University of Oxford Journal

The History and Tradition of Rani Sati Dadi Mata

Prof. Gavin Flood

(Director Vedic Studies at Oxford Center of Hindu Studies)

University of Oxford Journal

Chapter

I. The History of Rani Sati Dadi Mata II. The Tradition and Rituals of Rani Sati Dadi Mata

History of Rani Sati Dadi Mata

When Abhimanyu (the son of the great Pandava, Arjun) lost his life while fighting the battle of Mahabharata, his wife and sooncommitsati and end her life too. Citing the fact that it kill the innocent yet-to-be-born child, Lord KriSince she was adamant, He gave her the boon that her desire to become sati shall

be fulfilled in the next birth.

Many years later, Uttara was reboDas. A beautiful horse possessed by Tandhan Das was being eyed by the son of king of Hissar from quite some time. But Tandhan Das refused to part with his precious horse by handing it over to the king’s son. On dforcefully then, the king’s son confronted him. He killed the king’s son in the battle that ensued. This enraged the king and he decided to take revenge soon. Sometime later, Tandhan Das was married to Narayani bai. After marriage, while returning to their village, they were suddenly attacked by the army of Hissar. Tandhan Das fought the battle bravely before he was stabbed in the back and lost his life. The young bride, Narayani bai displayeby fighting the army singlehandedly and killed the king.

University of Oxford Journal

History of Rani Sati Dadi Mata

When Abhimanyu (the son of the great Pandava, Arjun) lost his life while fighting the battle of Mahabharata, his wife and soon-to-be-mother, Uttara had wished to commitsati and end her life too. Citing the fact that it would not be appropriate to

born child, Lord Krishna stopped her from doing so. Since she was adamant, He gave her the boon that her desire to become sati shall

.

Many years later, Uttara was reborn as Narayani bai and Abhimanyu as Tandhan Das. A beautiful horse possessed by Tandhan Das was being eyed by the son of king of Hissar from quite some time. But Tandhan Das refused to part with his precious horse by handing it over to the king’s son. On deciding to obtain forcefully then, the king’s son confronted him. He killed the king’s son in the battle that ensued. This enraged the king and he decided to take revenge soon. Sometime later, Tandhan Das was married to Narayani bai. After marriage, while returning to their village, they were suddenly attacked by the army of Hissar. Tandhan Das fought the battle bravely before he was stabbed in the back and lost his life. The young bride, Narayani bai displayed exemplary courage and bravery

army singlehandedly and killed the king.

University of Oxford Journal

When Abhimanyu (the son of the great Pandava, Arjun) lost his life while fighting mother, Uttara had wished to

would not be appropriate to shna stopped her from doing so.

Since she was adamant, He gave her the boon that her desire to become sati shall

rn as Narayani bai and Abhimanyu as Tandhan Das. A beautiful horse possessed by Tandhan Das was being eyed by the son of king of Hissar from quite some time. But Tandhan Das refused to part with his

eciding to obtain forcefully then, the king’s son confronted him. He killed the king’s son in the battle that ensued. This enraged the king and he decided to take revenge soon. Sometime later, Tandhan Das was married to Narayani bai. After marriage, while returning to their village, they were suddenly attacked by the army of Hissar. Tandhan Das fought the battle bravely before he was stabbed in the back and lost

d exemplary courage and bravery

University of Oxford Journal

She then asked Ranaji (the caretaker of the horse) to make immediate arrangements for her to be set ablaze along with her husband’s cremation.

Very pleased with Ranaji who played a vital role in fulfilling her wish to be sati with her husband, she blessed him that his name will be taken and worshiped before her name and since then she is known as Rani Sati.

