Jwala Devi Mandir, Maa Jwala Ji,Darshan Information

Jwala Devi Mandir, Maa Jwala Ji

25 Jan

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Near the scenic valley of Kangra, stands the temple of Jwalamukhi. Regarded as one of the Shaktipeethas, this is the site where the tongue of the Goddess fell. In this beautiful shrine, the Goddess is believed to have manifested as blue flames. These nine flames, burning continuously, represent the nine facets of the Goddess- Maha Kali, Maa Annapurna, Maa Chandi, Maa Hinglaj, Vindhyavasini, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati, Maa Ambika and Anjana Devi. The construction of the present structure was started by by Raja Bhumi Chand and completed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835. The Pandavas are believed to have worshipped here. Legends regarding Akbar and Jehangir describes the Mughal emperors to have visited the place. It is said that Akbar came here to test the power of the Goddess. Dhyanu Bhagat, a devotee of Jwala Devi, who lived during the time of Akbar is credited with popularising the divinity of the shrine.

Location Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, Shimla

Legend

Mythology believes the Jwalamukhi temple as one of the Shaktipeethas. When Lord Shiva's wrath at the death of his wife Sati manifested as the Tandava which would destroy the Universe, Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan chakra cut her corpse into pieces which scattered around the subcontinent. It is believed that the Goddess's tongue fell where the temple of Jwalamukhi stands today. Centuries later, Raja Bhumi Chand, a devotee of Durga, had a dream about the flame. He located the place where the flames were burning and started construction of the shrine.

This temple is part of famous Nava Shakthipeeth Yatra and Shaktipeethas.

Architecture

The shrine of Jwalamukhi is built near a cliff. It follows an Indo-Sikh form of architecture. The dome of the temple is covered in gold. Red flags fly atop the domes. There is a huge brass bell at the entrance. Inside the shrine are the flames believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess.

Culture

Kangra with its scenic beauty is a famous tourist destination. Tea is a major crop cultivated here and Kangra tea is famous all over the world for its rich aroma.