Dr MS Chauhan
Shakambari Devi
She had countless number of eyes upon Her that gave Her the name SATAKSHI. She was carrying grains, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs - and was hence called SHAKAMBARI.
The Demon Durgam had acquired all the four books of total knowledge (The Veda) from Lord Brahma through penance. He also gets a boon from Lord Brahma that makes sure that all the pujas, yajnas and havis being offered to the Gods reach him instead making him invincible.
Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world. As the consequence, it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by very severe drought.
The rishis and munis take refuge in the caves of the Himalayas, and meditate upon the Supreme Devi. The Goddess appeared in front of them bearing a wonderful form!
She had countless number of eyes upon Her that gave Her the name SATAKSHI. She was carrying grains, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs - and was hence called SHAKAMBARI.
She was so moved by their plights that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tears took the form of a river, as the result of which the drought came to an end.
The rishis, munis and the Gods then requested that she recover the Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam. Durgam came to know that people were living happily through his messengers and immediately attacked with a large army.
The Goddess protected the frail rishis, munis, Gods and others by putting up a huge wall of fire around them, and then let Her discuss hover around it. There ensued a tremendous battle between the Devi and Durgam.
From Her body manifested the ten most powerful powers who never been in universe before Dashamahaavidya and 64,000 other goddesses. At last the Goddess called Satakshi/Shakambari, killed Durgam with her trident and recovered the Veda from his possession. At that very moment all the mantras and japas that were performed by the rishis, munis and Gods had performed earlier but were absorbed by the demon Durgam due to his boon, transformed into a bright light of a 10,000 Suns and entered the Devi. She then handed over The Veda to the deities. Ishwari also knowns as Durga as she had killed the demon Durgam.
Shakambari
It is said that in times of famine, Goddess Durga comes down and gives vegan food, (shaaka comes from Sanskrit. means vegetables and vegan food. Ambari means one who wears or bears) , to the hungry. That is why she is called "Shaka" + "Ambari" = 'Shaakambhari'. Actually Shakambhari comes from Shakam joined with the root Bhri(Shaka = vegetables or food and root bhri = to nourish)
Ancient Temples
According to a legend, the Sambhar Salt Lake was gifted to the people of the area some 2,500 years ago by the Goddess Shakambhari. A small glimmering white temple in her honour stands under a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake. This temple is more than 200 years old.
Ancient Temple of Goddess Shakambhari is situated at Sakarai about 15 km from Udaipur Wati which is about 29 km from Sikar(Rajasthan). Also there is three temples of Mata Shakambhari in Kolkata. Since tears rolled out from goddess eye for 9 days and night continuously the biggest worship practice is celebration of Navratra Mahotasav being held in the month of Chaitra and Aasoj for nine days each. Two more Navratras are also celebrated but they are known as 'Gupt Navratras'Major Temples of Shakambhari are located in Badami and in Bangalore - both in Karnataka state. There are many more Shakambhari temples in other parts of India - such as in Nagewadi, Maharashtra; Kumbhoj near Satara; Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Sambhar in Rajasthan. According to a legend, the Sambhar Salt Lake was gifted to the people of the area some 2,500 years ago by the Goddess Shakambhari. A small glimmering white temple in her honour stands under a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake.
SHIV MAHAPURAN
According to SHIV MAHAPURAN the incarnation of Shakambari.
The most valiant demon Durgam had acquired all the four Vedas from lord Brahma after pleasing him. Lord Brahma had also given a boon of invincibility to him.
Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world. As the consequence it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by drought.
The deities went to goddess Maheshwari (Parvati) and narrated about their woeful tales. Goddess Maheshwari was so moved by their plights that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tear tool the form of a river as the result of which the phase of drought came to an end.
The deities then requested her to recover the Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam. They then went back to their abode. When Durgam saw that people were living happily, he attacked with a large army. At that very moment goddess manifested herself and fought a tremendous battle with Durgam. From her body manifested the ten Mahavidyas and many other goddesses. At last goddess Maheshwari killed Durgam with her trident and recovered the Vedas from his possession. She then handed over the Vedas to the deities. Maheshwari is also known as Shakambhari as she had created river by her tears and saved the lives of People.
1) I should always remain his devotee b) to be able to know about the past, present and future events, c) My family should never feel the scarcity of rice and milk."
"Lord Shiva not only blessed me with all these three things, but also to be able to see the Vaivasvat kalpa."
After completing his story, sage Upamanyu told Krishna he must worship lord Shiva if he was desirous of a son, because Lord Shiva can be pleased quite easily.
Reaching Maa Shakambari Devi temple
There are various routes from Jaipur to Sambhar but best is take the NH-8 (Jaipur - Ajmer National highway)
At 19.5 km there is toll booth.
At 62 KM turn to west of north (right). Just before Dudu take a turn for Bichune village.
From Bichune (turn left before entering the village) go towards Fulera and then to Sambhar.
It is a drive of 24 KM on this road to reach the Shakambari Devi temple. This road also goes to Core-seina Village but ends at the temple.
