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Jwala Ji Temple

Jwala Ji Temple

Jawala Ji or Jwala devi temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India and Jawala Ji Temple is one of the highly venerated Shakti Temples in India. It is situated in the lap of Shivalik range of Kangra valley called “Kalidhar”. This is believed to be the first ever temple built by the Pandavas. Jwala Ji is a Devi Temple Dedicated to the “GODDESS OF LIGHT”, located in Jawala Mukhi, district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh.
Sati’s tongue is believed to have fallen at the very place where Jwala devi Temple is now situated. The Tongue of sati is represented by Holy Flames or Jwala that is perpetually burning. Jwala devi temple as a center of faith is unparallel and unique. There is no deity or idol that is worshiped. It has the series of natural flames or Jyotis since times immemorial believed to be the symbol of Goddess.  Jawala Ji is a great heritage centre for not only the people of Jawala Mukhi, Kangra or Himachal Pradesh but of the whole world. During March to April and September to October every year colourful fairs are held during the Navaratra celebration.

Legend – Jwala Devi Story

Ancient legends speak of a time when demons lorded over the Himalaya mountains and harassed the gods. Led by Lord Vishnu, the gods decided to destroy them. They focused their strengths and huge flames rose from the ground. From that fire, a young girl took birth. She is regarded as Adishakti-the first 'shakti'.
Known as Sati or Parvati, she grew up in the house of Prajapati Daksha and later, became the consort of Lord Shiva. Once her father insulted Lord Shiva and unable to accept this, she 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 let fly a volley of arrows which struck Sati's body and severed it to pieces. 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".
It is said that 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 was aware of the legend that Sati's tongue had fallen in this area. The king tried, without success, to find that sacred spot. Again, some years later, the cowherd went to the king to report that he had seen a flame burning in the moutains. The king found the spot and had darshan (vision) of the holy flame. He built a temple there and arranged for priests to engage in regular worship. It is believed that the Pandavas came later and renovated the temple. The folk song that "Panjan Panjan Pandavan Tera Bhawan Banaya" bears testimony to this belief. Raja Bhumi Chand first built the temple.

Jawalamukhi has since times immemorial turned out to be a great pilgrimage centre. The Mughal Emperor Akbar once tried to extinguish the flames by covering them with an iron disk and even channelizing water to them. But the flames blasted all these efforts. Akbar then presented a golden parasol (chattar) at the shrine. However, his cynicism at the power of devi caused the gold to debase into another metal which is still unknown to the world. His belief in the deity was all the more strengthened after this incident. Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine round the year to satisfy their spiritual urge.

Story of Dhyan-devotee
This is the incident of the days when Mughal Emperor Akbar was ruled by India. Nadoun Village - A servant of a resident of Mata was going for a thousand visitors including his mother. Seeing such a large party, the Emperor's soldiers stopped him at Chandni Chowk in Delhi and brought him to the court of Akbar and presented him to the devotees.

Akbar asked, "Are you being taken along with so many men?"

Dhyan-devotee replied with a hand, "I am going to see the mother Jwala-Mai's view. Those who are with me are also devotees of Mother and are going on a journey."

Akbar heard this and said, "Who is this Jwala Mai? And what will happen by going?"

The devotee replied, "Jawala Mai is the creator and obedient mother of the world, she accepts prayer from the true heart of the devotees and fulfills all their wishes. Their glory is such that their place is without oil -The light of the bride keeps on burning. We go to visit her every year. "

Akbar said, "Your Jwala Mai is so powerful, how will it come to us, after all you are a devotee of a mother, if you show any charisma then we will also accept it."


Medhu answered quietly, sir! I am a small servant of the mother, what miracles can I show?

Akbar said, "If your bandi is Pak and true, then Goddess Mother will definitely preserve your honor. If she does not take care of devotees like you, then what is the use of your worship? It is neither devoted to the Goddess nor is she It is a falsehood, for the test we separate the neck of your horse, you will be able to get it alive by saying your goddess. "


Thus the neck of the horse was cut. The meditator prayed for the protection of the horse and the head of the horse for a period of one month by not seeing any remedy. Akbar accepted the meditation of the devotee. Permission is also given for traveling.

