Shri Narsinhji Temple

The Temple of Lord Narsinhji is located near Madan Mohanji ni Pol. The idol of Lord Narsinhji were installed in Haveli before 275 Years
ago. It is said to be the Haveli is older than that and was originally called as Vanik ni Pol, which was later renamed to Madan Mohanji
ni Pol, given a name after a temple. After many Years, a temple of Lord Narsinhji was built here. So again the Pol was renamed as
Narsinhji ni Pol.

Narsinhji Temple located near the lamp tower itself is a haveli-style structure that is amongst the rare surviving havelis in the city.
While the exact date of the construction of the home and who owned it before Lord Narsinhji was installed there are not known, it is
certain that the structure is over 275 years old. One gets a fair indication of this as it is known among devotees and caretakers at
the temple that around Vikram Samvat 1794, Narsinhji was brought here. As per the Gregorian calendar this period would be around
1737 AD.

It is said that Maharaja Anandrao Gaekwad arranged some expenses of temple like Ghee Lamp, which was total of Fund of Rs 1550
Per Year. There is also a Big and Beautiful DeepMala (lamp tower) which is used to light lamps. The lamp tower was constructed in
the Year 1860 by the then ruler of Baroda State Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad. It is said that the members of the royal Gaekwad
family who used to have dinner only after having a Darshan of the lamp lit at the top of the lamp post every day, which was seen
from SarkarWada (The Maharaja's Palace).

Also there is a small story related to Temple with Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. The Maharaja prayed to Narsinhji when his Ship had
to battle a storm in deep sea. After the Battle fight, when Maharaja returned, he firstly ran to Temple before entering to Palace.

Also the Narsinhji Procession is celebrated in much enthusiasm in Baroda's Old Walled City.

Filed Under: Temple, Vadodara-Baroda

Hari - Bhakti ni Haveli

Partial Source: The Times of India

Located near Mandvi Gate, Hari-Bhakti ni Haveli (mansion) is situated in Ghadiali Pol. It is said that Haveli was made during 19th
Century. The Haveli's mansion is made up of Red & Yellow Wood. Opening inside there are three doors to the left and to the right are
two doors. The gates are closed, but still were bustling 25 years ago. Heading from there, its an open area called Chok. You can see
10 wooden pillars of sesame on which the whole structure is standing. The carvings on this pillars are also must see.

The Chok: The experience of standing on chok and seeing the artistic pillars and Doors are still amazing.

The Pot: There is a Brass Pot in chok, which can encapsulate 200 ltrs of water.

The Arch: The colors of wood,even older than 200 years are still intact.

Doors-Windows: The doors and windows in Haveli are also still intact, but some part of it are closed.

Who were Hari and Bhakti?

According to one of their family members, Hari-Bhakti were from Mandodhar Village near Vadodara. They gone Pune to try their luck
and they earned a lot there. Then after, when Era of Gaekwad's begun in Vadodara, they made a big Haveli in Ghadiali Pol area.
They were doing business of mortgage.

The Current condition of Haveli is worse. Nearly before 2 years, few part of the Haveli were brought down as of its old build.

It is also said that this Haveli had more doors and windows. The Best part was its Stairs, in which only one person could pass at a
time. And the opening of the stairs in the room next to the room was small. The mansion was also involved with another 3 mansions.
At that time, there were also secret rooms in Haveli.
Filed Under: Vadodara-Baroda

Shri Amba Mata Temple

This Temple is located at Ghadiyali Pol near to Mandvi Gate and is believed to be more than 2000 Years Old. It is famous temple of
Amba Mata (Maa Harsiddhi). The temple has Idol of Mata which is made up of marble which is placed in West direction. Also there
are 2 more idol of Lord Laxmi Narayan and Lord Maha Laxmi which are on Left and Right Side of Amba Mata's Idol respectively.

The Pundit of Temple says that Prince of Ujjain and his daughter were a big devotee of Harsiddhi Mata. After her daughter's
marriage, she went to Rajpipla with Harsiddhi Mata. But when Prince gone back to Rajpipla for bringing back Mata, there was a
conditon by Mata to not to look backwards. Prince and his servants were walking and sounds of Payal (thing to wear in leg by
Girls/Womens) were coming from Ambe Mata. Once Mata stopped to see if Prince look's back, and immediately Prince looked back.
After that Mata told Prince that now She will stay here only. So where Mata were stopped, a Temple was built there. This Place is now
called Amba Mata Temple.

Harsiddhi Garba: Another interesting thing of this Place is that only Male's do Garba here during Navratri Festival in All Gujarat.
The garba performed at Amba Mata temple near Mandvi also known as Harsiddhi garba is dedicated to male devotees. Amba Mata's
temple where devotees from all over Gujarat swarm to seek blessings is also believed to bring prosperity.

Only males have been participating at this garba since time immemorial. Girls and boys below 15 years of age are also allowed to
play garba at this venue.

Men, who play garba here, tie the sacred chunri offered to Mataji around their necks. They play in front of a collection of lamps that
represent the Goddess.

Filed Under: Temple, Vadodara-Baroda

Source: TOI

Lord Narsinhji Procession

Narsinhji Procession is almost 277 Years Old. The Procession is always held on Kartik Poornima or also known as Dev-Diwali at Lord
Narsinhji's Temple located at Narsinhji ni Pol. It is celebration as of wedding of Lord Narsinhji with Tulsi.

The main murti that is worshipped in Shri Narsinhji's Temple are Shaligrams. Salagrama, or Shaligrama, are black stones with stripes
in the form of symbols associated with Lord Vishnu. Salagrama is considered to be an embodiment of Lord Vishnu. The significance
of Salagrama is mentioned in the Puranas and the Mahabharata.

It is believed that the Shaligrams at Shri Narsinhji's Temple at Narasinhji's Pole were given to the then head of the family that runs
the temple by a sidhha person who used to live in the outskirts of then princely state of Baroda. The name given by him is
Narasimha, but it is a form of Krishna or Vishnu.

An Old Story in Gujarati of Lord Narsinhji:

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