“Soon after, her influence of 'sat' (truth and loyalty) involuntarily set up the pyre ablaze. A storm rose from the ashes telling Ranaji to take them on the horse and to build a temple wherever the horse stops. The horse stopped in Jhunjhunu where the temple stands today…”

University of Oxford Journal

The Tradition and Rituals of Rani Sati Dadi Mata I. Rani Sati Chalisa in English II. Rani Sati Arati in English III. Rani Sati Amavas in English IV. Rani Sati Puja & Rituals

University of Oxford Journal

I. Rani Sati Dadi Arati in English

Om jai Shri Raanisati ji, maiya jai jagdamb sati ji Apney bhakt jano ki daadi dur karo vipati !!

Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !!

Avani anantar jyoti akhandit mandit chahunk kumbha, Maiya mandit cchhunk kumbha

Durjan dalan khadag ki daadi, vidyut sam pratibha !! Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !!

Markat mani mandir ati manjul shobhalakhi naa parey, Devaa shobhaa lakhi naa parey,

Lalit dhwaja cchun or devaa, kanchan kalash dhurey !! Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !!

Ghanta danann ghadaaval baajat shankh mridang dhurey O maiya shankh mridang dhurey

Kinnar gaayan karate jai ho ved dhwani uccharey !! Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !

University of Oxford Journal

Sapt maatru kaa karey aarti surgan dhyaan dharey

O deva surgan dhyaandharey, Vividh prakaar key vyanjan maiyaa shrifal bhent dharey !!

Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !!

Sankat vikat vidaarini maata naashini ho kumati, Daadi naashini ho kumati

Sevak jan hridi patel maiyaa mrudula karan sumati

Amal kamal dal lochani maata mochani traya taapa, Daadi mochni traya taapaa

Daas aayo shran aapki maiyaa laaj rakho maata !! Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !!

Shri raani sati maiyaa ki aarti nit uth jo koi nar gaavei Maiyaa jo sundar gaavey

University of Oxford Journal

Ashtasiddhi navnidhi se deva, man vaancchit fal paaveyy !! Om jai Shri Raanisati ji !!

II.Rani Sati Dadi Chaalisa In English

|| Sri Guru Pad Pankaj Naman, Dushit Bhav Sudhar Ranisati Suvimal yash, Barnau Mati Anusar

Kaam Krodh mad lobh me, Bharam rahyo sansar Sharan gahi karunamayi, Sukh sampatti sanchar ||

Namo Namo Sri Sati Bhavani || Jag vikhyat sabhi man manni ll 1 ll Namo Namo Sanktakun harni || mann vanchit pura sab karni ll 2 ll Namo Namo jai jai Jagdamba || bhaktan kaaj na hoy vilamba ll 3 ll Namo Namo jai jai Jagtarini || sevak jann ke kaaj sudharini ll 4 ll Divya roop sir chundar sohe || jagmagat kundal mann mohe ll 5 ll Maang sindoor sukajal tikki || gaj mukta nath sundar niki ll 6 ll Gale baijanti maal biraje || solah saaj badan pe saaje ll 7 ll

Dhanya bhaag Gursamal jee ko || maham dokva janam Sati ko ll 8 ll Tandhan Das pativar paaye || anand mangal hot savaye ll 9 ll

University of Oxford Journal

Jaliram putra vadhu hoke || vansh pavitra kiya kul doke ll 10 ll Pati Dev Rann maay jhunjhare || Sati roop ho shatru sanghare ll11ll Pati Sang le sadgati paayi || surr mann harsh suman barsai ll 12 ll

Dhanya dhanya uss Ranajee ko || sufal hua kar daras Sati ko ll 13 ll Vikram terah so bavanku || mangsir badi Naomi Mangal ku ll 14 ll

Nagar Jhunjhnun pragati Maata || jag vikhyat sumangal daata ll 15 ll Durr desh ke yatri aave || dhoop deep navaidya chadave ll 16 ll

Uchad uchad te hain anand se || pooja tan man dhan srifal se ll17ll Jaat jadula raat jagave || bansal goti sabhi manave ll 18 ll

Poojan path pathan dvij karte || ved dhwani mukh se ucharte ll19ll Nana bhanti bhanti pakwana || vipra jano ko nyut jimana ll 20 ll

