Vivek Raj Saxena
Manoj Raj Saxena
Our Family • Our Faith • Our Roots
Our Ancestral Kul Devi Bhavani
A Sacred Legacy of Faith, Family and Tradition
A Dedication to Our Family and Our Kul Devi
Dedicated with love, reverence and gratitude to our beloved ancestors, the eldest members of our family, and every generation that has kept the flame of our faith alive.
This sacred account is dedicated to the memory of our great-great-grandfather, Shri Narayan Das, whose journey from Ujjain to Hyderabad laid the foundation of a spiritual legacy that continues to guide our family to this day.
We remember with deep love and gratitude all our forefathers and foremothers who worshipped our Kul Devi Bhavani with unwavering faith, preserving her sacred traditions through changing times. We offer our heartfelt respect to Kantam Dadi, whose devotion and faith helped bring our beloved Kul Devi back into our family home in 2013, ensuring that this precious heritage would continue to flourish.
We lovingly remember the late Shri Kanteshwar Dada, whose residence became the home of our Kul Devi following her punah sthapana. We also pay our respects to every elder who has taught us the rituals, prepared the traditional offerings, gathered the family for the annual pooja, and passed down the stories that keep our roots alive.
To our parents, children, grandchildren and all future generations, this is more than a record of our past. It is a reminder of who we are, where we came from, and the sacred bond that unites us as one family.
May we always cherish the faith of our ancestors, uphold the traditions entrusted to us, stand beside one another in every circumstance, and pass this legacy to our children with the same love and devotion with which it was given to us.
Though generations may pass and homes may change, may Bhavani Mata's blessings forever remain the guiding light of our family, protecting our loved ones, strengthening our unity, and bringing peace, happiness and prosperity to every generation.
With folded hands, loving hearts and eternal gratitude to our ancestors and our beloved Kul Devi.
The Origins of Our Sacred Tradition
As lovingly remembered and narrated by the eldest members of our family, more than 150 years ago, our great-great-grandfather, Shri Narayan Das, left Ujjain and made Hyderabad his home. In Fateh Darwaza, in the heart of the historic Old City, he performed the sthapana of our family's Kul Devi. The room where she was established came to be known in our family as "Bhavani ki Kothri" — the sacred room of Bhavani.
From that time onwards, our family has worshipped her with unwavering faith and devotion, lovingly addressing her as Bhavani or Kul Devi, just as our elders have always done.
Our Kul Devi is nirakar — the Divine Mother without form. She is not worshipped as an idol but in the form of a sacred chattar, preserving the unique form of worship established by our ancestors more than a century and a half ago.
Our Sacred Annual Pooja
The annual pooja begins on Ugadi, when the women of our family perform the ghat sthapana. The sacred observance continues for eight days, until Ashtami, with aarti performed every day. The pooja is conducted by a member of the family, and participation is traditionally reserved for family members.
The family gathers for its traditional meals on Ugadi and Ashtami, lovingly preparing the food ourselves and preserving the customs handed down by our ancestors.
Our traditional dishes include bhuna salan, prepared with ghee, salt, ginger and meat; maat ki bhaji; poori; and shorwa boti, cooked with meat, ginger, ghee and salt. The offerings to our Kul Devi are traditionally limited to bhuna salan, Kaaran (liquor), and sugar.
On Ugadi, we prepare two varieties of pachadi: one with jaggery water and tamarind, and the other with sugar water and tamarind. Raw mango and neem flowers are added, preserving the distinctive flavours and symbolism of this auspicious occasion.
On Ashtami, much of the same traditional food is prepared, with chana added to the principal prasad. Other dishes, including aloo boti, kadi, rice and tomato preparations, are also made without garlic or onion, in keeping with our family customs.
On the ninth day, Navami, the pooja concludes with visarjan. On this occasion, we prepare mutiya, using the sacred diyas along with milk and dry fruits, as prescribed by our family tradition.
Every dish, every prayer and every ritual carries the memory of those who came before us. These observances are not merely customs; they are living expressions of our family's identity, faith and togetherness.
From Fateh Darwaza to Swarn Vihan
As time passed, our ancestral house at Fateh Darwaza was sold, and our family moved away from the place where this sacred tradition had begun. Yet, while the house changed hands, Mata's grace never left our family.
Through the deep faith of Kantam Dadi and her enduring devotion to our Kul Devi, the sacred tradition found a new home. In 2013, we performed the punah sthapana of our Kul Devi at the residence of the late Shri Kanteshwar Dada, carrying forward the spiritual legacy of our ancestors.
Today, at Swarn Vihan, Hyderabad, our family's bond with Bhavani Mata continues to unite generations. The annual pooja remains a cherished occasion to remember our forefathers, gather as a family, renew our faith and pass our traditions on to our children and grandchildren.
A Legacy for Generations to Come
From the day Shri Narayan Das performed the original sthapana of our Kul Devi in Fateh Darwaza to the present day, our family has preserved this sacred pooja with devotion and care. Through changing times, different generations and the movement from our ancestral home to a new residence, the essential traditions have remained intact.
This is the enduring legacy of our Fateh Darwaza family — a legacy of faith, prosperity, family unity and reverence for our ancestors. We are deeply grateful to our elders, whose devotion and dedication have enabled us to inherit this precious spiritual treasure.
As we carry this tradition forward, it is our responsibility and our blessing to ensure that future generations understand its significance, participate in its observance and cherish the bond that connects our family across time.
May our Kul Devi Bhavani always shower her grace upon our family, bless our children and grandchildren, protect our homes, and preserve the love, unity and prosperity of our family for generations to come.