Dating back to around 400 years, Rani Sati temple of Jhunjhunu is the largest temple devoted to Rani Sati in the whole country. Rani Sati, a Rajasthani lady who lived sometime between the 13th and the 17th century, committed sati (self-immolation) on her husband's death.
The temple is a famous hindu pilgrimage and attracts flocks of crowds everyday. The sounds of hymns being played here can be heard from far away and in the morning, many locals visit the temple to offer prayers. Finding its name in one of the most sacred places to visit in Jhunjhunu, this temple lies on the hills of Jhunjhunu and overlooks the whole town. In the evening, people visit here to enjoy a beautiful sunset while seeking blessings in the evening aarti.
HISTORY
The story of Rani Sati Dadi Maa starts from the time of Mahabharata. When Abhimanyu died in the battle of Mahabharat, Uttara (Narayani in Kaliyug) was shocked and angry to see Abhimanyu (Tandhan in Kaliyug) lost his life in the act of betrayal by Kauravas. So Uttara wants to end her life as an act of honour and to make Kauravas aware of their misdeed. But at the time of giving her life, Uttara was about to give life to a child. Shree Krishna, after seeing this, told Uttara to forget about the idea of ending her life, as this is against Dharma of a woman who is just about to give a life to a child. Realising the mistake, Uttara requested Shree Krishna to be married to Abhimanyu and her desire to do sati in her next life.
As granted by Lord Krishna, in her next life she was born as the daughter of Gursamal Birmewal in the village of Dokwa in Rajasthan and was named Narayani. Abhimanyu was born in Hissar as a son of Jaliram Jalan and named Tandhan Jalan. Tandan and Narayani got married and were leading a peaceful life. He was in possession of a beautiful horse that was being eyed by the son of the king of Hissar for quite some time. Tandhan refused to hand over his precious horse to the king's son.
The king's son then decided to forcefully acquire the horse and thus challenges Tandan to a duel. Tandan fights the battle bravely and kills the king's son. The enraged king thus kills Tandan in front of Narayani in the battle. Narayani, symbolic of female bravery and power, fights with the king and kills him. She then commanded Ranaji (the caretaker of the horse) to make immediate arrangements for her to be set ablaze along with her husband's cremation.
Ranaji, playing a vital role in fulfilling her wish to be sati with her husband, is then blessed by Narayani that his name will be taken and worshiped along with her name and since then she is known as Rani Sati.
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