In Rajasthan's Hadauti region stands a place of worship where many people head to bow their heads even before turning to medicines or surgery. This is the Deru Mata temple, also widely known as the Jakhoda Mata temple. It lies roughly 17 kilometres from Kota city and only about 4 kilometres from the town of Kaithoon. The deep faith of thousands of devotees has turned this historic site into one of the region's most important shrines.
What Makes This Shrine Special
The temple's biggest belief revolves around physical suffering. Devotees hold that bowing in prayer here and worshipping with a sincere heart brings miraculous relief from serious complaints such as joint pain, back pain, aches in the hands and feet, and headaches. Those who come carry an unshakeable conviction that the goddess hears the call of anyone who arrives with their pain, and that prayers offered with true devotion ease even the most severe agony within a short time, the faithful say. That is why patients travel not just from Kota but from far-flung places, hoping to be freed of their ailments. Even in this age of medical science, this faith has not wavered in the slightest.
Three Generations of Service and Worship
The temple's current priest, Shyam Bihari Sharma, sheds light on its past. According to him, his family has been serving and performing worship at this ancient temple for the last three generations. There is a special tradition here of worshipping the goddess's pallu (the drape of her veil). The scale of the crowds is striking: on ordinary days around 500 to 700 devotees arrive for darshan, and on Sundays and special occasions that number multiplies several times over. Large numbers of people come seeking release from old pains and incurable diseases. When their wishes are fulfilled, devotees arrange prayers and offer donations according to their faith and means.
A History Tracing Back to the Era of Kings
Priest Shyam Bihari Sharma says the temple is believed to date back to the time of kings and maharajas. An old pond built right beside the temple complex is also attributed to the rulers of that era. This centuries-old devotion still draws people to the spot on its own, and the calm surroundings of the complex offer visitors a sense of mental peace as well.
Devotees Share Their Experiences
Rajni Sharma, who came for darshan, shared her own account. She said she had severe trouble sitting down and standing up, and a doctor had advised her to undergo a knee operation. It was then that an acquaintance suggested she visit the Jakhoda Mata temple once. She went on to bow in prayer three times before the goddess and made regular visits. She says that earlier she struggled greatly to sit on the floor and get up, but now she feels considerable relief and can sit and stand normally.
Another devotee, Seema Jain, a resident of Kota, said she used to suffer very sharp pain in her knee. She had come for darshan for the fifth time to bow in prayer before the goddess. She states clearly that her pain has reduced considerably compared to before and that she now feels much healthier. Hundreds of devotees reach this sacred centre of faith and unwavering belief every week, convinced that the goddess's boundless grace and their sincere devotion drive away all their sorrows and pain.
