KULADEVI KATHA MAHATMYA
(Professor Ramkumar Dadhich Ph.d,)
Article by – Dr Chaman Lal Raina
Today, the 27th August,2016, I happened to visit the residence of Dr. Ramkumar Dadhich in connection with his book Kuladevi Katha Mahatmya authored by him published by Hansa Prakashan Jaipur and Kuladevi Parivar Sikar in the year 2011 A.D. The book as title suggests is related to the Shakti tradition of Rajasthan. In the generic term, the Kuadevi is the family Deity of any family, those who have belief in the motherhood of God as the Divine Mother. The tradition is ancient one and may be related to the Vedic culture, 5000 years old and more.
There is mention of Vagdevi and Ratridevi along with the Divine Mother with three attributes of Mahakali , Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati popularly known as the Durga as Mahishasur Mardini. These Devis find their aboard in the Shakti Peethas of Bharatvarsha/India so it is imperative on the part of the practitioners of the Shakti tradition to give it a regional and or local name which developed in to Kuladevi tradition in India. There are Arasuri Amba Mata, Ashapura Mata of Nadol, Jeen Mata, Deshnok Karni Mata, Dadhimathi Mata of Goth Manglod, Sachchiyay Mata of Osiya, Hinglaj Mata of Hingulalay, Kaila Mata of Karauli, Mahalakshmi Mata of Agroha, Sheetla Mata of Gurgaon.
The author has compiled the Mahatmya / Glory and Itihasa/ history as the primary proof to develop his poetic composition in Sanskrit. The meter, he has used is the Anushtup Chhanda of 32 syllables of the Sanskrit poetics. The language is sublime, serene and the phraseology is touching the readers heart as the nature of the Divine Mother is full of love , tenderness, compassion and offering the twin merits of Bhoga and Moksha. Each Sanskrit shloka has been translated in simple Hindi, easily understandable for the readers. Then he has tried to focus the Charitam of the Devi with the human attributes with divine traits. It is heart captivating, because of the aura of the Divine Mother found in the temples
From historical point of view, he has given the details citing the edicts available to him through primary and secondary sources. Thus making poetic work more tangible and transparent. In praise of the Kuladevi, he has given thirty eight Shlokas of the Arasuri Amba Mata. 44 Shlokas of Ashapura Mata, 73 Shlokas of the Karni Mata,75 Shlokas of the Jeen Mata, 11 Shlokas of the Dadhimathi Mata, 40 Shlokas of the Sachchiyay Mata, 33 Shlokas of the Sundha Mata, 47 Shlokas of the Hinglaj Mata, 57 Shlokas of the Kaila Mata, 49 Shlokas of the Mahalakshmi Mata, 22 Shlokas of the Sheetla Mata.
The annexure portion to his devotional poetic work consists of quint essential of the Dadhimathi Puranam in which he has vividly traced the dialogue of Vashistha and the Atharva Rishi between Narada, Brahma, Vishnu, Munis, Manushyas/ Manavas, Asuras, Pippalad and Dadhichi, Himvan Dadhimathi. This is the very serious work to carve out the letter and spirit of the great Shri Dadhimathi Puranam. This is very nice work for any student of Sanskrit literature and Shakti tradition. In the Jeen Mata annexure he has started his work through folk poetry in 39 Pada in appreciation with this work he has documented Gotras, Kuladevis related to social casts between Agrawal Samaj, Adigaud Samaj, Oswal Samaj,Khandelwal Samaj, Gurjar Gaud Samaj, Dadhich Samaj, Panch Gaud Vipra Samaj, Pareek Samaj, Bhargava Samaj, Maheshwari Samaj, Maidh Kshatriya Swarnkar Samaj, Vijayvargeeya Samaj, Saraswat Samaj, Sikhwal Samaj, and Shrimali Samaj.
About the bibliography, he has consulted eighteen books authored by celebrated authors with nine journal/ Souvenir. He has taken the help from two important dictionaries published by Gyanmandal Li. Varanasi’s Brihat Hindi Kosh and Motilal Banarasidas Delhi’s Sanskrit- Hindi Kosh.
As a student of religious studies, I would like to say that this book will enrich the philosophy of Universal Mother known as Jaganmata to develop higher appreciation from the various sacred spots and the Siddha Peethas revered as the Shakti peethas. While reading the Shlokas the poet has introduced the Sanskrit Diction with Upma, Anuprasa, Rupak, Swabhavokti etc. The language is heart captivating and there is a feeling of the Divine Mother and the devotee. It has been priced Rs. 300 and the Graphic artist Sanjay Sharma deserves every appreciation for creating the Shiva- Shakti- Eka-Roopini in a very mystic form of Mantra and Yantra.
My sincere appreciation to the author and the artist, who by the will of the Divine Mother happened to be Father and Son. Sanjay runs a blog about Kuldevi or Kuldevta with name “ Mission Kuldevi ”
Shop this book on this link- http://www.shop.missionkuldevi.in/product/kuldevi-katha-mahatmya/
Dr Chaman Lal Raina’s Other Article –