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Goddess Ghatriali has a temple at village Panjaha (tahsil Rainka). Closely connected with the cult of Bijat is that of the goddess Ghatriali, who has a temple at Panjaha in Rainka tehsil.
Legend of Ghatriali Temple
The legend regarding Ghatriali temple avers that a certain Kanet chieftain, Bija by name, of Tatwa village, once sallied forth with eighteen of his followers to attack his enemies in Dahar. When the assailants reached Dahar they were seized with a sudden panic and fled homeward, but, on reaching Bhaluna, 1.6 km (a mile) from Dahar, they met some women bearing pitchers. On asking who the women were, they told that the women belonged to Jamlog, a village at which a "Jagra'' (nightlong vigil) in honour of Bijat was being celebrated and that they had come to fetch water. Bija asked them if he and his companions could see the 'Jagra' (vigil) and was told that they could come and see it, but must feel no fear of what they saw even when offered seats of serpents and scorpions by the people of Jamlcg. The women also informed the party that they would be offered grains of iron to eat, and the women gave them rice which they could eat, instead, concealing the iron. Lastly, the women told them that if they were desired to take the image to their house for the celebration of a "Jagra" (vigil), they should seize it and flee with it, but must on no account look back. Accordingly Bija and his men went to Jamlog where they found three images being worshipped with great pomp, and were told that the finest image to which the greatest reverence was being paid was that of Bijat, the second that of Bihai, and the third that of Ghatriali. Bija, on the pretence that he desired to worship the images, was allowed to draw near with his companions, and they then seized the images and fled. The men of Jamlog pursued them without success, but Bija's eighteen companions looked back and perished. Bija, however, did not take this false step and reached his house in safety, and concealed the image in his granary, which was nearly empty. When he opened the granary in the morning it was overflowing. Bija fell senseless, at this miracle and was revived only by the sacrifice of eighteen he-goats. Then one of the three gods took possession of a man, who began to nod his head repeatedly saying he was Bijat, the god, and could not remain in Tatwa, as it was not becoming for him to live with his sisters. So the image of Bijat was sent to Saran in Chopal tahsil of Mahasu district where it still remains. The people of Tatwa then separated, dividing their property, some going to settle in Kandi, and the others remaining in Tatwa. The image of the goddess Bijat fell to the men of Kandi, and is now at Barol of Dasakna "Bhoj" (group of villages in charge of a "Siana" or" Ala"-lambardar), while Ghatriali remained at Tatwa and her temple was established at Panjaha in Tikri "Bhoj" (group of villages in charge of a Siana or Ala-lambardar).
(Last Updated on : 28-09-2011)
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