Mata Jawala Ji Temple Shaktipeeth, Kangra – Himachal Pradesh

Jwala Ji (Pahari: जवाला जी, Punjabi: ਜਵਾਲਾ ਜੀ, Hindi: ज्वाला जी) is a Hindu goddess. The physical manifestation of Jwala Ji is always a set of eternal flames, and the term Jvala means flame in Sanskrit (cognates: proto-Indo-European guelh, English: glow, Lithuanian: zvilti) and ji is an honorific used in the Indian subcontinent.

Jwalaji/jawalaji (flame) or Jwala Mukhi (a person with a face glowing like fire) is probably the most ancient temple discussed here besides Vaishno Devi. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata and other scriptures. There is a natural cave where eternal flames continue to burn. Several schools of Buddhism also share the symbolism of a seven-forked sacred flame.

The Legend
The legend is as follows:

In ancient times when demons lorded over the Himalaya mountains and harassed the gods, Lord Vishnu led the gods to destroy the demons. They focused their strengths and huge flames rose from the ground. From that fire, a young girl was born. She is regarded as Adishakti — the first ‘Shakti.’

Known as Sati, the girl grew up in Prajapati Daksha’s house and later became Lord Shiva’s consort. When her father insulted Lord Shiva, she could not accept this and killed herself. When Lord Shiva heard of his wife’s death his rage knew no bounds; and, holding Sati’s body, he began stalking the three worlds. The other gods trembled before his wrath and appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu released a sudarshan chakra that struck Sati’s body and broke it. At the places where the pieces fell, the fifty-one sacred ‘shaktipeeths’ came into being. “Sati’s tongue fell at Jawalaji (610 m) and the goddess is manifest as tiny flames that burn flawless blue through fissures in the age-old rock.”

Centuries ago a cowherd found that one of his cows was always without milk. He followed the cow to find out the cause. He saw a girl coming out of the forest who drank the cow’s milk, and then disappeared in a flash of light. The cowherd went to the king and told him the story. The king knew the legend recounting that Sati’s tongue had fallen in this area. The king tried, without success, to find that sacred spot. Some years later, the cowherd went again to the king to report that he had seen a flame burning in the mountains. The king found the spot and had a darshan (vision) of the holy flame. He had a temple built there by Raja Bhumi Chand and arranged for priests to engage in regular worship. It is believed[by whom?] that the Pandavas came later and renovated the temple. The folk song titled “Panjan Panjan Pandavan Tera Bhawan Banaya” bears testimony to this belief.

Jawalamukhi has been a pilgrimage centre for many years. According to a legend, the Mughal Emperor came to this Jwala Mandir after the battle of Noorpur and Chamba Akbar. Akbar once tried to extinguish the flames by covering them with an iron disk and even channeled water to them. But the flames overcame all these efforts. Akbar then destroyed the temple and had the priests and other devotees killed. After this, the king of Chamba (King Sansar Chand) reconstructed the temple. Maharaja Ranjit Singh installed a golden parasol (chhattra) and Sher Singh (the son of King Ranjit Singh) decorated the gates with silver.Thousands of pilgrims continue to visit the shrine year-round.