Kaila Devi Temple, Karauli, Rajasthan

About the Temple

Kaila Devi Temple is nestled in the Kaila Village of Karauli district, Rajasthan. The temple stands on the banks of the Kalisil river. The temple has two idols. One is of Kaila Devi and another is of Chamunda Devi. Both the idols are in the sitting position. The idol of Kaila Devi is big and the head of the statue is slightly bent. Kaila Devi temple is believed to be one of the nine Shakti Peethas of goddess Durga. It is a marble structure with a large courtyard. A sea of red flags can be seen which are planted by devotees. Devotees offer the Bhog (offerings) along with these flags in Kaila temple.

Apart from Kaila Devi temple, there is a small shrine in the courtyard which is dedicated to Lord Bhairav. In the front of Kaila Devi temple, a shrine of Lord Hanuman can be seen which is locally known as 'Languriya'.

Temple HistoryThe temple is dedicated to Goddess Kaila. Maharaja Gopal Singh Ji laid the foundation of the temple in 1723 and the temple construction was completed in 1730. He also installed the idol of Chamunda Ji, which was brought from the fort of Gagraun where the idol was established in 1150 by the Khinchi ruler Mukund Das Ji. Maharaja Arjun Pal Ji built a large lake, which still exists. It was one of the large, man-made lakes in the area.

Temple Legend

A detailed narration of Kaila Devi Ji is given in the Skanda Purana. The goddess is said to have proclaimed that in Kalyug she would be known as “Kaila” and she would be worshipped as Kaileshwari.

The goddess Kaila Devi is believed to be a manifestation of the Goddess Mahamaya who had taken birth as the girl child of Nanda and Yashoda. When Kansa tried to kill the girl child, she appeared in her divine form and mocked him saying that the one he attempted to kill was already safe. Mahamaya is worshipped as Kaila Devi in Rajasthan while at other places she is worshipped as Vindhyavasini and Hinglaj Mata.

The arrival of the goddess at this place has a fascinating story. The idol was being carried in a bullock cart by a sage. Suddenly, the bullock stopped in the middle of the hill amid the dense forest and refused to move. By divine ordinance, the idol was installed at that very place.

Celebrations, Puja, and FestivalsThe festival of Navaratri and Deepavali are celebrated in a grand manner. The annual fair of Kaila Devi is held in Chaitra month which lasts for a fortnight. The ritual of Kanak-Dandotis is performed by ardent devotees of Goddess Kaila.

How to reach

By Road: Kaila Devi Temple is located at the distance of 23 km of Karauli. The temple can be easily reached by bus or taxi.

By Train: Kaila Devi is well connected to Gangapur city railway station which is well connected to major cities of Rajasthan.

By Air: The nearest airport is located at Jaipur which is 170 km away.

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