The Story Of Tanot Mata, The Deity Who Protected Our Soldiers From Pakistani Bombs In 1971 War

A story on Tanot Mata and how the deity saved Indian post of Sagewala and Longewala in both 1965 and 1971 wars respectively. None of the Pakistan tank bombs explode near Indian soldiers because the post was in the vicinity of Tanot mata temple.

Maninder DabasUpdated: Dec 16, 2020, 11:13 IST

4 min read

Belief or faith in God often helps one gather the courage in the face of adversity. The Indian Army has its share of stories when God helped Indian soldiers standing on the brink of annihilation and ended up being victorious.

The story of Tanot Temple at the Longewala border in Rajasthan is one such miraculous tale when the local deity Tanot aka Awad Mata didn't let any Pakistani tank bomb explode and Indian soldiers who were certain of martydom and defeat went on to crush the Pakistanis in both 1965 as well as 1971 wars.

Tanot

Jairajputana

The legend say that in both wars more than 3,000 bombs were dropped either in the vicinity or while of the temple, but none exploded. And one can see some of those bombs in the Museum built by BSF inside the temple premises.

Situated 150 Kms from the city Jaisalmer in Western most point of Rajasthan, Tanot has become one of most visited tourist spots especially for those who love the wilderness of Rajasthan and admire stories related to army heroics.

The famous bollywood movie Border which based on battle of Longewala in 1971 when 120 men of Indian Army crushed over 2000 Pakistani soldiers with a tank squadron also showed that how the belief on Tanot Mata didn't let soldiers lose their hope even against the enemy so colossal in size and weaponry.

History of Tanot Temple

tanot maa

hindutava.info

Tanot is a village near Indo-Pak border in Jaiselmere district of Rajasthan. As per the oldest Charan literature Tannot Mata is as incarnation of divine goddess Hinglaj Mata, and she later takes the form of Karni Mata. The temple was established on early eighth century.

The Miracle in 1965 war

In the 1965 war against Pakistan, Indian Army was under immense pressure as Pakistan fire power was more menacing then ever before and Indians weren't equipped with adequate weaponry to respond to Pakistan's shelling. Pakistani forces while taking advantage of this captured large areas inclusding Kishangarh near Sadewala post where Indian forces were in thick numbers.

tanot maa

Neeraj Jat

13 Grenadiers fighting at Sadewala knew that since their supply lines have been cut by Pakistani capture of key areas, they have fight the battle of their lives to sustain and secure their post. Soon the shelling started on November 17 on Sadewala, a post near Tanot Mata temple but surprisingly none of the bombs could meet the target and those which fell near post didn't explode.

The legend says that Pakistan army dropped more than 3000 bombs till 19 Novermber but the temple of Tanot mata remained unscathed. The story goes on saying that deity herself came in dream of soldiers and promised to protect them if they stay in close vicinity of temple.

After war BSF took charge of the temple

After India defeated Pakistan in 1965, BSF established a post inside the temple premises and took charge of proceedings of Pooja of the deity, Tanot Mata. The temple till date is handled by BSF.

The Longewala miracle 1971

When India Army was thrashing them in erstwhile East Pakistan, Pakistan decided to engage Indian Army on two fronts and opened the western front in Rajasthan.

Tanot maa

But this time, they didn't chose Sadewala as it was well guarded by Indians suspecting that Pakistan would repeat their 1965 faux pas. This time Pakistanis chose Longewala another post near Tanot temple. It was guarded by a company of 120 men led by Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri.

Despite several odds, jawans didn't lose hope and kept their belief on Tanot Mata. On December 4, Pakistan attacked Longewala with a full battalion and tank squadron. But again the bombs which fell near deity didn't explode and just a company of 120 men went on to crush Pakistani hubris clad a squadron of tanks. Longewala is one of the greatest battles ever fought in the history of Independent India.

After 1971

Post 1971 war, the fame of Tanot Mata and her temple reached heights and BSF constructed a big temple on that site along with a Museum where the unexploded bomb shot at Indian Army were kept. Indian Army built a Vijay Stambha to mark the victory of Longewala inside the temple compound and each year a celebration takes place on December 16 as commemoration of the great victory over Pakistan in 1971.