HISTORY OF TANOT MATA TEMPLE 
Tanot is a place located at a distance of 120 Km from 
Jaisalmer and name Tanot is named on goddess Tanot. 
Praisee is said to be incarnation of Goddess Hinglaz now 
located in Lasvela Distt of Bluchistan. 
Bhati Rajput King Tanu Rao made Tanot as their capital.
In AC 847 foundation of Goddess Tanot was kept and idol was
installed. Temple is revered by generations of Bhati Rajput and
people of Jaisalmer and surrounding areas. Later on with the
advent of time, Bhati Rajput brought their capital to Jaisalmer
but temple remained located at Tanot.
Before 1965 this temple was maintained by personnel of
RAC and when BSF was formed, responsibility of maintaining
this temple was shifted to BSF. It is a great source of
inspiration for troops of BSF as well as of army due to miracle
happened during 1965 Indo Pak war. It is said that in the
month of Oct 1965 Pak Army had advanced from two flanks
i.e. from Kishangarh and Sadewala side to deep inside Indian
territory but area in between where this temple is located
could not be overrun despite heavy pounding by Arty and
fierce fighting. Pak Army fired more than 3000 shells in area
around temple but due to divine power, It is said that most of
the shell went blind and what so ever exploded could not
cause much damage. It is further claimed by inhabitants living
in nearby villagers that mother Goddes Tanot appeared in the
dreams of some soldiers and assured them for protection if
they do not leave the premises of temple. Later on Indian
Army repulsed the attack of Pak Army and after three days of
heavy fighting Pak Army made a hasty retreat leaving hundred
of dead of its soldier. At that crucial time of war two coys of 13
Bn BSF and one Bn of Grenadier was deployed in area of
Tanot against one Bde of Pak Army but they fought valiantly
and broke the back bone of enemy due to goddess blessings. Since then this temple came into prominence and its
popularity spread over other region also . Again in 1971 when
Pak Army launched sudden attack in Longewala in the night
of 4th Dec, due to inspiration and spritual strength drawn from
this temple, only one coy of Punjab regiment alongwith one coy
of BSF (14 Bn BSF) repulsed their attack which is a unique
operation in the world history of battles. Longewala is called as
a graveyard of Pak Tanks where their entire Tank regt was
made to bite the dust due to exemplary coverage shown by our
troops. In the memory of victory in this historic battle of
Longewala a Vijay Memorial has been constructed at the
entrance of temple where on 16th Dec every year a celebration
is organized with fervour and gaiety to remember the heroic
deeds of our soldiers.
Twice in a year i.e. in April and Sept Navrtara is
celebrated at Tanot where free lunger is run by BSF as well as
free Medical camp. Thousands of devotees from every nook
and corner of the country throng the temple to offer their
prayer to goddess. In 1989 a Tanot Mata Trust was
constituted to look after the offer of temple as well as to see its
management. Presently patron of this trust is worthy Shri
S.N.Jain, IPS, and IG BSF Raj FTR while Shri. Sandeep
Bishnoi, IPS DIG BSF SHQ JMR-I is chairman and Shri
Prabhakar Joshi Offg Comdt is secretary. As feeling of public
is attached with this temple a great care is taken to provide
best amenities to devotees visiting the temple. This is the place
where spiritual strength of Seema Prahari and its un-wearing
commitment to safeguard the mother land can be seen side by
side.