Mandeep Chauhan
Machail is one of the holy places visited by the devotees of Shri Chandi Mata every year in the month of Sravana-Bhadra i.e July- August. But the holy temple of Machail Mata opens from the day of Baisakhi which has a cultural significance. There are some legends attached to it, but the legends linked to the closing and opening ceremony of Shri Chandi Mata Temple are being interpreted differently by different people.
Generally, people think that closing of darbar means no worship, no bhajan, a complete closure of performing the routine worship and other sacred offerings to the deity during acute winter seasons.And these misconceptions need to be demystified.
Let’s stick to the time period before and after Machail Yatra’. i.e before opening and after closing of temple.
The opening ceremony of the temple is marked by a large congregation at Machail where the deity is bedecked beautifully, followed by rituals performed by chelas or shaman who act as intermediaries between human and supernatural powers of the concerned deity in the middle of the village mini-temple where the deity Mahakali from the main temple is relocated on the closing ceremony of the temple i.e in January. The whole ceremony takes into account all astral calculations and its influence on the region is determined by the certain local beliefs of Paddar.
Now, you definitely are inquisitive to know about some facts associated with the Yatra:
-What is the legend behind the idols consecrated in the temple?
-Why is the deity moved or relocated from the main temple to the mini-temple during winters?
– Why Baisakhi Day is chosen for the opening of Chandi Mata Temple?
-Why the temple remains closed during the month of July for a week?
-Why 26th of July is inked official by the administration for the inauguration of the Yatra?
To begin with the first, the temple of Machail Mata has one Pindi (the Petrified Rock Form) and three idols of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. It is believed that the idols shake or vibrate their ornaments without any extraneous power. The eyes of the idols are closed and in a meditative position. Some of the devotees have experienced the opening or flickering of their eyes. Some two centuries ago, when Zanskar was hit by an epidemic which caused dread and fear among the inhabitants and were dying because of the unrecognised catastrophy they prayed to Goddess Chandi for their protection and within no time, they got relief from this natural calamity. Therefore, as a token of thanks-giving they installed the silver idol in the temple.
Coming to the second question; Makar Sankranti is the day when the idol of Mahakali is relocated from the main temple to the mini-temple in the middle of the village for three months that is for the month of Magha, Phagun and Chaitra. Sankranti is the first day of a month. In Paddar area, every second day of Sankranti, married daughters visit their natal homes to have a feast of Sankranti with their family. It is believed by the native people that Shri Chandi Mata is invited to her natal home during Makar Sankranti which is celebrated as the closing ceremony of the temple. Winters in Paddar area are full of fairs and festivals. Throughout the whole winters, the deity is worshipped with full devotion and the relocation is considered as a visit to the natal home.
We all know that Baisakh month heralds the beginning of the ‘new solar year’ and Baisakhi (the first day) is considered a sacred day because of its impact on Mother Earth in general and on humans in particular. Hence, the deity is again relocated to the main temple from the mini-temple to deal with the wordly affairs thereafter.
It is believed that Maa Parvati meditated during the month of Sawan to get married to Lord Shiva and it was her constant devotion and meditation that she got married to Him. Lord Shiva loves the month of Sawan because of Maa Parvati. Maa Chandi or Chandika (the fierce or demon-destroyer) is one of the forms of Parvati who practice meditation during the month of Sawan for Lord Shiva particularly between 15th to 25 of July. Any movement of devotees, worship of any form or ringing of temple bells, can bring perturbation in the meditation of the deity. Hence, the temple remains closed till 25th July.
Paddar area is known for for being craggy and is believed to be unfavorable to pilgrims till June, and July is observed as a meditation week of deity. Since the temple gate remains closed any form of darshan cannot be entertained by the management. That is why, the yatra starts from 26th of July.
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