Shitladevi Temple

The Township of Kelva is situated on the Western Railway, nearly 75 Kilometers from Mumbai Central Railway Station, about 12 Kilometers from Palghar and Saphale Railway Stations and about 6 Kilometers away from Kelva Road Railway Station the word ‘Kelva’ is a corruption of the Sanskrit word ‘Kardalivaha’ this means that the township of Kelva has an important place to the Mythology and History. This land has been rendered holy lay the foot-prints of lofted Romea. Kelva town coasts of a very ancient temple of the Goddess Shitala-Mata. This temple, built in very distant past, underwent a complete renewal and restoration at the hands of a seventhly female ruler Devi Ahilyabai Holkar about three hundred years ago-thereafter, the temple structure had become worn-out and frayed. Some wise and discerning soul in the Kelva town, constituted a Repairs and restoration committee and varied out repairs, renewal and restoration of the old structure in 1986.

Opposite the Shitala Devi Temple, there is an irrigated land called Bagalwadi and the Goddess Shitala is reported to have inherited this land security. As times went by the Goddess made a divine appearance before a farmer in his dream. The news spread far and wide among the people of the Gopal- and they forthwith searched out the Goddess. Though they did not know the exact place of her residence, they reached the proper spot and dug out her idol they brought the idol of the Goddess to the township in procession with drums and fun-fare and installed the image quite ceremoniously at the place where it remains to-day.

This idol of the Goddess, carved out in an unbroken stone, is self-existent and is very pleasing to the eye. For from being fierce and ferocious, this deny is calm, cool and peaceful and that is why the name “Sheetalai” has been given to her. This is a living deity and always. Looks with favour on her devotees. Thousands of devotees have experienced that she safely frees men from various ailments, illnesses and difficulties. She is the place of hope and faith of the countless devotees from Maharashrtra, Gujrat and Rajasthan. At the time of worship, the devotees after and lay at the feet of Shitala-Mata seeked cloth, coconut, rice and other traditional offerings thousands of such devotees whose vows have been requited and fulfilled, come to the Temple of Shitala Devi over and over again and they offer money and jewellary as a token of their devotion....
more info visit on www.kelwashitladevi.org