Tanot Mata, Jaisalmer

Tanot Mata, Jaisalmer

Tanot Mata Mandir is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Avad located near the India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. The temple was a source of inspiration for Indian soldiers during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, when the bombs dropped by Pakistan did not explode on the temple. Mata Tanot Rai is also considered to be the incarnation of Hinglaj Mata and the goddess of army personnel.

Features of the temple

Religious significance:
This temple is dedicated to Goddess Avad, also known as Tanot Rai and Yudhwali Devi, and is believed to be an incarnation of Hinglaj Mata.

Wartime miracle:
The temple was heavily bombed during the wars of 1965 and 1971, but not a single bomb exploded. This miracle proved to be a blow to the Pakistan Army and the Indian soldiers won.

Army Jawans' Temple:
Due to this miracle, Tanot Mata is called the goddess of army personnel and the temple is also known as 'Army Jawans' Goddess'.

'Handkerchief Goddess':
Devotees tie handkerchiefs in the temple courtyard to fulfill their wishes, due to which Tanot Mata is also called 'Handkerchief Goddess'.

Battlefield memorial

After India's victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war, India's Border Security Force (BSF) expanded the temple, built Vijay Stambh and a war museum which housed unexploded Pakistani bombs and tanks. Every year 16 December is celebrated as Vijay Diwas at the temple.
The Tanot temple and War Memorial Museum are now part of the Indian Army's Bharat Rannbhoomi Darshan initiative, which will promote border tourism, patriotism, local infrastructure and economy as well as prevent outward migration of civilians from these remote locations, it includes 77 battlefield war memorials in the border area including Longewala War Memorial, Sadhewala War Memorial, Siachen Base Camp, Kargil, Galwan, Pangong Tso, Rejang La, Doklam, Bum La, Cho La, Kibithu etc.

Location

The temple is approximately 122 kilometres (76 mi) from the city of Jaisalmer, and takes approximately two hours to reach by road. The average wind speed in the region is very high and as a result there are now a large number of wind-based renewable energy projects in the area. The path to Tanot is surrounded by miles and miles of long sand dunes and sand mountains. It is one of the hottest places in India and the temperature in the region can rise to 49 °C on the hottest days of the year. The region recorded temperatures as high as 52.4 °C on 2 May 2016 and if verified it would be the highest temperature ever recorded in India. The official highest temperature ever recorded in India which is 51 °C was recorded at Phalodi located in Rajasthan.

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