Jeen Mata, also known as Jayanti Mata, occupies an important place amongst folk deities of Rajasthan. Jeen Mata is incarnation of Goddess Durga.
The deity is mostly famous in Sikar district of Rajasthan and worshiped by all communities but mainly by Chauhan Rajputs. She is kuldevi of Chauhan Rajputs.
History
The history behind the belief in Jeen Mata is also very interesting. Centuries ago the king of village Ghoghu(in Churu) named as Ghanga, loved and married with an Apsara on the condition that he would not visit her palace without prior information to her. After they got married, they gave birth to a son Harsha and a daughter Jeen.
One day the king visited Apsara’s palace without permission. The Apsara left him taking her son and daughter with her.
How she became Deity
Harsha was very caring for his sister and fulfilled all desires of her. Harsha got married on the desire of her sister. But Harsha’s wife created misunderstanding between both of them as she got jealous with Jeen. Jeen got upset and went in forest to live of severe austerity and penance.
The brother realized his mistake and reached for Jeen, but he could not convince her to change her mind. So he decided to practice the same austerity and penance and undertook the devotion on a different mountain. The two children practiced extreme asceticism atop separate hills in thick forests. With time Jeen gained status of `Durga’ as her Avatar and Harsh achieved the incarnation of `Bhairon’- helper of `Shiva’. In time, a Chauhan ruler built a temple at that place. The main temple has a very high Shikhar (Pinnacle) in the midst.
Jeen Mata’s Temple
An ancient temple dedicated to Jeen Mata is 30 km away from Sikar. Lacs of devotees congregate here every year in the month of Chaitra and ashwin at the time of Navratra fairs. In the temple there is a statue of Jeen Mata with eight arms.
