Kaudi Mata Temple in Varanasi is a small yet an important temple for devotees from South India. South Indians, when they visit Kashi, only by darshan of Kaudi Mata will their visit be fruitful. She is revered as sister of Lord Vishwanatha.
Kashi is the oldest city on Earth. It is older than the ancient living civilizations known to mankind. The mysterious charm and ever-increasing divinity of Kashi have pulled seekers of truth towards it. Devotees who are disinterested in the charm of the material world take shelter in Kashi where they die remembering the holy name of Rama.
For those who are yet to delve deep into the ocean of spirituality, Kashi has a lot to offer. Yet there are those who are baffled by the aura of Kashi, find themselves lost in the lanes of Kashi. Every temple they come across amazes them and makes them return to this holy city to get access to the unending world of spirituality.
One such mysterious temple veiled within the lanes of Kashi is Kaudi Bai Temple or Kaudi Mata Temple. This temple is significant for devotees from South India who visit Kashi.
The origin of Kaudi Mata Temple
Kaudi Mata was a grama devata from South India. She visited Kashi and began living there. Once a shadow of a lower caste fell on her while she was moving around in Kashi. This annoyed her and she felt that she was contaminated due to this. She immediately went to Ganga and took a bath and got herself purified.
Sometimes she would not even see a shadow of a lower caste person as this would contaminate her. This went on for years and years, in fact for yugas. Mother Annapurna who had been observing this, asked Kaudi Mata the reason for such a discrimination in Kashi.
Kaudi Mata gave an explanation, hearing which Mother Annapurna got angry. Mother Annapurna advised Kaudi Mata to stop discriminating between the living entities as in Kashi everyone was equal. Anyone who discriminates like this would have to be punished.
Mother Annapurna cursed Kaudi Mata to live in the residential area of lower castes and gave her Kaudi (conch shells known as cowry) as punishment. She ordained that henceforth the food and charity of Kaudi Mata would be cowry only.
Hearing this curse, Kaudi Mata ran to Lord Vishwanatha for help, who gave her patient hearing. Lord Vishwanath emphasized with her but could not reverse the curse pronounced by Mother Annapurna. Instead, he accepted Kaudi Mata as his elder sister and ordained that devotees coming from South India must have to worship Kaudi Mata to accrue the complete fruit of Kashi Yatra.
Since, then devotees from South India have been thronging the Kaudi Mata Temple and giving in charity the cowries to her.
Temple timings of Kaudi Mata Temple
Kaudi Mata Temple is open from morning 7 am to evening 9 pm. Basically the temple follows the temple timings of Vishwanath Temple who is open almost always.
The temple is generally not crowded as the local crowd does not come here. However, during the Amanta Shravana Masa, lot of South Indian devotees throng to this temple.
How to reach Kaudi Mata Temple?
Kaudi Mata Temple is in Kashi, which is in Uttar Pradesh of Bharat. To reach this temple easily without any difficulty, travel with Tirtha Yatra on the Kashi Yatra. All the arrangements are well taken of while you are engaged in worshiping your ishta devata.
If you wish to travel on your own, here are the ways to reach:
By Air – Varanasi International Airport is the nearest airport to reach Kashi. From here taxis are available to reach Kaudi Mata Temple and other temples of Kashi.
By Rail – Varanasi Railway Station is well connected with the major cities in the country as well as Uttar Pradesh. From the railway station, autos or taxis can be hired to reach the temple.
By Road – Kashi is well connected with National Highway. Buses are available from almost all the major districts in the state to Varanasi. Even from Delhi overnight buses are there to Varanasi. From the bus stand, hire local taxis or autos to reach the temple.
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