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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Jaisalmer, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Tanot Mata Temple shree Aavad Mata Charan goddess
| deity = Tanot Mata
| established = 828 AD
| founded_by = King Tanu Rao Bhati
| coordinates = {{coord|27.798388|70.354458|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Jaisalmer]], [[India]]
| state = [[Rajasthan]]
| country = {{IND}}
| district = [[Jaisalmer district]]
| image = Tanot Victory Pillar.jpg|caption=Tanot Mata Temple (Front)}}
'''Tanot Mata''' is a [[Hindu temple]] in [[Jaisalmer district]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. The temple is located close to the border with [[Pakistan]] near where the [[Battle of Longewala| Longewala battle]] took place during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. Contemporary folklore credits the temple for the victorious outcome of the battle.<ref name="Francis">{{cite book|author=Col J Francis (Retd)|title=Short Stories from the History of the Indian Army Since August 1947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rotnAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA93|date=30 August 2013|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-82652-17-5|pages=95}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jun/19war4.htm |date=19 June 2002 |title=Miracle temple offers 'strength' to soldiers |publisher=Rediff.com |accessdate=20 August 2019}}</ref>

Goddess Aavad, the daughter of Mamadji Charan (Gadhvi), is worshiped as Tanot Mata and was predecessor of [[Karni Mata]]. As many other Goddesses of the region such as Temde Rai, Karni Mata, Deg Rai and Khodiyar etc. she was also born in [[Charan]] caste and lived her life as warrior sage. As per the oldest [[Charan]] literature, Tanot Mata is an incarnation of divine Goddess [[Hinglaj Mata]] and thus is a Goddess of War.

==History==

As per the traditional history scribes [[Charan]] records, the [[Hinglaj Mata]] reincarnated as the Tanot Mata and who later reincarnated as the [[Karni Mata]].<ref name=bdp2>[https://www.indiatimes.com/news/here-is-the-story-of-tanot-mata-the-diety-who-protected-indian-soldiers-from-pakistani-bombs-at-longewala-in-1971-war-259867.html The Story Of Tanot Mata, The Deity Who Protected Our Soldiers From Pakistani Bombs In 1971 War], India Times, 16 Dec 2020.</ref>

A long time ago there was a man named [[Mamadji Charan]], who had no 'son-daughter' i.e. no child. He traveled completely on foot to Hinglaj Mata about seven times to attain a child. One night, when the Hinglaj Mata asked Mamadiya Charan (Gadhvi) in her dream, whether you want a son or a daughter, Charan said that you should take birth at my house.
By the grace of Hinglaj Mata, seven daughters and one son were born at that house. One of these was Aavad Mata, who is known as Tanot Mata.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The temple was constructed and the idol of the reigning deity was installed by the [[Bhati]] Rajput King [[Tanu Rao]] in 828 AD.<ref name="Orissa Post">{{cite news |date=3 March 2019|title=A temple in Rajasthan that protects jawans in border|url=https://www.orissapost.com/a-temple-in-rajasthan-that-protects-jawans-in-border/|newspaper=Orissa Post}}</ref> Since then, the temple has been revered and worshipped by the Bhati Rajputs and the people of Jaisalmer for generations.<ref name="The Statesman">{{cite news |last= Bhandari|first= Prakash|date=4 October 2015|title=Of a deity and the line of duty|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/of-a-deity-and-the-line-of-duty-94628.html|newspaper=The Statesman}}</ref>

Tanot was attacked by the Pakistan Army during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] during which 3,000 bombs were fired towards the temple. However, as per local lore, the bombs either missed their target or did not explode.<ref name="NIE"/> After the 1965 war, India's [[Border Security Force|Border Security Force (BSF)]] took charge of the temple and the responsibility of managing and maintenance.<ref name="IT">{{cite news |last= Dabas|first= Maninder|date=6 July 2017|title=Here Is The Story Of Tanot Mata, The Deity Who Protected Indian Soldiers From Pakistani Bombs At Longewala In 1971 War|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/here-is-the-story-of-tanot-mata-the-diety-who-protected-indian-soldiers-from-pakistani-bombs-at-longewala-in-1971-war-259867.html|newspaper=India Times}}</ref>

