India boasts a plethora of temples, each with its own distinctive allure. These sacred sites are steeped in captivating tales and legends. Amidst your encounters with the myriad temples dedicated to gods and goddesses, have you ever stumbled upon one where reverence is paid to the bones of whales? It may sound incredulous, but such a temple indeed exists nestled in the quaint village of Magod Dungri village, situated within the Valsad tehsil of Gujarat.
In this temple, the veneration of whale bones has endured not for merely a few decades or centuries, but for a remarkable span of three hundred years. This sacred edifice was erected by the local fishing community residing in this area. The temple is famously known as 'Matsya Mataji Temple'. It's intriguing to note that before venturing into the vast sea to embark on their fishing expeditions, the fishermen of this region reverently bow their heads within the sanctum of Matsya Mataji's abode. They earnestly seek her divine blessings, hoping for a bountiful catch devoid of any obstacles or challenges. Additionally, there exists a widespread belief among the locals that if a fisherman neglects to pay homage to this temple before setting sail, misfortune inevitably befalls him during his expedition at sea.
Legend has it that around 300 years ago, a resident of this area named Prabhu Tandel experienced a vivid dream. In his dream, he witnessed a colossal fish beaching itself, only to transform into the form of a goddess upon reaching the shore, before ultimately perishing.
Come morning, Tandel and the villagers ventured to the beach, where they were astonished to find a massive whale lying lifeless on the sand, validating Tandel's vision.
Moved by the profound experience, Tandel shared his dream with the villagers, who, in turn, hailed it as the embodiment of the goddess. Thus, in honor of Matsya Mata, a temple was erected on the site.
According to local belief, it is said that Tandel first buried the whale on the seashore before commencing the construction of the temple. Upon the temple's completion, he retrieved the whale bones from their resting place on the shore and enshrined them within the temple premises.
However, not everyone embraced the worship of whale bones. Some individuals vehemently opposed the practice, abstaining from any involvement in the temple's construction. It is said that due to their disbelief in Matsya Devi, not only did they suffer dire consequences, but the entire village was afflicted by a dreadful disease.
Seeking solace and healing, the villagers turned to the temple, beseeching Goddess Matsya for forgiveness and relief from the affliction. Miraculously, all those afflicted were cured, leading to a collective commitment to daily worship at the temple by the entire village.
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