Alopi Devi

I had a chance to visit a small temple 'Alopi Devi Mandir' near Sangam at Allahabad. Surprisingly this temple does not have an idol; else a small wooden carriage is worshipped. I got curious & asked some localities about it.

According to legends this place was a huge forest years back & was a den for bands of dreaded robbers. Although being of criminal mentalities, they worshipped some form of the goddess Kali to protect them from the forces of nature. Their targets usually were rich zamindars' returning after tax collection from villages under their surveillance and marriage processions. It so happened once that during one such marriage procession of the daughter of a rich & respectable ruler of some native princely state (I couldn't remember the names), these robbers attacked the group, killed all the men and stole the gold and other riches. Then their eyes fell on the 'Palki' (Palanquin) - the carriage; but to their bewilderment the bride seemed to have vanished. They believed that the goddess had shown them her power through this amazing way of protecting the young girl by making her vanish (in sanskrit alopi means vanished). Before any curse befalls them they switched careers :). They took the the 'Palki' to their den and started worshipping the carriage as their goddess. Years after some zamindar built a temple around it & that is what stands today.

Some people as well as some Internet links however give different opinions. After the death of goddess Sati, her husband Lord Shiva had turned a little cranky due to grief and carried her body on his shoulders. To relieve him from his agony, Lord Vishnu used his 'Chakra' on the dead body of goddess Sati resulting in various body parts dropping at various points on the earth. It is believed that the last part dropped near this place thus resulting in 'Alop' (vanishing).

Although I am very much spiritual in my own way, I am hardly religious; I don't mind doubting Hindu religious mythology. To me the second opinion however fails to explain why a 'Palki' or carriage is worshipped. Hence the 1st legend sounds much more plausible and more down to earth ! Besides it reminds me of the stories I used to enjoy during my childhood days, especially Bankim Chandra's 'Devi Chaudhurani'.