History and Importance of Ashapura Mata Mandir of Piplav, Near Anand, Gujarat
Goddess Ashapura Mata Temple situated in small village Piplav of Sojitra Taluka of Anand district, Gujarat is very popular temple in nearby area and just 20 KM from Anand. As the name suggest Ashapura mata means the goddess who fulfill the wish of every devotee. Ashapuri Mataji Temple is located near the Panchmukhi Mahadev and Bhimnath Mahadev or Naraneshwar Shiivalay. This ancient temple was built by Peshwa Rajavi and associated with lot of historical tales leads to Mahabharata as well. As per the legend, Lord Shree Krishna and Arjun had took holy deep in the lake near temple and thus famous as the Narnarayana Lake. It is also mentioned that during the axile, Pandava reached here at Piplav village and dreamt that to installed the idol of goddess. Thus they installed Idol of Goddess Asha and after completion of next year – Agyat vaas at Virat Nagar, they came back to same site and installed another idol of Goddess Puri this is how two idols of Asha and Puri was installed and temple was constructed. It is believed that after the long time this temple was reconstructed. The key attractions of this temples are two idol of Goddess Asha and Puri, one is long and another is bit small. Akhand Jyot – Continuous sacred flame are lightning since long time and oil and Pure Ghee is used. Huge lake beside the temple campus attracts ever devotee to take holy deep.
Along with the main deity as Goddess Ashapura, idols of Lord Ganesh, Taralesvara Mahadev, Khodiyar Mata, Hanumanji are installed here in temple campus. Since the establishment of the temple, huge fair is held on eighth and ninth day of Shukla Paksh of Bhadrapada month which attracts thousands of devotee across the surrounding area. 56 bhog Thal is also prepared for goddess Ashapura Mata and Goddess is Kuldevi main deity of lot of people thus they prepared Naivedhya as well. Lots of devotee reach here on feet as per their wish and faith.
