Shri Jwalamukhi

It is a place of ‘DHUMRA DEVI’. It is recognized
as the highest seat of power amongst 51 “SHAKTI-
PITHS’. It is said that the tongue of Maha Sati god-
dess fell here. Also god SHIVA is present in the
form of exquisite “Bhairva”. In this abode of God,
Devi is seen in the form of a bright flame (Jyoti).
The bright flames come out of rock creeks at 9 dif-
ferent places without any fuel or ignition. Pt.
Jawahar Lal Nehru asked the Indian Geological
scientists to try and find oil/gas in the area, owing
the origin of flame to some unknown gas link. Last
‘forty years have been wasted in the pursuit and
the operation abandoned. Due to the existence of
holy goddess in the form of bright flame, she is
known as ‘Jwalaji’ and the place is popularly
known as ‘Jwala-Mukhi’.

‘Way to Holy Jwala’?This place is situated in
the district ‘Kangra’ of Himachal Pradesh. Buses
are available easily from district ‘Hoshiarpur’ Pun-
jab. The buses enroute to Jwalaji, touch ‘Gopipura
Dera’. Jwalaji is about 20 kms from ‘Dera’. Another
route, by bus, is from Pathankot to Jwalaji via
Kangra. Kangra to Jwalamukhi is about 2 hours
bus journey. Buses are available half hourly.

The History of Jwala-Mukhi Temple:

There is a very popular myth behind the construction of the Jwalaji temple. According to this
the arrows of God Vishnu cut the tongue of goddess Sati and it fell on ‘Dholi-Dhar’ mountains of Himalayas. The place could not be located inspite
of great efforts. Having failed, a small temple was
raised at Nagar-Kot Kangra’ in the memory of goddess Sati. After many years emperor ‘Bhumi
Chandra’ was told by a cowherd that he sighted a
bright flame near a mountain. The flame was
burning continuously. The emperor visited the
place and constructed a temple in the midst of
forests. He brought two holy Brahmans of ‘Bhojak’
caste for daily worship in the temple. The names
of the two Brahmins were Pt. Shri Dhar and Pt.
Kamla-Pati. The progeny of the Bhojak brahmins
are still commanding the rights of worship in holy
Jwala Devi temple. As per Maha-Bharat the five
Pandava brothers (Yudhishtir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul,
Sahdev) visited the holy temple and reconstructed
the old and dilapidated temple. The below given
devotional song is related to this incident.

“Panja Pandava Teza Bhavan Banaya, Arjun Ne Chanvar Dulaya”.

Shri Jawala Mukhi and Flaming-Splendour:

The goddess in Jawala Mukhi temple appears in
the form of ‘Jyotis’ i.e. flames. These flames are
usually nine in number but their number may be
more or less. sometimes. It is believed that “Nav-
Durga’ is creator of fourteen ‘Bhavans’. The three
virtues (namely’Rajo-gun’, ‘Sato-gun, and ‘Tamo-
gun’) are sub-servient to them. The main flame
(Jyoti) is housed in a frame of silver in front of the
temple entrance. It is believed to be the ‘Mahakali’
goddess. It is a celestial ‘Jyoti’ and fulfils desires
of devotees and even liberates true devotees from
illusion.

Detail of the nine ‘Jyotis’ is given as follows :

Holy Jyoti with Sacrificial- Enclosure (Havan Kund)

1. Jyoti decorated in a silver enclosure symbolising Mahakali.
2. Just by the side of first Jyoti is Mahamaya ‘Ann-Purna Jyoti’. This is goddess of food and related material.
3. On the other side is Jyoti of ‘Chandi-Mata’ who is destroyer of evil and evil doers.
4. Destroyer of all diseases is the fourth Jyoti called ‘Hing Laj Bhavani’.
5. The fifth jyoti is a ‘Vindhyavasini’ who relieves of all sorrows.
6. The sixth Jyoti is of goddess of material happiness and abundance ‘Maha-Luxmi’.
7. This Jyoti manifests itself in sacrificial enclosure.
8. The goddess of’knowledge and enlightment ‘Saraswati’ is also placed in sacrificial enclosure alongwith goddess of procreation ‘Ambika’.
9. Another goddess present in this enclosure is holy ‘Anjana’ who blesses with bounty of happiness and longevity.