A detailed description of Kaila Devi Ji is given in the Skanda Purana in the 65th Adhyaya wherein the Devi is said to have proclaimed that in the Kalyug, her name would be Kaila and she would be worshipped as Kaileshwari by her devotees.
The arrival of the Devi’s pratima to this destination is a fascinating story. The Goddess’ likeness is purported to have come to the forests in Karauli around the 11th century. Kaila Devi is said to have appeared to a local sage named Kedargiri assuring him that she would come to the people of the area. Folklore has it that a yogi fleeing from Nagarkot, brought it with him on a bullock cart to save it from invaders. The bullock stopped in the central part of the hill amid the dense forests and refused to budge. By divine ordinance, the statue was established at that very place where it remains to this day.
With the blessings of Kaila Devi, the Yaduvanshi rulers of Karauli have always maintained a deep connection with the temple.
While the statue was worshipped for centuries by the local people and the rulers of Karauli, it was Maharaja Gopal Singh who laid the foundation of a bigger temple in 1723. He also established the statue of Chamunda Ji, bringing it from the fort of Gagraun where it had been placed by the Khinchi ruler Mukund Das Ji in 1150.
Arjun Pal Ji built a large Kund, which exists to this date and was one of the earliest large-scale, man-made sources of water in the area.
In the temple premises, there are also temples of Lord Ganesha and Bhairav ji-who is worshipped in the form of young boy as Languriya and has many folk songs and bhajans dedicated to him by the bhagats. Later, a temple of Lord Shiva was also built there.
Maharaja Bhanwar Pal, coming to the throne in 1886, had the temple reconstructed with more modern architecture and had several facilities constructed for the pilgrims such as the Durga Sagar well. He also started the construction of the beautifully carved, Badi Dharamshala which was completed by Maharaja Bhom Pal in 1927, with a large scale electric power house. In 1947, Maharaja Ganesh Pal had both the interior and exterior of the temple refurbished in marble. The current Maharaja, Krishna Chandra Pal made more elaborate structures for the temples of Lord Ganesha, Bhairav ji and Lord Shiva. He has also made several radical improvements and added multiple modern facilities, as well as started the Kailadevi Senior Secondaty School which provides high quality residential education at a nominal fee. New dharamshalas, Ram Bhavan and Kansal Bhavan have been built and some existing ones- Sita Bhavan, Ratan Devi and the Dholpur Dharamshala have been reconstructed.
Even today royal forts, palaces and other ancient buildings of Rajasthan still stand to tell tales from the past, from their astounding architecture to their incredible legends of heroism and romance.
Tourism in Rajasthan with its motto, ‘Padharo mhare desh’ draws visitors to its ancient forts, palaces, art and culture. Rajasthan tourist places are part of the Golden Triangle for tourists to visit in India. Kaila Devi temple is one of the auspicious parts of the Golden Triangle for Rajasthan tourist places.
Kaila Devi temple is the oldest temple of Hindu community situated in Kailadevi village of Karauli district, in Rajasthan. The temple speaks its incredibility with its blazing gold of the intricate dome having a prominent name as the most striking pilgrimage sites of Rajasthan Tourist Places.
The temple has a rich heritage and has an equally vital role in the evolution with the blessings of Kaila Devi Ji herself and the worshipers’ prayers. The temple has an intriguing tale related to Lord Krishna’s incarnation.
According to the Skanda Purana, Kaila Devi was a form of the Maha Yogini Mahamaya goddess who was born at Nand and Yashoda and was replaced with Lord Krishna. When Kansa tried to kill Mahamaya, she showed Kansa her Goddess form. This divinity is now worshipped as Kaila Devi.
Shrines, temples, royal residences and art collections are admirable. Dedicated to Kaila Devi Ji, the temple boasts of stunning carvings, and it is now an iconic landmark for the tourism in Rajasthan.
In 2017, a project to cover the dome of the temple in solid gold was completed. The blazing gold of the intricate dome makes it one of the most striking pilgrimage sites in the country. The Kaila Devi temple has a glorious past and with the blessings of Kaila Devi Ji herself and with the prayers of her worshippers, has an equally great presence in the future.