Rajasthan Jodhpur: Idana Mata's fire bath on the first day of Navratri (राजस्थान जोधपुर: नवरात्रि के पहले दिन ईडाणा माता का अग्नि स्नान)

With the beginning of Navratri, a period of special worship has started in Goddess temples across the country. Crowds of devotees of Devi Maan are flocking to the temples to offer prayers. There is a historical Idana Mata temple in Mehrangarh in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. This temple was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh.The most special thing about this temple is that Maa Idana takes fire bath during both the Navratri days of the year. During this time the temple starts burning. The flames are visible from about two kilometers away. After some time the fire subsides on its own. After the fire is extinguished, the body parts, clothes, curtains and worship materials of the Devi are found completely safe. The time and day of fire in the temple has not been fixed. The temple is filled with flames on any day and at any time during both the Navratri festivals of the year. On Tuesday, the first day of Navratri, Mata Idana took a fire bath.

The idol of Mata established in the temple is thousands of years old. Earlier this statue was installed in the fort of Mandore princely state located near Jodhpur. After this the idol of the mother was installed in Mehrangarh Fort. This temple is made of Jodhpuri stone.