Shila Devi Temple

Getting there

• By road

  Amer is about 11 km from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

Rules to know

• Offerings made to Sila Devi are vegetarian, and animal sacrifice has been stopped on the temple premises.

Why devotees come here

Shila Devi Temple stands inside the palace grounds of Amer Fort, about 11 km from Jaipur. Its deity is a form of Kali or Durga, and she was the lineage deity of the Rajput royal family of Jaipur. The entrance has silver-covered doors, and two silver lions flank the deity in the sanctum.

Sila Devi is a form of Kali or Durga. The temple sits inside the palace grounds of Amer Fort, and it was the lineage deity of the Rajput royal family of Jaipur. The family's own deity, however, remained Jamva Mata of Ramgarh.

Legend says Maharaja Man Singh sought her blessing for victory over the Raja of Jessore. In a dream, she told him to retrieve her image from the sea bed and install it. The history given is that the Raja installed the idol after winning the battle of Bengal in 1604. Another version says Man Singh received a black stone slab as a gift after defeating the Raja of Jessore, and the image was carved from it. The priests of the temple were Bengali Brahmins, who continued to live in the fort.

The entrance is a double door covered in silver, with raised relief. Two silver lions flank the main deity in the sanctum. At the entrance stands a carving of Ganesha made from a single piece of coral.

Festivals

• Twice a year, for nine daysNavratri

  Animal sacrifice was once part of the rites held during Navratri here. That practice has now stopped.

Tips for your visit

• The temple is at the entrance on the right of the stairway from Jalebi Chowk.
• Look for the Ganesha carving at the entrance, which is made from a single piece of coral.

Questions people ask