Idana Mata Temple: Where fire starts by itself and everything except for the idol is burned down

India is a land of temples, miracles, and all things spiritual. From temples that worship snakes and rats, to idols that can turn boiling hot water into ice-cold in seconds, miracles and unique happenings are not rare in India. There are gaps between the land and the pillar that cannot be explained, and fires that start all by themselves, which have no origin point.
And every Indian temple, no matter how big or small, carries a little miracle in it.

For Hindus, the elements of earth are also revered. From the Gods of fire to the Gods of water, all of them are worshipped, respected, and held on high pedestals.
And for fire, there is Agni dev, who is a part of weddings, rituals, yagnas, hawans, kirtans, and even little everyday prayers. It is said that Agni purifies and spreads energy all around itself, and where Agni is lit up, the Gods find their way with its bright light.

In Hinduism, Devi puja is also important. A Devi, or a Goddess, is the divine feminine, the Shakti of the Universe, and is the epitome of fierceness and compassion. The Devi is quick to protect and fight, but also loving and compassionate, hearing every devotee who knocks on her door.
And thus, we have Maa Lakshmi, Maa Durga, Maa Parvati, Maa Saraswati, Maa Santoshi, Maa Kali, and many more Goddesses.

And a temple in India is famous for a unique ritual that is spontaneous and could happen anytime. Near Udaipur, there is the Idana Mata temple, surrounded by hills and open land, and no grandeur or high temple walls. Thousands of people visit this temple and celebrate the energy of Idana mata, a Devi who bathes and covers herself in a self-lit fire.

According to several reports online and videos that go viral, the idol of Idana Mata is covered in ‘shringaar’ and ‘chunri’, and all of a sudden, a fire lights up just behind the idol. There is no human to start the fire or any triggering agents that could lead to a fire, and yet, the fire starts, engulfing everything in it, including the clothes, the shringaar, and the prasad offered to Idana Mata.
It is said that the fire only starts when the Goddess is happy and pleased, and no one knows when it will start. (Image: idana_mata_mewar/Instagram)

It is said that when Maa Idana feels overjoyed or pleased, her emotions manifest in the form of the fire, and thus the sheer energy of the fire fills the space with positivity and purity. Some devotees also say that watching his fire engulf everything (from Prasad to Shringaar) except for Maa Idana’s idol is a spectacle to say the least. Anytime the fire lights up, Maa Idana’s idol has no harm, but everything around her burns down. It is also said that this is the reason why there are no grand walls or structures in the temple, and the murti of Idana Mata is in the open space. (Image: idana_mata_mewar/Instagram)