# Centuries Old Rajasthan Shrine Where A Demon Receives Offerings Before The Goddess

> At the 800-year-old Sheetla Mata temple in Bhatund village of Pali, rituals honor the demon Babara before the deity, alongside a mysterious one-meter stone mortar that never overflows.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-10-17 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/rajasthan-ke-bhatund-men-devi-se-pahale-rakshasa-ko-lagata-hai-bhoga-mndira-ki-rahasyamayi-okhali-ka-jala-sokhane-vala-ajuba-48512 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Pali, Sheetla Mata Temple, Bhatund Village, Demon Babara, Mysterious Mortar, Rajasthan Temples

A remote shrine in Bhatund village of Rajasthan's Pali district continues to intrigue pilgrims with century-old customs that run contrary to standard temple rituals. Spanning a history of more than 800 years, this revered Sheetla Mata temple preserves a deep synthesis of spiritual devotion and local folklore. Throughout the year, and especially during the sacred period of Navratri, large throngs of devotees travel from far and wide to seek blessings and witness the enigmatic practices unique to this shrine.

## The Bottomless Stone Mortar Inside the Sanctum
Upon stepping into the inner sanctum, worshippers face a striking four-armed idol of Sheetla Mata. Directly in front of the deity on the floor lies a carved stone mortar, measuring roughly 1 meter in depth. What confounds visitors is its seemingly inexhaustible capacity for water. Local residents and temple priests note that despite hundreds of liters being continuously poured into the cavity, it never fills to the brim. The water vanishes without a trace, leaving the cavity perpetually unfilled. This inexplicable absorption of immense amounts of liquid remains an unsolved phenomenon in modern times.

## An Offering to the Demon Babara Before the Divine Mother
While standard Hindu worship dictates that food and prasad must first be consecrated to the presiding deity, the ritual sequence here is inverted. At this temple, the primary offering is made to an arrogant demon named Babara before Sheetla Mata receives hers. Traditional accounts explain that ancient times were marked by Babara's ruthless reign of terror across the settlement. The demon routinely disrupted local weddings by capturing the bridegroom. Desperate to end the perpetual torment, a local Brahmin undertook rigorous penance to invoke the grace of Sheetla Mata.

## Divine Intervention, Slaying and a Merciful Covenant
Moved by the Brahmin's devout prayers, Sheetla Mata manifested before him, pledging to protect his daughter and rid the region of the tyrant. In the ensuing confrontation, the goddess struck down the oppressor. Facing imminent demise, the demon repented, fell before her feet, and pleaded for mercy. Sheetla Mata pardoned the dying demon and ordained that he would receive water and consecrated food offerings twice each year, specifically on Sheetla Saptami and Jyeshtha Purnima.

Faithful to this ancient decree, village women continue the ritual of pouring water into the sanctum's stone mortar on those designated days, seeking protection for their community from unforeseen calamities and preserving peace across the settlement.

## What this means for you
This historic tradition serves as a significant focal point for cultural curiosity and regional pilgrim tourism.

- **Across India:** Devotees and spiritual travelers seeking to witness rare heritage practices can plan visits around major festival dates. Selecting periods like Sheetla Saptami or Jyeshtha Purnima ensures witnessing the rare bi-annual ritual firsthand.
- **In Pali:** Residents of Bhatund and nearby settlements rely on this shrine as an emblem of divine community protection against misfortunes. The seasonal religious gatherings consistently support local transit, trade, and festive markets.
- **For Culture Enthusiasts:** Historians and folklore researchers find rare documentation material regarding folk appeasement traditions centered on vanquished adversaries. The hydraulic mystery of the sanctum's mortar also attracts ongoing curiosity.
- **For Festival Pilgrims:** Devotees traveling during peak Navratri or local fair seasons should anticipate substantial gatherings. Planning visits early in the day helps avoid lengthy waits inside the village shrine.

## Why this happened
The unconventional tradition originated from a legend of divine protection and a deathbed boon granted to an adversary.

- **Reign of Fear:** Folklore recounts that a demon named Babara terrorized Bhatund by kidnapping grooms during weddings, causing widespread despair across the settlement.
- **Brahmin's Penance:** Unable to endure the persecution, a local villager performed severe austerities, prompting Sheetla Mata to intervene and guarantee the safety of his daughter.
- **Repentance and Boon:** Upon being mortally struck by the goddess, the demon begged for absolution, leading the merciful deity to grant him offerings on two specific days annually.
- **Continuing Legacy:** To honor that ancient settlement and shield the village from harm, residents maintain the ritual of pouring water into the mortar twice a year.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where is this unique Sheetla Mata temple located?
This over 800-year-old temple is situated in Bhatund village of Pali district in Rajasthan.

### 2. What is unique about the stone mortar in the sanctum?
Measuring about 1 meter deep, the mortar never overflows despite hundreds of liters of water being poured into it.

### 3. Who receives the offering before the deity in this temple?
Offerings are consecrated to an arrogant demon named Babara before they are presented to Sheetla Mata.

### 4. On which occasions is the demon offered water and food?
Under the divine boon, offerings and water are given to the demon twice a year, specifically on Sheetla Saptami and Jyeshtha Purnima.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._