Modheshwari Mata temple
Devi (Modheshwari Mata) temple · Modhera, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
Photo: Nizil Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
The Modheshwari Mata Temple, also called the Matangi Modheshwari temple, is a shrine to the goddess Modheshwari in Modhera village, Mehsana district, Gujarat. Gujarat Tourism describes the goddess as a form of Parvati or Durga, and she is revered as the kuldevi, or clan goddess, of the Modh community, whose Brahmin, Vaishya, Kshatriya and Patidar branches trace their roots to the Modhera area.
The temple stands close to the celebrated eleventh-century Sun Temple of Modhera, so many travellers visit both on the same trip. For Modh families, however, the goddess's shrine is the main reason to come: it is where they return for family vows, Navratri worship and the monthly full-moon observances.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Modheshwari Mata temple
According to the legend told at the temple, a demon named Karnat harassed the Brahmins of the region during their prayers. The sages appealed to the goddess, who appeared as Matangi with eighteen arms, each bearing a weapon, and destroyed him. Devotees believe that she has protected the Modh clans ever since, which is why the image is shown armed and eighteen-armed.
The name Matangi Modheshwari is linked in tradition to the sage Matanga, who is said to have worshipped the goddess here. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) notes that the settlement of Modhera itself is associated with the Modh (Modha) Brahmins, and that a much-visited shrine of the goddess, worshipped by the Modh communities as their family deity, is linked with an old stepwell in the village.
Heritage
History of Modheshwari Mata temple
Reliable published records on the building history of the Modheshwari shrine are limited. The traditions connecting Modhera with the Modh Brahmins are old: IGNCA records a legend that the Modh Brahmins received the area at the time of Rama and Sita's wedding, and that the Skanda Purana speaks of Rama founding a village called Modheraka here. These are matters of tradition rather than documented history.
What is historically documented is the setting. The nearby Sun Temple was built, according to IGNCA, probably in 1026–27 CE in the reign of the Chaulukya (Solanki) king Bhima I, which shows that Modhera was a significant religious centre in that period. Some online sources apply this 1026–27 date to the Modheshwari temple as well, but we found no reliable source for that claim, and the present goddess shrine should not be confused with the protected Sun Temple monument.
IGNCA and other sources link the goddess's worship with an ancient stepwell in the village, while today's main temple is a separate, actively used shrine where pilgrims take darshan. The Government of India's festival listings show that the temple continues to hold large organised Navratri celebrations.
Architecture and sacred features
The working temple is a functioning shrine rather than a protected monument, and no authoritative architectural description of it is available. Visitors interested in Solanki-period architecture usually see it alongside the nearby Sun Temple, which IGNCA dates to about 1026–27 CE.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Gujarat Tourism notes that special pujas and rituals are held during Chaitra Navratri and on every Purnima (full-moon day), so expect larger crowds on those days. We have not found an official listing of darshan timings, dress code or fees; confirm current arrangements with the temple management or Gujarat Tourism before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Modheshwari Mata temple
Chaitra Navratri
Gujarat Tourism lists Chaitra Navratri as a time of special pujas at the temple, when Modh families come to worship their clan goddess.
Shri Modheshwari Mata Mandir Navratri Mahotsav (Sharad Navratri)
Incredible India lists a Navratri festival at the temple with darshan, rituals, maha aarti and stage programmes; the 2026 edition was listed for 11–19 October 2026.
Purnima (full moon)
Special rituals and religious programmes are held on each full-moon day, according to Gujarat Tourism.
Location
How to Reach Modheshwari Mata temple
Modhera is in Mehsana district of north Gujarat. Gujarat Tourism gives the temple's distance as about 25 km from Mehsana, 82 km from Gandhinagar and 97 km from Ahmedabad, and places it less than 2 km from the Modhera Sun Temple.
The nearest railhead listed by Gujarat Tourism is Mehsana Junction, about 26 km away. The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, which Gujarat Tourism puts at roughly 94 km. Road travel from Mehsana or Ahmedabad is the usual way to reach the village.
Location: Modhera, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
Nearest airport: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (about 94 km, per Gujarat Tourism)
Nearest railway station: Mehsana Junction (about 26 km, per Gujarat Tourism)
More in Hindu temples in Gujarat · Devi (Modheshwari Mata) temples
Questions
Modheshwari Mata temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Modheshwari Mata?
She is a goddess worshipped at Modhera and described by Gujarat Tourism as a form of Parvati or Durga. She is the kuldevi (clan goddess) of the Modh community and is also known as Matangi Modheshwari.
Why is the goddess shown with eighteen arms?
According to the temple legend, she appeared as Matangi with eighteen arms, each holding a weapon, to destroy the demon Karnat who troubled the Brahmins of the region.
Is the Modheshwari Mata Temple the same as the Modhera Sun Temple?
No. The Sun Temple is an eleventh-century monument dedicated to Surya (dated by IGNCA to about 1026–27 CE), while the Modheshwari temple is a separate shrine of the goddess where worship continues. Gujarat Tourism places them less than 2 km apart.
Which communities regard Modheshwari Mata as their kuldevi?
The Modh community, which Gujarat Tourism describes as including Modh Brahmin, Modh Vaishya, Modh Kshatriya and Modh Patidar groups.
When are the main celebrations at the temple?
Gujarat Tourism lists special pujas during Chaitra Navratri and on every Purnima. A Navratri Mahotsav in Ashvin is also listed on the Government of India's Incredible India festival calendar.
What is the nearest railway station to Modhera?
Gujarat Tourism lists Mehsana Junction, about 26 km away, as the nearest railhead.
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q125447856 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Modheshwari Temple, Modhera — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gujarat Tourism, Government of Gujarat — Modheshwari Mata Temple
- Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Shri Modheshwari Mata Mandir Navratri Mahotsav, Mehsana
- Utsav portal, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Shri Modheshwari Mata Mandir Navratri Mahotsav, Mehsana (Utsav listing)
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts — Sun-Temple at Modhera (Gujarat)
- Wikipedia — Modheshwari (pointer only)
Further reading: Modheshwari Mata temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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