शाकम्भरी देवी
शाकम्भरी देवी का प्राचीन शक्तिपीठ जयपुर जिले के सांभर कस्बे में अवस्थित है। शाकम्भरी माता सांभर की अधिष्ठात्रीदेवी है और इस शक्तिपीठ से ही इस कस्बे ने अपना यह नाम पाया।
सांभर, पौराणिक, ऐतिहासिक, पुरातात्विक और धार्मिक महत्तव का एक सांस्कृतिक पहचान रही है एशिया की सबसे बड़ी नमक उत्पन्न करने वाली खारे पानी की झील भी यही है। शाकम्भरी देवी के मंदिर की अतिक्ति पौराणिक राजा ययाति की दोनों रानियों देपयानी और शर्मिष्ठा के नाम पर एक विशाल सरोवर व कुण्ड अद्यावधि वहां विद्यमान है जो इस क्षेत्र के प्रमुख तीर्थस्थलों के रूप में विख्यात है। वर्तमान में देवनानी के नाम से प्रसिद्ध इस तीर्थ का लोक में बड़ा माहात्म्य है जिसकी सूचक यह कहावत है देवदानी सब तीर्थो की नानी।
शाकम्भरी देवी के नामकरण के विषय में पौराणिक उल्लेख है कि एक बार इस भू- भाग में भीषण अकाल पड़ने पर देवी ने शाक वनस्पति के रूप में अंकुरित हो जन जन की बुभुक्षाशान्त कर उनका भरण पोषण किया तभी से इसका नाम शाकम्भरी पड़ गया जिसका अपभ्रंश ही सांभर है।
सांभर पर चौहान राजवंश का शताब्दियों तक असधिपत्य रहा। चौहान काल में सांभर और उसका निकटवर्ती क्षेत्र सपादलक्ष (सवा लाख की जनसंख्या सवा लाख गांवों या सवा लाख की राजस्व वसूली क्षेत्र) कहलाता था।
ज्ञात इतिहास के अनुसार चौहान वंश शासक वासुदेव ने सातवीं शताब्दी ईं में सांभर झील और सांभर नगर की स्थापना शाकम्भरी देवी के मंदिर के पास में की।
सांभर सातवीं शताब्दी ई. तक अर्थात् वासुदेवी के राज्यकरल से १११५ ई. उसके वंशज अजयराज द्वारा अजयमेरू दुर्ग या अजमेर की स्थापना कर अधिक सुरक्षित समझकर वहां राजधानी स्थानांतरित करने तक शाकम्भरी इस यशस्वी चौहान राजवंश की राजधानी रही।
सांभर की अधिष्ठात्री और चौहान राजवंश की कुलदेवी शाकम्भरी माता का प्रसिद्ध मंदिर सांभर से लगभग १५ कि.मी. दूर अवस्थित है। शाकम्भरी देवी का स्थान एक सिद्धपीठ स्थल है जहां जनमानस विभिन्न वर्गो और धर्मो के लोग आकर अपनी श्रद्धा भक्ति निवेदित करते हैं।
शाकम्भरी दुर्गा का एक नाम है, जिसका शाब्दिक अर्थ है शाक से जनता का भरण पोषण करने वाली। मार्कण्डेय पुराण के चण्डीस्तोत्र तथा वामन पुराण (अध्याय ५३) में देवी के शाकम्भरी नामकरण का यही कारण बताया गया है।
इस प्राचीन देवी तीर्थ का संबंध शक्ति के उस रूप से है जिससे शाक या वनस्पति की वृद्धि होती है। सांभर के पास जिस पर्वतीय स्थान में शाकम्भरी देवी का मंदिर है वह स्थान कुछ वर्षों पहले तक जंगल की तरह था और घाटी देवी की बनी कहलाती थी। समस्त भारत में शाकम्भरी देवी का सर्वाधिक प्राचीन मंदिर यही है जिसके बारे में प्रसिद्ध है कि देवी की प्रतिमा भूमि से स्वतः प्रकट हुई थी।
शाकम्भरी देवी की पीठ के रूप में सांभर की प्राचीनता महाभारत काल तक चली जाती है। महाभारत (वन पर्व), शिव पुराण (उमा संहिता) मार्कण्डेय पुराण आदि पौराणिक ग्रन्थों में शाकम्भरी की अवतार कथाओं में शत वार्षिकी अनावृष्टि चिन्तातुर ऋषियोंपर देवी का अनुग्रह शकादि प्रसाद दान द्वारा धरती के भरण पोषण की कथायें उल्लेखनीय है। वैष्णव पुराण में शाकम्भरी देवी के तीनों रूपों में शताक्षी, शाकम्भरी देवी का शताब्दियों से लोक में बहुत माहात्म्य है। सांभर और उसके निकटवर्ती अंचल में तो उनकी मान्यता है ही साथ ही दूरस्थ प्रदेशों से भी लोग देवी से इच्छित मनोकमना, पूरी होने का आशीर्वाद लेने तथा सुख-समृद्धि की कामना लिए देवी के दर्शन हेतु वहां आते हैं। प्रतिवर्ष भादवा सुदी अष्टमी को शाकम्भरी माता का मेला भरता है। इस अवसर पर सैंकड़ों कह संख्या में श्रद्धालु देवी के दर्शनार्थ वहां आते हैं। चैत्र तथा आसोज के नवरात्रों में यहां विशेष चहल पहल रहती है।
शाकम्भरी देवी के मंदिर के समीप उसी पहाड़ी पर मुगल बादशाह जहांगीर द्वारा सन् १६२७ में एक गुम्बज (छतरी) व पानी के टांके या कुण्ड का निर्माण कराया था, जो अद्यावधि वहां विद्यमान है।
शाकम्भरी देवी के चमत्कार से संबंधित एक जनश्रुति है कि मुगल बादशाह औरंगजेब जब स्वयं शाकम्भरी देवी की मूर्ति तोड़ने के इरादे से वहां आया और प्रतिमा नष्ट करने का आदेश दिया तो असंख्य जहरीली मधुमक्खियों का झुण्ड उसकी सेना पर टूट पड़ा तथा सैनिकों को घायल कर दिया तब विवश हो औरंगजेब ने अपनी आज्ञा वापिस ली तथा देवी से क्षमा याचना की।
सारतः शाकम्भरी देवी अपने आलौकिक शक्ति और माहात्म्य के कारण सैंकड़ों वर्षो से लोक आस्था का केन्द्र है।
