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Kaila Devi Temple, Karauli
Kaila Devi (Mahayogini) • Karauli, Rajasthan
॥ ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
Kaila Devi Temple in the Trikut hills of Karauli district honours a Mahayogini form of the Devi, linked in legend to Yogamaya, the goddess who eluded Kamsa. As the kuladevi of the Karauli royal house, she draws lakhs of pilgrims to her great spring fair on the banks of the Kalisil river.
The goddess of the Trikut hills
Kaila Devi is venerated as a Mahayogini, a form of the great goddess associated with Yogamaya or Mahamaya, the divine power said to have slipped from Kamsa’s grasp and foretold his end. This identification places her among the protective, victory-giving forms of the Devi.
The sanctum holds two images side by side — Kaila Devi and Chamunda — so that worshippers receive the grace of both the benign and the fierce aspects of the Mother in a single darshan.
Kuladevi of the Karauli house
For the rulers of Karauli, Kaila Devi has long been the kuladevi, the family deity whose blessing was sought in matters of state and succession. That royal patronage shaped the temple’s growth and tied the fortunes of the dynasty to the goddess of the Trikut hills.
This bond between throne and shrine remains visible in the devotion of the region, where the goddess is approached not only as a personal protector but as the guardian of an old princely line.
The Kaila Devi Fair
The temple’s great annual event is the Kaila Devi Fair, held in the month of Chaitra around March and April, when enormous crowds of pilgrims make their way to the shrine. Many come as lakhdata devotees, singing the kanak-dandauti as they prostrate their way toward the goddess.
The fair turns the hills and the riverbank into a sea of worshippers, and its songs, offerings and processions make it one of the most important Devi gatherings in eastern Rajasthan.
Setting and approach
The temple lies within the Kaila Devi wildlife sanctuary, set among the Trikut hills with the Kalisil river running close by. The natural surroundings give the pilgrimage a wild, secluded character distinct from the busy town temples of the region.
Pilgrims usually reach the shrine from Karauli town, with the journey rising into the hills toward the sanctuary that shares the goddess’s name.
- Two images — Kaila Devi and Chamunda — share the sanctum
- Set in the Trikut hills on the Kalisil river
- Kaila Devi Fair held in Chaitra (Mar–Apr)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kaila Devi?
Kaila Devi is a Mahayogini form of the goddess, linked in tradition to Yogamaya or Mahamaya. She is the kuladevi of the Karauli royal family and is worshipped in the Trikut hills of Karauli district in Rajasthan.
Why is Kaila Devi important to the Karauli royal house?
Kaila Devi is the kuladevi, or family deity, of the rulers of Karauli. The royal house sought her blessing in matters of state, and their patronage shaped the temple over the centuries.
When is the Kaila Devi Fair held?
The Kaila Devi Fair is held in the Hindu month of Chaitra, which falls around March and April. It is one of the largest pilgrim gatherings in eastern Rajasthan.
What is the kanak-dandauti at Kaila Devi?
The kanak-dandauti is a devotional practice in which lakhdata pilgrims sing to the goddess and prostrate themselves as they approach the shrine during the fair. It is a distinctive feature of the Kaila Devi pilgrimage.
Which deities are in the Kaila Devi sanctum?
The sanctum holds two images side by side, Kaila Devi and Chamunda. Worshippers receive the grace of both forms of the Mother in a single darshan.
Where is the Kaila Devi Temple located?
The temple is at Kailadevi in Karauli district, Rajasthan, set in the Trikut hills on the Kalisil river within the Kaila Devi sanctuary. It is usually reached from Karauli town.
॥ जय माता दी ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Kaila Devi (Mahayogini) |
| Linked to | Yogamaya / Mahamaya |
| Royal kuladevi of | Karauli house |
| Co-deity | Chamunda |
| Location | Kailadevi, Karauli |
| State | Rajasthan |
| River | Kalisil |
| Main fair | Chaitra (Mar–Apr) |