Siddhpur – Matrugaya Sristhal for Tarpana of Mothers

I heard of Siddhpur on my trip to Bahuchara Ji. We had some time on hand after visiting Bahuchara Mata and Umiya Mata at Unjha. So, Jaya suggested visiting Siddhpur for the houses with lovely facades. Since the sun was about to set, we thought we could simply drive by those houses and be back in Ahmedabad.

Destiny had other plans though. We stopped at the roadside to ask directions and just in front of us was a board announcing Sristhal Museum in Siddhpur. Now the word Sristhal raised my curiosity as it means the land of the Sri or Lakshmi. We decided to visit the museum first and then the houses if time permits.

This is how the magic of yatra unravels. When you are in the kshetra, the right pointers will simply appear before you.

Sristhal / Matru Gaya Tirtha Kshetra – Siddhpur

At the Sristhal museum, a board saying Matru Gaya Tirtha Kshetra greeted us. A look inside the gates showed me well-manicured gardens and nothing like a Tirtha Kshetra with temples and most importantly a waterbody. Anyway, we stepped inside. We were pointed to a newly built museum on one side.

We also got to know about the Bindu Sarovar and temples that are a little inside the complex. As it was evening, we decided to see the museum first.

Sristhal Museum

Outside the museum, we first saw a double-story Toran on four pillars. It is a unique structure; I do not recall seeing it anywhere else. However, no board told me what it is. I hoped that the museum would.

Inside the museum, we are led by a guide down a flight of steps into a well-like formation. This is the Tirtha Gallery. Surrounding us was a life-size mural telling us the story of the Tirtha Kshetra in miniature painting style. The story begins with Manu, the first human being and then travels down to Parashuram in his lineage.

Parshuram had killed his mother Renuka at the order of his father Rishi Jamadagni. He did the Prayshchit or repentance here at Siddhpur. The mural depicts that episode among others.

The visual depiction centers around Bindu Sarovar, which is the main Tirtha here. There are lots of Matrika pr mother sculptures here. They highlight the fact that Tirtha is dedicated to mothers. There is also a depiction of nature worship, for nature is also seen as a nurturing mother.

Itihasa or the history gallery is one storey up. It displays coins, tools and other archaeological artefacts from Gujarat. There are Jain paintings and…