With Chaitra Navratri on the horizon, India’s spiritual fervor peaks as worshippers honor Durga’s nine forms. But beyond the grand celebrations, a clandestine cult thrives in Ujjain’s Bhairavgadh forests: the worship of Masan MeldI, Gujarat’s fierce tantric sentinel.
Adventurous pilgrims brave a daunting trek through thick bamboo thickets to reach her shrine. En route, gnarled trees stand as silent witnesses to tantric practices—skewered lemons, iron spikes, and effigies dangling ominously. Aghori sadhus are said to haunt these woods at night, conducting rituals that channel raw, primal energies.
At the heart lies a humble structure under a corrugated roof, enshrining the deity’s paduka and a diminutive statue. Offerings of scented oils are poured with reverence, promising wish fulfillment. Sunset marks a boundary; ordinary folk steer clear, leaving the realm to esoteric practitioners.
Mythology reveals Masan MeldI as Durga’s emanation, created when Parvati, bound by purity vows, manifested her to destroy demon Amaruv. The asura’s cowardly refuge in animal remains proved futile against this avenger of righteousness.
In Gujarat’s villages, she’s the ultimate protector, her cult bridging mainstream Hinduism with shadowy tantra. This forest sanctuary captivates those drawn to India’s mystical undercurrents, where devotion dances with the supernatural.