Tanot was attacked again during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], but this time the attacking tanks got bogged down in the sand, allowing the Indian Air Force to destroy them.<ref name="The Statesman"/><ref name="NIE">{{cite news |date=18 August 2017|title=You saw it in Border: A temple amid the dunes feeds barracks lore|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/aug/18/you-saw-it-in-border-a-temple-amid-the-dunes-feeds-barracks-lore-1644627.html|newspaper=New Indian Express}}</ref> After the 1971 war, the Indian Army built a ''Vijay Stambha'' (Victory tower) inside the temple compound to commemorate the victory in the [[Battle of Longewala]].<ref name="IT"/> A company of 120 infantry only soldiers of Indian Army defeated a Division of 2000 Pakistani soldiers which also had the Pakistani tank squadron.<ref name=bdp2/>

== Battlefield memorial ==

After India's victory in 1971 War against Pakistan, India's [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) expanded the temple, constructed victory tower and a war museum housing the unexploded Pakistani bombs and tanks. Every year 16 December is celebrated at the temple as the [[Vijay Diwas (India)|victory day]].<ref name=bdp2/>

Tanot temple and war memorial museum are now part of [[India–China_border_infrastructure#Tourism|Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan]] initiative of the Indian Military which will boost border tourism, patriotism, local infrastructure and economy while reversing civilian outward migration from these remote locations, it entails 77 battleground war memorials in border area including the [[Battle of Longewala|Longewala War Memorial]], [[Battle of Longewala|Sadhewala War Memorial]],<ref name=bdp2>[https://www.indiatimes.com/news/here-is-the-story-of-tanot-mata-the-diety-who-protected-indian-soldiers-from-pakistani-bombs-at-longewala-in-1971-war-259867.html The Story Of Tanot Mata, The Deity Who Protected Our Soldiers From Pakistani Bombs In 1971 War], India Times, 16 Dec 2020.</ref> [[Siachen Base Camp (India)|Siachen base camp]], [[Kargil]], [[Galwan]], [[Pangong Tso]], [[Rezang La]], [[Doklam]], [[Bum La]], [[Cho_La_(Sikkim_and_Tibet)|Cho La]], [[Kibithu]], etc.<ref name=bdp1>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/battleground-tourism-india-indian-army-ministry-of-tourism-galwan-siachel-kargil-longewala-battle-2665110-2025-01-15. Add Galwan, Siachen to holiday plan. India is opening battle tourism bunker], India Today, 15 Jan 2025.</ref>
{{check quotation|reason=mismatched italics}}
== Location ==
The temple is some {{convert|122|km|miles}} from the City of [[Jaisalmer]], and it takes about two hours to reach by road. The area has a high average windspeed and as a result there are now a large number of wind-based renewable energy projects in the area. The road to Tanot is surrounded with miles and miles of sand üdunes and sand mountains. This is one of the hottest places in India and the temperatures in the area can rise up to 49 °C in the hottest days of the year. A temperature of up to 52.4 °C was recorded on 2 May 2016 in this area and if verified would be the highest temperature recorded in India.{{cn|date=May 2025}} The official highest temperature recorded in India which is 51 °C was recorded in Phalodi also located in Rajasthan.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
[[File:Mateshwari Tanot Rai --(Suresh Godara).JPG|thumb|Tanot Mata temple]]

==In popular culture==
* The shelling on Tanot Mata during 1971 Indo-Pak War was depicted in 1997 [[Bollywood]] war film [[Border (1997 film)|''Border'']].
* [[Hindi]] news channels like [[Zee News]] and [[Aaj Tak]] depicted Tanot Mata in their documentaries on the [[1965 Indo-Pak war|1965]] and 1971 Indo-Pak wars.

== See also ==

* [[Borders_of_India#Border_ceremonies|India-Pakistan Border Ceremonies]]
* [[Hindumalkote]]
* [[Longewala]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Hindu temples in Rajasthan}}
{{Portal bar|India|Hinduism|Religion}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Charan]]
[[Category:Cāraṇa Sagatī]]
[[Category:Folk deities of Rajasthan]]

Tanot Mata Temple - Revision history

RosemaryBrifman: started the place added tags - done