Sradha bhakti sahit harshate || sevak mann vanchit phal paate ll21ll

Jai jai kar kare narr naari || Sri Ranisati ki balihari ll 22 ll Dwar kot nit naubat baaje || hot sringar saaj ati saaje ll 23 ll

Ratna Singhasan jhalke niko || pal pal chin chin dhyan Sati ko ll 24 ll Bhadra krishna mavas din leela || bharta mela rang rangeela ll 25 ll Bhakt sujanki sakad bheed hai || darshanke hit nahin chid haill26ll

Atal bhuvan me jyoti tihari || tej punj jag mayin ujari ll 27 ll Adi Shakti me mili jyoti hai || desh desh me bhavan bhoti hai ll 28 ll

Nana vidhi so puja karte || nish din dhyan tihara dharte ll 29 ll Kashta nivarani,dukkh nashini || karunamayi Jhunjhnun vasini ll30ll Pratham Sati Narayani nama || dwadas aur hui issi dhaama ll 31 ll

Tihun lok me kirti chayi || Sri Rani Sati ki phiri duhai ll 32 ll Subah shaam Aarti utare || naubat ghanta dhwani tankare ll 33 ll Raag chattison baaja baaje || terahun mand sundar ati saaje ll34ll Trahi Trahi me sharan aapki || poori mann ki aas daas ki ll 35 ll

Mujhko ek bharoso tero || aan sudharo karaj mero ll 36 ll Pooja jap tap nem na jaanu || nirmal mahima nitya bakhanu ll 37 ll Bhaktan ki aapati har leni || putra pautra varr sampati deni ll 38 ll

Padhe yeh Chalisa jo shat baara || hoy siddhi mann mahi bichara ll 39 ll Sagla bhakta sharan li thari || kshama karo sab chuk hamari ll 40 ll

|| Dukh aapad vipada haran Jagjeevan aadhar Bigdi baat sudhariye Sab apradh bisar ||

!!! Om Shri Rani Satye Namah !!!

University of Oxford Journal

III.Rani Sati Dadi Mata Amavas

When Celebrated:

During the occasion of Bhado Amavasya or the no-moon day a sacred Pujanutsav is held in the month of bhado. This is the day when Sati immolated herself on funeral pyre of her husband.

Celebration by Devotees:

Millions of Devotees Stand in the queue for pujan at their local Rani Sati Dadi Temple and a huge PUJANUTSAV is held in Jhunjhunu for which millions of followers and worshippers stand in queue from early morning to take a majestic glimpse of Shri Rani Sati.

On this day people sing lots of Bhajans do Kirtans read Rani Sati Chaalisha and at last ends the puja ceremony with Rani Sati Aarti.

University of Oxford Journal

IV.Rani Sati Dadi Mata Puja and Samgri and Vidhi (Worship and Ritual)

Unlike most of the temples in India, the fact that this temple does not enshrine a statue or image of any Gods or Goddesses makes it all the more unique. A trident with two eyes, nose ring, a red bindi and a red chunri is worshipped in the form of power and force which is the supreme might as per the Hindu religion. A fine portrait of the Rani Sati Dadi is positioned in the sanctum (Pradhan Mand) with the imposing Shikhar.

In front of the sanctum, there is a marble platform where devotees pray by drawing the Sathiya (Swastik) and offer roli, chawal, mehendi, flowers, coconut, etc to the Goddess. Women also offer Suhaag pitaris (saree, bangles, bindi, kajal, etc) and pray for the long life of their husbands and the well being of their entire family.

After the evening aarti Prasad of Bundi is distributed to all.

Chief Executive of Oxford University Press, U.K. (OUP)

Copyright © Oxford University Press, U.K. 2010

University of Oxford Journal

Allowed By:

Nigel Port wood

Chief Executive of Oxford University Press, U.K. (OUP)

nigel port wood Signature of Nigel Port wood

Oxford University Press, U.K. 2010-

University of Oxford Journal

nigel port wood Signature of Nigel Port wood

-31

University of Oxford Journal