Mysterious prayers at locked sanctum of Bhind’s Ran Kaushal-devi temple:Priest claims, ’11th-century warrior Veer Malkhan performs first Aarti every morning’

In Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, a temple has long been at the center of faith and mystery. Devotees of Ran Kaushal Devi, also known locally as Rehkola Mata, believe that the goddess is worshipped first every day by an unseen power before priests or devotees arrive. The belief is reinforced each morning when the temple doors are opened. Despite being locked overnight, fresh offerings of rice, flowers, and other worship materials are found placed at the footprints of the goddess in the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is located in Amaha village, near Daboh town in Bhind. Local traditions hold that the unseen force performing this worship is Veer Malkhan, a cousin of the legendary warriors Alha and Udal of Bundelkhand folklore. According to devotees, Veer Malkhan still arrives daily with his wife, Maharani Gajmotin, to perform the goddess’s first worship. During Navratri, when temples across the state attract large gatherings, Dainik Bhaskar’s team visited Amaha to witness the claims firsthand. The team spent two consecutive nights inside the temple premises to document what happens between the temple’s closing at night and its reopening at dawn. Read the full story.. Historical background of Ran Kaushal Devi temple The Ran Kaushal Mata temple traces its roots back to the 11th century. Its origins are linked to Sirisagarh, the capital of Veer Malkhan, located nearly 95 kilometers from Bhind district headquarters. Historical accounts and oral traditions describe Malkhan as a devout follower of Hinglaj Mata. The temple of Hinglaj, now located in Balochistan, Pakistan, was where Malkhan is said to have received divine blessings and training in the art of warfare. To stay constantly connected with his deity, he requested the goddess to accompany him to Sirisagarh. Hinglaj Mata agreed, but with one condition: she would remain wherever her idol was placed, even temporarily. As Malkhan traveled with the idol, he stopped at Amaha village near his palace. The army expressed a wish to welcome the goddess with grandeur, so a temporary camp was established. Malkhan inadvertently broke the goddess’s condition by halting there. As a result, Hinglaj Mata became established permanently in Amaha. A stone temple was constructed in her honor, which survives today as the Ran Kaushal Devi Temple. Temple at the borders of 4 districts The temple’s location adds to its uniqueness. Situated near the Pahuj river, it lies about four kilometers from Daboh town. The temple is surrounded by ravines, and its site coincides with the borders of four districts—Bhind and Datia in Madhya Pradesh, and Jalaun and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. Nearby, remnants of an ancient palace stand as a reminder of Malkhan’s era. Over time, the temple has expanded modestly with the addition of small rooms built by a committee to support religious gatherings. One caretaker resides there, continuing his family’s three-generation-long tradition of serving the goddess. Villagers’ beliefs When Bhaskar’s team arrived, villagers warned against staying at the temple at night. Though people freely visit during the day, many avoid the area after sunset. The temple is accessed through a narrow 10-foot road cutting across wilderness, where silence dominates after dusk except for the sounds of wild animals. Nevertheless, the team decided to remain overnight. Arriving around 8 pm, they observed the evening Shayan Aarti at 8:30 pm, after which the head priest locked the sanctum and left for his home. Only the caretaker remained in his room nearby, while the journalists prepared for their vigil. Priest’s claims invisible worship Head priest Haldhar Shastri explained to the team that every morning, offerings are found at the goddess’s feet. On ordinary days, these include water, rice, or flowers. During Navratri, additional materials such as kumkum, chunri, and other items appear. Asked whether any evidence had been captured on CCTV, the priest clarified that while cameras are installed outside, none exist in the sanctum sanctorum. He added that no person has ever been seen entering or leaving overnight. ‘This is the Mother’s invisible worship,’ he said, urging the journalists to witness it themselves. Mystery unfolds on first night On the night of September 23, after the temple was cleaned and locked, Bhaskar’s team stayed outside the sanctum. At 3 a.m., amidst animal sounds, they sensed movement, but saw nothing beyond a few dogs passing by. At 4 am, priest Haldhar Shastri returned, sought the goddess’s permission, and opened the sanctum. Inside, offerings of rice, jasmine flowers, and hibiscus were found freshly placed at the goddess’s footprints. The team attempted to capture the scene on mobile cameras, but the recordings were mysteriously deleted soon after. The priest explained this as the result of not taking the goddess’s permission before filming. Witnessing again on second night Determined to document the phenomenon properly, the team returned on September 24. This time, they followed the priest’s instructions, performing puja and formally seeking permission before setting up recordings. Local residents, including Sudhanshu Mudgal and Dilip Nayak, joined and recorded the process on multiple devices. Once again, the sanctum was locked after the evening aarti. The next morning at 4 a.m., when the priest reopened the sanctum, fresh offerings were found—flowers, a lemon, and even beauty items placed near the goddess’s feet. This time, the recordings were successfully preserved, confirming the claim of new offerings appearing overnight. The priest reiterated that such worship has taken place daily since the 11th century, and identified Veer Malkhan as the unseen devotee responsible. Beliefs and ritual practices One distinctive feature of the temple is that all decisions are taken only after seeking the goddess’s permission. The process involves writing a query on a slip of paper, which is left at the goddess’s feet overnight. The next morning, the slip is opened by a girl under the age of 12, and the result is accepted as divine will. The priest narrated an instance where devotees sought guidance on which deity’s image should be carved on an incomplete temple pillar. The names of Ganeshji, Shankarji, Hanumanji, Veer Malkhan, and Mata Gajmotin were written. The next morning, when the slip was opened, Veer Malkhan’s name was revealed. Devotees’ testimonies Many devotees shared their experiences with Bhaskar’s team. Legends of Veer Malkhan Several folk stories connect Veer Malkhan to the temple and to his patron deity. Faith and unanswered questions The Ran Kaushal Devi Temple continues to attract devotees who are convinced of the goddess’s invisible worship and Veer Malkhan’s eternal devotion. Despite modern technology, the phenomenon of fresh offerings appearing overnight remains unexplained. While faith attributes it to divine or heroic intervention, rational questions linger without clear answers. For locals, however, the mystery is less important than the reassurance of the goddess’s presence. As Bhaskar’s team witnessed over two nights, the belief that the first worship is performed by unseen hands remains deeply rooted, sustaining the temple’s significance across generations. ​