In the Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, there is a famous temple of Maa Sharda in Maihar. It is believed that after the evening prayer (aarti), when the temple doors are closed and the priests leave, the sound of bells and worship can still be heard from inside the temple. It is said that a devotee named Alha still comes to worship here, and he is often the one who performs the morning aarti.
Alha still performs the first decoration
The sanctity of this temple is so profound that Alha is believed to still come early in the morning to worship Maa Sharda. The head priest, Pandit Devi Prasad, states that Alha still does the first shringaar of the goddess, and when the temple doors are opened at the sacred time (Brahma Muhurta), the temple is already found to be cleaned and worshiped. Even scientists have attempted to solve this mystery, but it remains unsolved.
Who was Alha?
Alha and Udal were two brothers, brave warriors from Mahoba in Bundelkhand, serving as vassals under King Parmar. A poet named Jagnik, in the court of King Parmar, wrote a poem called "Alha Khand" that narrates the tales of these two warriors. The poem describes 52 thrilling battles they fought, the last one being against Prithviraj Chauhan. Alha, a devotee of Maa Sharda, is believed to still perform the worship and aarti of the goddess. Those who do not believe can visit and see for themselves.
The Alha Khand Poem:
It is said in the "Alha Khand" poem that Alha and Udal fought a battle against the ruler of Delhi, Prithviraj Chauhan. Though Prithviraj was defeated, Alha renounced worldly life and became a monk. It is believed that his brother Udal was martyred in this battle. Following the orders of Guru Gorakhnath, Alha spared Prithviraj’s life. This was their last battle together.
It is believed that Alha received the blessings of Maa Sharda, which caused Prithviraj Chauhan’s army to retreat. Following the goddess’s command, Alha offered his weapon (called "saag") at the Sharda temple and bent its tip, which no one has been able to straighten to this day. Many historical artifacts in the temple complex still bear witness to the battle between Alha and Prithviraj Chauhan.
Alha performs the first aarti:
According to legend, Maa Sharda was so pleased with Alha's devotion and bravery that she granted him immortality. Even today, after the 8 PM aarti and temple cleaning, all doors are locked. However, evidence of aarti and worship is found when the temple is reopened in the morning. It is believed that Alha and Udal are the first to offer their prayers to Maa Sharda every day.
The Hero of Bundelkhand History:
Alha and Udal are remembered with great respect in Bundelkhand’s history. Bundeli poets have composed songs about Alha, which are sung in every village and street during the monsoon month of Saawan. These songs describe the courage and valor of Bundelkhand, with lines like "the brave warriors of Mahoba" and "the clashing swords still ring."
Introduction to Sharda Shaktipeeth:
The temple of Maa Sharda is located on Trikuta Mountain near Maihar in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. This temple is considered a Shaktipeeth (a powerful seat of the goddess), and the name "Maihar" means "Mother's necklace," as it is believed that the necklace of Maa Sati fell here. This makes it one of the Shaktipeeths. The temple can be reached by climbing 1,063 steps, and the Maihar temple is the only one in India dedicated to Maa Sharda.
It is said that Alha and Udal were the first to discover the temple hidden in the forest. Alha worshiped and meditated here for 12 years, calling Maa Sharda "Sharda Mai." This is why she is still referred to as Sharda Mai. Additionally, it is believed that the great sage Adi Shankaracharya performed the first puja here in the 9th or 10th century. The idol of Maa Sharda was installed in Vikram Samvat 559.
How did Maihar get its name?
It is believed that the town of Maihar got its name from the Maa Sharda temple. Hindu devotees traditionally address the goddess as "Maa" or "Mai," and since this was the place of the goddess, it was first called "Mai ka Ghar" (Mother's home) and later came to be known as "Maihar."
Another legend states that during Lord Shiva's Tandava dance, Maa Sati's necklace fell on the peak of Trikuta Mountain. This is why the site became a Shaktipeeth and was named "Mai ka Har" (Mother's Necklace), eventually becoming "Maihar."
History of the Temple:
Located on Trikuta Mountain in the Vindhya range, it is believed that the first worship of Maa Sharda was performed by Adi Shankaracharya. The ancient religious text "Mahendra" mentions the Maihar Mountain and its name is also found in the Puranas alongside other mountains of India. Several unreadable inscriptions below the statue of Maa Sharda still hold many mysteries. In 1922, upon the suggestion of Jain pilgrims, the then-ruler, Maharaja Brajnath Singh Judev, banned animal sacrifices in the temple.
The pyramid-shaped temple of Maa Sharda on Trikuta Mountain dates back to 522 BCE. It is said that on the day of Chaturdashi in 522 BCE, King Nripaldev established the temple’s sacred fire altar, and since then, the tradition of worship on Trikuta Mountain began. Historical records show that King Nripaldev performed this ritual on the Chaturdashi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Chaitra in 539 Vikram Samvat (522 BCE).
The renowned historian A. Cunningham studied the Sharda temple in great detail. According to Pandit Mohanlal Dwivedi, the in-charge of the public information center in Maihar, Cunningham mentioned inscriptions from the 9th and 10th centuries, but their script has not been deciphered, leaving many mysteries unsolved.
Ancient Heritage:
Maihar is famous not only for the Sharda temple but also for the ancient heritage sites scattered around it. Behind the temple are the training grounds (akhadas) of the two famous warriors and devotees, Alha and Udal. There is also a pond and a grand temple where Alha’s sword is placed in the hand of his statue, as he is believed to have received the boon of immortality.
Additionally, the Golamath Temple, built by the Chandela Rajput dynasty in 950 BCE, the Rameshwaram Temple with its 108 Shiva Lingams, and the Hanuman Temple established by King Aman in Bhadnapur are other religious centers. Moreover, in the villages of Madai, Manaura, Tidhunta, and Badera, ancient buildings and inscriptions can be found that provide new insights into Indian history. According to the Shiva Purana, Badera was the capital of the Shiva devotee Banasura, and the remnants of Shiva temples and lingams in Badera's forests confirm this.