After departing from the king, the devotee of Dhanu went to his mother's court including his wife. After bathing, etc., awakened all night. At the time of the morning, Dhyu said, "O Mitteshwari! You are an Atyamya, the King is examining my devotion, keeping my shame, saving my horse, saving your grace and power, manifesting miracles. If you do not accept my prayer, then I will cut off my head and give it to your feet, because it is better to die than live ashamed and to die. The Ratigya | You Reply | "

Silent for some time. No answer was found.

After this, the devotee cut his head with the sword and presented it to the goddess.

At the same time, Jwala Mai appeared in the presence of Manu and the devotee got attached to the head, the devotee was alive. Mother said to the devotee, "The head of the horse has also joined the Dhar in Delhi." After leaving the anxiety, come to Delhi, the reason for being ashamed has been solved and ask for whatever is desired.

Dhyanu - The devotee bowed down at the feet of the mother and bowed down and pleaded, "O Jagadamba! You are all powerful, we humans are ignorant, do not even know the method of devotion. Still, the Holy Mother of the Mother! You do not have such a difficult examination of your devotees Please do not let every people of the world give you Shesh gift. Please, O Mother Goddess, complete the desires of your devotees with an ordinary gift. "

"Substance! From now on, I will fulfill my desire by offering a coconut instead of Sheesh and a prayer with a true heart." By saying this, Mother became distraught.

Here the incident happened; in Delhi, when the deceased horse and sir, Dhan, got attached with the grace of the mother, then all the rulers were drowned in King Ashbar. The king sent firemen to flames. The soldiers came back and told Akbar, "He is coming out of the land with a flame of fire, perhaps it is a charisma with the strength of his. If you order, then they should be closed, thus leaving the place of worship of Hindus only. Will go.

Akbar Approved But some historians believe that without the acceptance of Akbar, the royal soldiers did so. It is said that the royal soldiers first kept the fat of the iron on the holy light of the mother-2. But the divine - light flame came out and came out. After this the flow of a canal was further twisted, causing the canal water constantly falling on the flame. Still the burning of the lights did not stop. Imperial soldiers informed Akbar The burning of the jooto can not be stopped, all our efforts have failed. Whatever you are doing, do it.

After receiving this news, Emperor Akbar consulted the scholars and Brahmins of the court. The Brahmins thought and said that you should go to Shavmam and see divine miracles and arrange gifts according to the rules, and do the divine mother.

Akbar accepted the Brahmins. A grand umbrella of saffron mind was established. Then he put the umbrella on his shoulder and reached the bare fire. He appeared on Divine Light, the head bowed down with reverence, repentance began to change in his heart. The umbrella of gold enveloped the shoulder, but the umbrella fell apart. It is said that he did not sleep, became a strange metal, which was not iron, neither bronze, nor copper, glass.

Meaning the Divine rejected the offering.

Seeing this miracle, Akbar praised many ways and asked for forgiveness from the mother and returned to Delhi after performing many prayers. When the soldiers came, they ordered all the devotees to behave lovingly.

Even today, in the court of the fragmented umbrella mother, offered by the Akbar king, can be seen lying.

Jai Mata Di !!!

Holy Flames or Jyotis in Jawala Ji
 
Jawala Ji is a famous temple of Goddess Jawalamukhi, the deity of flaming mouth, believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess Sati. The building is made with a gilt dome and pinnacles, and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates, presented by Sikh Raja Kharak Singh. This silver door so struck Lord Hardinge that he had a model made of it. Maharaja Ranjit Singh presented the gilt roof in 1815 AD. The interior of the temple consists of a square pit about 3 feet deep with a pathway all around. In the middle, the rock is hollowed out over a primary fissure of a flame considered to be the fiery mouth of Mahakali. The flames escape at several other points from the crevics of the wall of the pit. There are nine Jwalaji Flames or Jyotis in total representing following different forms of Goddess:
 
Maa Saraswati
Maa Annapurna
Maa Mahalakshmi
Maa Hing Laj
Maa Mahakali
Maa Chandi
Maa Vindhya Vasini
Maa Ambika
Maa Anjana
 
However, the Shaiyan Aarti Performed at Jawala Ji before bed time is unique. The bed of Goddess is decked up with rich dresses and ornaments during aarti. First part of it is done in the main temple of Goddess and the second part is done in the “SEJABHAWAN” salokas from ‘Sondarya Lahri’ by shri shakracharya are recited.

 

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