Sachiya Mata Temple

Sachiya Mata Temple of Osian is situated on a hill, towards the northeast of the Mahavira Temple and is the most preferred attraction of the city. It is dedicated to the wife of Lord Indra, Goddess Sachiya Mata who is of equal significance to both Jains and Hindus.

A flight of hundred steps will lead you to the temple which will firstly not only give you an amazing view of the Temple itself but will also give you a dazzling sight of the dunes and the desert. The temple has multiple archways along with the steps to the top which will make the ascent worthwhile. As you enter the temple, you will notice the temple has a myriad of carvings and sculptures and will be caught by the sheer aura of this majestic place. At the north end of the complex, there is a sculpture of Varaha (boar), an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and in the east, there is an image of Lakshmi - Vishnu.

History of Sachiya Mata Temple

A stone inscription, at the Jain temple of Osian, gives a different story about the name of Sachiya Mata. According to this story, a Jain monk, Acharya Shrimad Vijay Ratnaprabhasuriji Maharaj Sahib, visited Osian town to perform the ceremony known as Anjan Salakha, at the newly created temple of God Mahaveer, around 43 CE.

The temple of Mahavir had been built by Uhad, who was a minister of King Upaldeo; at that time, Osian was known as Upkeshpur. A temple of Jagat Bhavani (Great Goddess) Chamunda Mata was in the town of Upkeshpur. To receive the grace of the goddess, sacrifices of male buffaloes used to be made in the temple, during the festival of Navratri.

When the Jain monk Vijay Ratnaprabhasuriji Maharaj learned about this practice, he felt deep sympathy for the animals sacrificed. Using his influence on the minister and king, he convinced them to ban this practice. A temple in Katraj (Pune) is dedicated to Sachchiya Mata (Osiya Mata), close to the Swetamber Jain temple of Katraj. In her temple, Sachiya Mata-Ji is worshipped with laapsi (an Indian sweet dish), saffron, sandalwood, and incense.

Architecture of Sachiya Mata Temple

The temple complex was built by Parmar King Upmendre in the 8th century and was further renovated later in the 12th century. There are a total number of 7 complexes in the area, 3 of which are situated on the eastern side of the complex, and the rest 4 complexes are located on the western end.

The outstanding feature of this temple is that it has gathered all the deities of the country in one place. From Lord Shiva to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of health and prosperity) you will find all of them in one place. Different forms of Lord Shiva like the ferocious and brave buffalo are also shown gloriously standing on the premises.