Becharaji

According to Tantra Chudamani, the left hand of the Goddess fell in the Boruvan when the Shiva performed the Tandava dance. The temple was built on the place.[4] According to a legend, the goddess has appeared to help the saints who were harassed by Bhundasur or Dandhasur demon.[4]

Alexander Kinloch Forbes gave an account of the origin of the temple in Ras Mala: According to the tradition, some Charan women were travelling from Sankhalpur a neighbouring village when the Kolis attacked and plundered. One of the women whose name was Bahuchara snatched a sword from a boy who attended her and with it cut off both her breasts. She died and her sisters But and Bulal also committed suicide. They reincarnated as goddesses. So Bahuchara is worshiped in the Chunwal.[1]

Another legend tells that the shepherd boys had cooked rice in small earthen pot which became inexhaustible and fed the whole army of a skeptic king with the grace of the goddess.[1][4]

According to Shri Balatripura Sundari Bahucharamba, a Gujarati book published by the temple trust in 1968, mentions a legend that a Solanki princess Tejpal turned into a prince. The story is also mentioned in one Garba song.[1][4]

According to the legend, Manaji Rao Gaekwad of the Baroda State was suffering from carbuncle. He visited the shrine in 1781 and vowed to spent 1.25 lakh rupees to built the temple if he was cured by the grace of the goddess. He was cured and, as promised, the construction of the large stone temple started in Samvat 1839 or 1783 CE which is mentioned in the inscription in one of the halls of the temple. It was installation ceremony was held on Shravan Sud 9th in Samvat 1847 or 1791 CE. The temple measured 50 feet by 30 feet with two domes and a spire (shikhara). The temple in the open space is protected by the fort with three gates. The principal south gate built in sandstone is two storeyed, 100 feet in length and 50 feet in height. He also built the lamp-post (deepmala) in front of the temple as well as a dharmashala (rest house). He granted Bechar, Dodiwada and Sankhalpur villages for the maintenance of the temple. These villages were subsequently taken over by the Baroda State and the annual allowance of Rs. 10,500 was paid. The temple is now managed by the state government. The original temple is renovated recently. The raised platform in the temple has a niche behind it where a balayantra (object of worship) is kept with a golden cover which is worshiped.[1][4]

Another adyasthan (original) temple is built around the varakhadi tree when the goddess first appeared. The small shrine, 15 feet by 19 feet, was originally built by Sankhal Raj in Samvat 1208 (1152 CE). The Sankhalpur village is named after him. Another madhyasthan (middle) temple was built by Maratha Fadnis built no other information is known about him. It measures 10 feet by 12 feet.[1]

The Kamalias, the Solanki Rajputs of Kalri and the Pavaiyas (eunuchs) claim themselves the hereditary worshipers of the deity.[1][5] The eunuchs are well respected in the region and one lakh of them gather during the fairs. If a eunuch child is born in a family, their parents leave them in the temple where the eunuchs adopt and anoint them as a eunuch after a surgical ritual and confinement period of 45 days.[2]

On an average, around 20,000 devotees visit the temple everyday. It visited by around 2,00,000 devotees on the full moon days and around 20 lakh (2 million) devotees during the special fairs.[2] The devotees offer presents of gold and silver jewelry, clothes and cash to the goddess. Many conducts tonsorial ceremony of their children at the Mansarovar lake near the temple. A major fair is held on the full moon day of Chaitra month of Hindu calendar.[1] Parents desirous of children and parents of new born children having physical disability or for their well being offer various offerings to goddess.