Rani Sati Temple, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.

Rani Sati Temple, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan

Location

Rani Sati temple is located in Jhunjhunu, a district town in Rajasthan. The temple is dedicated to Sati Devi (Dadi maa), also known as Narayani Devi and referred as Dadi Ji.

Goddess Sati is worshipped for its Sati Power and devotees belief on miracles to remove the trouble in one’s life. The devotees from every corners of India and abroad come here to worship. There is no statue inside the temple, only the trident (Trishul in Hindi) depicting power and force is worshiped religiously by the devotees.

[ Main Temple ]

[ 12 Other Sati Mata Temple ]

The followers of Rani Sati Dadi are mainly Marwari Agrawal Samaj living in Rajasthan or any where else in India or abroad. They have firm belief that Dadi Ji is incarnation (Awatar ) of Maa Durga. 

Meaning of Sati

Sati literally means, one who believe in Truth and loyalty and stand on it in any difficult circumstances.. Rani Sati was the example of it.

Sati is always a married woman. When the husband of married woman died or killed in fight, the woman set ablaze herself along with the cremation of her husband. It is believed that the fire grows spontaneously which comes by the power of Sati and the woman glorifies as Goddess. What ever it may be, there is no clarification about it.

Many organization during the British period and also after independence opposes Satipratha and tried to ban it. But the belief was so strong that it could not be banned.

There are in all 13 sati temple in which 12 are smaller and one main temple is dedicated to Rani Sati.

Story behind the Temple

Rani Sati, as known was a young lady of 17 yrs of the village Dokwa in Rajasthan. She was the daughter of Gurusamal by caste Bania (a merchant). Her name in childhood was Narayani Devi. She got married to the son of Jaliram named Tandhan Das of Hissar.

Tandhan Das had a beautiful white horse ( female horse ). Nawab of Hissar eyed his mare and wanted to take it from him at any cost. But Tandhan Das refused to hand over that mare to him. Then Nawab decided to take it from him by force. During a confrontation Tandhan Das killed by the Nawab. Only Narayani Devi and her faithful servant named Rana ( care taker of the mare ) survived in the confrontation.

Then, Narayani Devi told Rana ji to make immediate arrangements for her to set ablaze along with her husband 's cremation. Thus Narayani Devi cremated her self by spontaneously appearance of fire by the power of her Satitwa.

Rana ji played a vital role in fulfilling her desire to become SATI. Before the cremation Narayani Devi blessed Rana ji that his name will be taken before her name and worshiped.She also directed to carry the ashes of both on the horse and where the horse stops, construct a temple there in her memory.

In this way the name of Sati is called Rani Sati by the devotees.The events leading to her death vary widely in between 1215 -1595 AD. In some retelling the incident is believed to be of 14 th century.

An another legend relates the history to the time of Mahabharat. When Abhimanyu (the son of Arjun ) lost his life while fighting the battle of Mahabharat.  At that time his wife Uttara was pregnant and wished to end her life with her husband to become Sati.

But Lord Krishna stopped her from doing so. Since she was very much adamant of doing so. Lord Krishna wanted to save the life of the child who was going to take birth in a very short time. Lord Krishna blessed her with a boon that her desire to become Sati will be fulfilled in her next birth.

After many years Uttara was reborn as Narayani Devi and Abhimanyu as Tandhan Das.

About the Temple

The temple was inaugurated in 1912 with a simple construction. Construction of larger complex started in 1936. As of today the temple complex is very large and beautiful having enough space and rooms to stay comfortably.

It is a multistoried structure, a main hall made of marble and dual courtyard surrounded by rooms that can house up to 300 pilgrims. Perhaps the oldest Rani Sati temple outside Jhunjhunu dates to 1837 and is located in Kakurgachhi, Kolkata.

There are also many other temples located in major cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad Varanasi, Delhi as well as in Rangoon, Sigapore, Hongkong, Japan and US.

Administration and Management

The temple is managed by Marwari Temple Board Kolkata by the donation from the devotees. The income of the temple from donation is supposed to be second in India after Tirupati Balaji.

Festivals

A sacred Pujanotsava is organised on the Hindi month Bhadon Amavasya ( no moon day) in which a large gathering is witnessed.

Millions of devotees from every corner of India and abroad stand in queue from early morning to take a majestic glimpse of Rani Sati Dadi ji.

On this day people sings lots of Bhjans, kirtans and read Sati chalisa and at last ends the puja ceremony with Aarti of Dadi Ji.

Facilities

1. There are many rooms available for comfortable stay within the temple campus. One can book   rooms in advance by calling on phone – 01592 – 232755, 232020, 230001, 230002. 
2. Toilets and bathrooms. 
3. Shops for prasadam and other items photos, toys, and books related to Rani Sati Dadi. 
4. Small restaurants for breakfast ,refreshments , cold drinks are inside the campus. 
5. Drinking water 

Places to Visit nearby

• Khetri Mahal
• Bihari ji Temple
• Haveli of Modis and Tibrewal
• Metani baorhi a step well
• Kamruddinsah Dargah

All these places are nearby Jhunjhunu. The devotees coming here generally include a trip to Salasar Balaji, a famous Lord hanuman temple in Rajasthan.

How to Reach

By road

It is advised to hire a car and reach Jhunjhunu by road. It is a five hours journey covering a distance of 240 km. Jaipur is 180 km away from Jhunjhunu.

By rail

No proper railway route for Jhujhunu. Road is the best option. all though one can reach Jhunjhunu in six hours by mail or express train but the timings may not suit according to choice.

By air

Nearest airport is Jaipur and Delhi.

Video (Aarti)