Kuldevi of Rathore Dynasty of Rajasthan  is famous as the name Chakreshwari, Ratheswari, Naganechi / Nagnechiya Mata. The temple of Nagnechi Mata is located at Nagana village of Jodhpur district in Rajasthan. This temple is 96 km away from Jodhpur. According to ancient religious and historical texts, Rao Dhuhad (Vikram Samvat 1349-1366), grandson of Rao Sinha (founder of Rathore state in Marwar) first installed the statue of this Goddess and built the temple.

The Statue of Nagnechi Mata was brought from Karnataka

Raja Rao Dhuhad went to Konkan (Karnataka) in south and brought the statue of his Kuldevi Chakreshwari and established it in Nagana village about 50 km away from Pachapadra, and the Goddess became famous as Nagnechi Mata. Pachapadra, famous for salt, is the intermediate place of Barmer-Jodhpur road, near which (50 km) Goddess Temple is located in Nagana.  

In earlier, Neem wood was not used in Jodhpur

The eighteen-armed Goddess ‘Nagnechi’ is the form of ‘Mahishmardini‘. Her symbol is ‘eagle’ which can be seen on the flags of Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner and Kishangarh principalities. The Goddess Nagnechi Devi was the Kuldevi of  Jodhpur principality. Since the dwelling place of this Goddess was believed to be under Neem tree, hence the tree of Neem was favored in Jodhpur and its wood was not used.

The famous history of Nagnechi Mata Temple

Once in childhood, Rao Dhuad ji went to maternal home (Nanihal). There he saw the very big stomach of his uncle (Mama). Seeing the chunking stomach he can not stop his laughter and start laughing loudly. His uncle got angry at him and he told Rao Dhhud ji that ‘ You are laughing at my big stomach, but world laughs at your family seeing without Kuldevi (Clan Goddess). Your grandfather can not even bring the statue of Kuldevi with him, only then you can not have a permanent place.

Uncle’s words were stabbed in his heart

These bitter but true words of uncle were stabbed in the heart of Rao Dhuhd. At the same time, he decided that ‘I will bring the idol of my Kuldevi’. He came to the village near his father Rao Asthan ji. But child Dhuhad ji did not know who is their Kuldevi? where is her idol? And how can it be brought? He decided to please Goddess by performing austerities.

One day, child Rao Dhuhd ji left the house quietly and went to the forest. There, he started performing penance with sacrificing food & water. Finally, the goddess pleased due to his tenacity. Goddess appeared. Then the child Rao Dhuhad ji asked to the goddess, “Mother!” Who is my Kuldevi? And where is his idol? How can it be brought? Goddess affectionately said to him that ” Child! Your Kuldevi’s name is Chakreshwari and her idol is in Kannauj. You are a kid now, you will be able to go after being young. You have to wait.

Goddess Chakreshwari came in the form of a bird

After some years, Rao Asthanji’s passed away and Rao Dhuhad ji became the ruler of Khed. One day, Rao Dhuhad ji went to Kannauj accompanied by his Rajpurohit Pithad ji, . In Kanauj, he met Guru Lumba Rishi. The Rishi shown Dhuhad ji the statue of Chakreshwari Mata and said that this is your Kuldevi. You can take it with you.

When Rao Dhuhad ji started taking the statue of Goddess with him, then suddenly he heared the voice of Kuldevi – stop, son! I will not go with you like this. I will go with you as a ‘Pankhini’ (Bird). Then Rao Dhuhad ji said, “O mother, how can I believe that you are walking with me?” Then Shri Kuldevi Chakreshwari said that till you see me flying with you in the form of a bird, you should understand that your Kuldevi is with you. But be aware of one thing, do not stop anywhere on the way before reaching your destination.

When Dhuhad ji stayed before destination

Rao Dhuhad ji did the same as the order of Kuldevi. Rao Dhuhad ji was tired of reaching near ‘Nagana mountain’, so he sat down under a neem tree to relax. Due to excessive exhaustion, he got to sleep. When he woke up, then the ‘Pankhini'(Bird) was sitting on the neem tree.
Rao Dhuhad ji got up and ready to move forward, Kuldevi said, I had already said that wherever you stay I will also stop and will not move forward. Now I will not go ahead.

Then Rao Dhuhad ji said that what is the mother’s order for me now. Kuldevi said- In the morning, run your horse as far as possible before noon. The land as far as horse will run, will be my ‘Oran’, and here I will be appearing in the form of an idol. But be aware of one thing, when I appear, then tell herdsman that he should not call the cows, otherwise my idol would stop in middle.

The Idol got stuck up to the waist

Rao Dhuhad ji got up early in the next morning and ran his horse in four directions as his kuldevi said. He told herdsman to not make voices to stop cows, keep silent. wherever your cows go, I will bring them from there. Soon the thunder voices started from the mountain, and the lightning started shining. With this, the statue of Kuldevi started appearing from the land. herdsman’s cows started screaming in fear. At that time, by herdsman’s nature, the  voice came out to stop the cows from the his mouth. Just because the voice of herdsman came out, the idol that appeared was stopped there.

The idol could come out up to the waist. Rao Dhuhad Ji accepted the fate and constructed the temple in 1305, the ”Magh Vadi 10, Samvat 1362 ”, for the semi-appearing idol. Because the “Chakreshwari” appeared as the idol in Nagana, she became famous as “Nagchechi Mata”. Thus, in the Marwar, Rathore caste’s Kuldevi is known as Nagnechi / Nagnechiya Mata In this temple situated in Nagana, fairs are organized every year on ‘Magh Shukla Saptami’ and ‘Bhadrapad Shukla Saptami’ there. Shri Nagnechiya Mata is offered ‘Lapsi’ and ‘Khaja’. The devotees color seven threads with ‘Kumkum’ and bind them as rakhi assuming the offerings of the Kuldevi Nagechiya.

The temples of Shri Nagnechi Mata are also situated in the forts of Jalore, Jodhpur, Bikaner etc. The Rathore kings used to build the temple of their Kuldevi in their own forts so that they could receive blessings by praying with devotion every day.

Nagnechi Mata Temple of Bikaner

In Bikaner, Nagnechi Mata Temple is located about 2 km away in the southeast of the city. This temple is built on a large and high platform, inside which the statue of eighteen-armed Nagnechi Mata made of silver is installed. This statue of ‘Naganechi ji’ was brought by the founder of Bikaner state Rao Bika with his other royal-symbols from his native state Jodhpur. This Nagnechiji is worshiped in Bikaner and nearby places. On the occasion of Navratri and Dussehra, huge masses come to the temple to worship the Goddess.

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