This Lohardaga temple promotes vegetarianism

LOHARDAGA: The Ashtabhuji Durga Temple that Jagatpal Sahu has built at Chatti village in Lohardaga is testimony to the belief that the divine energy at the centre of all creatures is feminine in nature as also that vegetarianism is the be-all and end-all of existence.
This unique temple promoting vegetarianism is situated at about 30 km from the district headquarter town of Lohardaga on Lohardaga-Ranchi road via Bedo.
The temple named Om Jai Chhattis Ma Mandir has 36 different paintings of animals on the same plinth and they are worshipped as gods.There are several other idols of goddess Kali, Shiva and Parvati with the son Ganesha on their lap, Hanuman, Surya and perhaps one of its kinds the idol of Chhath Mata. The temple is however famous for its paintings being worshipped, all in feminine form. ‘Murgi (hen) mata ki jai, kekda (crab) mata ki jai, ghoda (horse) mata ki jai, ghongha (snail) mata ki jai and similar goes the other captions with the paintings created on the wall of the main temple wall.
The temple popular for its exclusivity is the creation of a devotee of Durga, Sahu (37) of the same village. Just in front of the temple on the opposite side of the road he runs a sweet shop that is flourishing by the blessings of the Goddess, as the eatery too is famous for the village and its surrounding areas.
‘It was the Goddess herself whso once appeared before me at my home and I asked sought her blessing to build a temple of hers that I wished from my childhood. The Goddess permitted me and I started the construction work of the temple in the year 2006, said Jagatpal, popularly known as Jagatu Baba who is the also the priest of his temple. He can be identified from far by the ‘chunari’ tied on his forehead, mostly clad in saffron uniform. He said that one Moti Sahu’s family donated the land for the temple that he got opened in 2006. About the animals worshipped as God in the temple he replied that there is only one god (Durga), all other gods in any religion are the same and all creatures are her blessings so the animals can be worshipped.
He has put no restriction of caste and creed for worshipping at the temple but he strictly bans non-vegetarian food and those who take wine.He did not accept donations for his further plans to develop the temple adding 36 domes and idols each of the animals.
This hass received a good response in promoting vegetarianism in the area. Jay Kishore Sahu and Gopal Sahu, the co-villagers said that people were laughing at him in the beginning for the idea of promoting vegetarianism but now he is respected by all and a number of people have become vegetarians.