Tanot Mata Temple: When Science failed in the face of Faith

The world constantly questions the existence of God. Devotees try to prove their existence and atheists try to falsify the authority of supernatural power. However, some instances astonish both believers and nonbelievers around the world.

Tanot Mata Temple Source: Pinterest

India is a hub of religion and spirituality. To make access to the higher authority easier, many places of worship are spread across The length and breadth of the country. One such reputed place of worship is the Tanot Mata Temple. The Tanot Mata Temple is located at the Longewala border in Rajasthan, which is ten kilometres away from the border outpost of Pakistan. The temple is devoted to the local deity called Tanot aka Aavad Mata and is taken care of by the Border Security Force of the Indian Army. The temple has a special place in the hearts of every soldier, and not without reason. The Goddess has repeatedly saved the brave Jawans from martyrdom and as they believe, will continue to do so.

The Tanot village, named after the deity, is located near the Indo-Pak border in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. The temple was established in the eighth century after Bhati Rajput King Tanot Rao made Tanot the capital of his kingdom. According to common folklore, Mamadia Charan, the great devotee of Hinglaj Mata, travelled on foot to her temple seven times to be granted a child. Impressed with his perseverance, the Goddess came into his dream and blessed him. Mamadia Charan wished that she be born at his house, and soon he was blessed with seven daughters and a son. One of these daughters was Aavad Mata.

In 1965, soldiers from the 13 Grenadiers waited for their death at the Sadewala post near the temple. Their supply lines had been cut by the Pakistani forces which occupied the Kishangarh post and they were stranded with inadequate weaponry left, while the Pakistani firing power was very strong. The shelling began on November 17- a relentless deployment of bombs without any breaks. More than three thousand bombs were dropped for two days until the firing finally ceased on 19th November. However, the goddess had other plans for the Indian soldiers. None of the bombs met their target and the selected few which did, never exploded. Not even a single Indian soldier was martyred in these two days. India went on to win the war and push back the invasive Pakistani army.

After the war, the BSF took charge of the temple and is to date, responsible for the daily proceedings of Pooja.

The temple became a centre of interest and devotion for all Indians during the deadly 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. It was also featured in the blockbuster movie, ‘Border’ released in 1997.

Six years later, soldiers found history repeating itself. In the 1971 war with Pakistan over the liberation of East Pakistan, the Pakistani army adopted a new approach. Instead of targeting the Sadewala outpost which was now a stronghold, they targeted Longewala.

But they forgot the most important factor associated with Longewala, that it was also situated near the Tanot Mata temple. The enemy army attacked India on two fronts - on one hand, soldiers were fighting to keep Pakistan away in East Pakistan, and on the other, they were protecting the Indian mainland on the western front in Rajasthan.

Longewala was guarded by only 120 men led by Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri. On December 4th, Pakistan attacked with a full battalion which had 1000 soldiers and a tank squadron. The tanks were soon rendered useless, however, as they got stuck in the desert sand and did not move even an inch. Soldiers watched the enemy throw bombs but this time they were filled with the faith that the goddess will not let any harm come to them. And the goddess did not disappoint them. The bombs which fell near Longewala did not explode and the Indian soldiers crushed the Pakistani army soon after.

To commemorate their victory in one of the greatest battles ever fought, the Indian army constructed a museum which houses the unexploded bombs from decades ago. A Vijay Stambha is also proudly exhibited in the museum. Every year, December 16 is celebrated to remember this victory.

The wilderness of Rajasthan is as beautiful as it is deadly. Although the sands form picturesque locations to travel to and experience, they form a lethal maze of shifting landscapes which makes it very easy to lose hope. When faced with diminishing supplies and an advancing, equipped enemy, it is easy for fear to creep into the bravest hearts. In dire times like these, it is not surprising that it takes the might of a goddess to protect and preserve. For the courageous hearts of BSF, Tanot Mata is a constant source of light even in the darkest of times.