an answer to his grief.

We have another example from Mahabharata. When they were in exile, Pandavas had visited Kashi and the five brothers penanced here standing on one leg with food and water.

Finally they built this temple for Sankata Mata who appeared before them and blessed them with Lakshmi and Glory and asked them to serve the Go Mata. It was only after this the Pandavas defeated the kauravas.

Sankata Mata is happy with an offering of Coconut and chunri as prasad by devotees. Coconut tastes unusually tasty here.

Significance: Believed to be the sister of Vaishno Devi and a form of Chandi Devi, Maa Sankata is a 4-5 feet tall idol which is self-manifested.

Sankata means peril and Sankata devi is one of the Matrikas who is also refered to as Vikata Matrika. When somebody prays to her for protecting their husbands who are far away from them Sankata Mata ensure just that and their safe return.

Eighth day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Sankata who averts any crisis for her devotees.
This temple is also referred to as the Panch Mudra Mahapeeth, Here Devi destroys all perils and sorrows and grants health and prosperity.

This temple is open on all days, opens at 4 am and closes at 11 pm. Friday is considered to be a special day for women who conduct pujas here.Astami Friday is deemed very auspicious for people here. Navratri and Shravan months are generally very crowded here.

Devotees who come here say that Devi Sankata Mata takes care of all wishes and fulfils them, especialy of the unmarried girls whose desire and efforts for finding a good groom stop here. .

One can spot a huge lion statue inside the premises. This proves her original form as Chandi devi. Lion happens to be the vechicle of Chandi.

Statues of nine planets are also found in the temple. Sankata Mata has four silver plated arms. Mata is flanked on both sides by Hanuman and Bhairav. There is a big Shivlingam and a Banyan tree in the premises.

Sankata Mata is known to bless and infuse powers in her sister Vaishnodevi to enable her to bless humanity and save it from peril.

You can ply by boats to the temple. You can reach Sankata Temple by auto or rickshaw from Railway Station or any place of the Varanasi city. It is better you hire a private taxi instead.

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