CM Bhajan Lal Sharma pays tribute to Maa Shila Devi at Amer Fort
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
From the ramparts of one of Rajasthan's most celebrated forts, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma offered reverence to Maa Shila Devi on Monday, 19 October 2026 — invoking the goddess as the living spiritual axis of the state's cultural identity.
In his post on X, the Chief Minister wrote: 'आदिशक्ति माँ भवानी के चरणों में कोटि-कोटि नमन!' ('A billion salutations at the feet of Adishakti Maa Bhavani!'). He described Maa Shila Devi as not merely a temple but 'the unbreakable cultural identity of Rajasthan and the living axis of faith', adding that a glimpse of the goddess's divine form fills the inner self with boundless energy and peace.
The goddess at the heart of Amer Fort
The Shila Devi Temple sits within the fortified precincts of Amer Fort, the red-sandstone-and-marble hill citadel near Jaipur that has anchored Rajasthan's heritage identity for centuries. The temple is dedicated to a form of Goddess Durga and draws devotees from across the region, particularly during Navratri and other shakti-worship seasons. For generations, the shrine has been inseparable from the fort's royal and religious narrative.
Heritage devotion as governance signal
Indian chief ministers routinely use devotional posts to underscore state pride in cultural landmarks — and Rajasthan governments across administrations have long positioned Amer Fort as the centrepiece of the state's heritage and tourism offer. Sharma's tribute, accompanied by an image of the temple, continues that tradition while also reinforcing his administration's emphasis on Rajasthan's Sanatan cultural roots. The fort and its temple complex remain among the most visited heritage sites in the country.
The Chief Minister closed with a prayer that the goddess's 'love and blessings remain upon all of us always' — a note of collective benediction that extends the post beyond personal piety into a public invocation on behalf of the state.