Matrigaya: Honouring the Mothers

Most sacred rituals in India revolve around the father’s lineage. But Matrigaya, also known as Siddhpur in Gujarat, is a rare and deeply meaningful exception. This is one of the few sacred sites in the country where Shraadh and Pind Daan are performed specifically for mothers and maternal ancestors.

Here, remembrance takes a different shape. It becomes gentler, more intimate, and filled with the quiet strength of the feminine. In a land where the mother is revered as the first guru, this place carries her presence in every prayer offered.

Why Matrigaya Holds Unique Importance

According to the Puranas, Lord Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, performed Pind Daan for his mother Renuka Devi at this very site. It is said that the ritual pleased the ancestors so deeply that Siddhpur came to be known as Matrigaya, the place of moksha for mothers.

The Saraswati River, though mostly invisible now, is believed to flow underground. It is at her ghats that the pindas are offered, symbolising nourishment, gratitude, and release. The flow of Saraswati underground also symbolises the undying love one has for their mother and vice versa.

A Gentle, Sacred Space

Pilgrims who visit Matrigaya often describe it as soft and sacred. The priests here are deeply rooted in the traditions of shraaddh for the maternal line. There is no rush, but just a quiet understanding between hearts that have known the love of a mother and now wish to honour it.

It is that part of its power, in the stillness of Matrigaya, every word spoken feels heard, every offering feels seen.