Madhaveswari Devi Prayag (Alopi De)vi Mandir

Prayaga Madhaveswari is one of the 18 Shaktippethas. She is also called as Alopi Matha / Lalita Sthala Purana of Prayaga: Prayaga means Prakrishta Yaga, that means it is the place where Lord Brahma did a very great Yaga. Hence its name became Prayaga. Prayaga is considered as one of the Sapta mokshapuras. This place is also called as Theertharaj, that means king of all tirthas. Another important point is, this is the place of Triveni Sangamam. Generally, we consider the confluence of two water flows as a holy place. But, here we can see the confluence of three holy rivers, Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati. All three rivers have their importance individually. Hence the confluence became a very very holy place. One should take a holy bath here when visited this place. Here Kumbhmela will be conducted for every 12 years. Sthala Purana of Alopi Shaktippeth: There are mainly three stories about the word Alopi. They are, 1)Alopi means the one who disappeared. After Sati dahana and Dhaksha Yagna destruction, Lord Siva disturbed mentally and lifted Satidevi’s body and roaming without any destination. Lord Vishnu cut Sati Devi body parts by using Sudarshana Chakra. Every place, where Satidevi’s body part fell, became a Shaktipeeth. Prayaga is the last place, where last part of Sati Devi’s body fell on the ground. Here Sati devi body became disappeared, hence the name Alopi. 2)There are some other stories about Alopi mata. In every temple, at least one idol or one symbol will be there for worshipping the goddess. But here, there is no idol or symbol. We have to imagine the goddess present on a wooden jhula. Hence the name Alopi. 3)According to a local story, Alopi mata is a newly married bride. She disappeared from pallaki, when robbers attącked the marriage troop. As the bride disappeared as a miracle, she is worshipped as Alopi mata. Swami Brahmananda(Rakhal), first president of Ramakrishna math, spiritual son and one of the best student of Sri Ramakrishna paramahamsa, saw the goddess here as a small child with three Jatas. Trijata. How to reach the Prayaga: Prayaga is well connected by Road, Railway and Air routes. It is about 130 km distance from Varanasi. So many Buses, Taxis are available to travel from Varanasi to Prayaga(Allahabad) or from Prayaga(Allahabad) to Varanasi. Allahabad is very big railway junction which is at 6 km distance from Alopi temple: Important places to visit in Prayaga: 1)Alopi Shaktippeth 2)Triveni Sangamam 3)Akshayavata vriksha 4)Veni madhav one of the Pancha madhava temples is another temple to see in Prayaga.