CURATED BY – SUNIL YADAV | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Katni, the grand festival of worship of Shakti is going on. For nine days, the devotees of Maa will worship her in various forms. On the Pratipada of Chaitra Navratri, we are telling you about 'Maa Jalpa', who is seated in the main Shaktipeeth of the city, whose blessings have been showered for more than two hundred and fifty years. People believe that Maa Jalpa, who has been seated in the land of Bardoli for about 258 years, not only protects the city from every calamity but also fulfills every wish of the devotees. This is the main Shaktipeeth of Katni city. There is a fair like atmosphere here for 365 days of the year. The unique beauty of Maa is worth seeing on the Navratri festival. The Maa Jalpa temple situated in the city is very old. The mystery of this old temple is also unique.

The temple priest of the fifth generation, Lalji Panda, told that there used to be a dense forest where Mata Rani is seated. There was an abundance of bamboo forests here and Maa Jalpa used to sit in the middle of those bamboo forests. The goddess gave a dream to Panda's ancestor, after which the goddess appeared from the bamboo forest and today her glory is not only in the district but in the entire state. In 1766, the goddess called Biharilal, a resident of Rewa district, to Katni. Following the order of the goddess, Biharilal reached Katni to serve the goddess and went to the bamboo forest and started serving the goddess daily. Gradually, with the grace of Mata Rani, the city was transformed and after the temple of the goddess, a grand temple was built. The eternal flame of the goddess, the torches, the urns are the center of attraction in the temple. The idol of Maa Jalpa in the form of Maa Jwala is in the shape of a stone. Panda Biharilal performed the consecration of the goddess with full rituals. After a few years, the temple was renovated and then idols of Ma Kali, Sharda were also installed along with Ma Jalpa in the temple. Hanumanji and Bhairav ​​Baba were also installed beside the temple. The temple was specially renovated in 2012. The dome, gate and premises of the temple have been made attractive. 64 Yoginis were installed in the temple premises under the guidance of Pattabhiramacharya Maharaj. Apart from Navratri, the place is crowded with devotees throughout the year. The sins of the devotees are eradicated by seeing the divine images of Maa Jalpa and Mata Kalka, Sharda and Jalpa installed in the temple including the sanctum sanctorum. Lalji Panda, the fifth generation child of Biharilal Panda and his son are engaged in the service of Mata Rani.