Shri Jawala Mata Ji

Shri Jwalamukhi Mandir is situated in the Jwalamukhi sub-division at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, located in the valley of Kalidhar, located in the Shivalik mountain range of district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.  The distance of this holy place from district headquarter Dharamshala is 50 kms.  Devotees use road, rail and air to reach here.  It is 200 KM from Chandigarh, 118 KM from Jalandhar, 105 KM from Pathankot, 180 KM from Shimla.  The nearest railway station is Jwalamukhi Road Ranital and can be reached by air from Gagal airport.

The recognition of Shri Jwalamukhi Temple is paramount among the 51 Shaktipeeths.  According to mythology, his daughter Sati and her husband Shiva were not invited to the huge yagya performed by King Daksha.  Mother Sati reached the yajna without being called, but as a humiliation of her husband Shiva, she jumped into the pool and abandoned her body.  Seeing the terrible form of Shiva, the gods prayed to Lord Vishnu to pacify Shiva’s anger.  In order to save the entire creation from the catastrophe, Vishnu ji divided the body of Sati into many pieces and Shakti Peeths were established at the places where the parts of Sati fell.  The place where the soul of Sati fell, the goddess appeared in the form of flame.  This place became famous by the name of Shri Jwalamukhi.

According to a legend, a shepherd used to bring a herd of cows of Emperor Bhumi Chand to graze around this place in Satyuga.  A milch cow’s milk used to be taken out during the day by a girl full of divine leela.  This cow did not give milk at night in the cowshed.  When it was discovered, flames appeared at that place, on getting information about them, King Bhumi Chand got the temple built here and got the right to worship two Brahmins of Bhojak caste from Shak Dweep to worship the goddess.  The descendants of the same Brahmins have been worshiping in the court of Goddess Jwalamukhi till date.

Ahmad Shah Abdali was defeated by Maharana Ranjit Singh in 1765 at Khyber Darwaza, Walakot Afghanistan, also known as the gate of foreign invaders.  In this victory, Maharana Ranjit Singh got the Kohinoor diamond and gold deposits.  Of the gold reserves received by Maharana, 50% was used in the construction of the main dome of Golden Temple, Amritsar, 25% in the Jwalamukhi temple and 25% in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. This magical dome has been built in the mandapa style, the present temple is in the same form.  Thereafter, the main silver door of the temple was acquired by Bhutaraja Dilip Singh, son of Maharana Ranjit Singh.

It is said that during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, Dhyanu Bhagat, a resident of Nadaun village, was traveling with other travelers with the desire to see the mother, seeing the crowd of people, Akbar’s soldiers brought him to the king’s court and the reason for this journey  And asked the importance.  Dhyanu Bhagat glorified Jwala Mai, the master of the whole world, on which Akbar cut off the head of a horse to test Bhagat and asked Dhyanu Bhagat to revive the horse from his Jwala Mai.  kept.  Dhyanu Bhagat came to the court of Jwala Mai and reverently requested that if you do not accept my prayer, then he will also cut off his head and dedicate it to Mahamayi.  After examining the miracle of the goddess for a few moments, Dhyanu Bhagat cut off his head and placed it at the feet of Bhagwati.  On this, Mother Bhagwati appeared in a real form and attached the head of Dhyanu Bhagat herself and in Akbar’s court also the head of the horse was attached to the torso.  Pleased with the devotion of Dhyanu Bhagat, the mother gave a boon with abhay donation that any devotee who will meditate on my form with a sincere heart in my court and offer coconut in place of head, I will accept his all-good wishes.

Impressed by the devotion and reverence of Dhyanu Bhagat, King Akbar sent a volcano from his soldiers, a message was given to King Akbar that the flames from the ground at the said place are ignited without any fuel, ghee, etc.  Akbar tried to stop these flames by constructing a water canal to stop these flames, but Mother Bhagwati maintained her flame form.  After that an attempt was made to extinguish these holy flames with huge iron pans, but the flame appeared by tearing the iron.  King Akbar, on the advice of the courtiers, reached Sawman’s gold umbrella to see Jwala Mai, but to break his pride, Bhagwati changed the form of the umbrella so that this umbrella was neither of iron, nor of copper nor of glass.  This umbrella still exists today.

According to Tarikh-e-Firozshahi, there was a library of thirteen hundred books in one in the Jwalamukhi temple, out of which one book was translated by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

After grabbing the Kangra fort in 1620 AD, Jahangir also visited Kangra and this temple has been mentioned.

In 1809 AD, after the Gorkha invaders were driven out of Kangra, Sandi was signed between Maharana Ranjit Singh and Raja Sansar Chand in the Jwalamukhi temple.

In Shri Jwalamukhi Mandir, the responsibility of worship is entrusted to the matrimonial and hereditary priest for the fulfillment of the Guru tradition, this tradition is being carried out for the last hundreds of years.  According to this tradition, only after receiving initiation after marriage, the priest is entitled to worship, whereas the initiation of the pilgrimage is given by the father, this hereditary priestly class has the status of Bhojak dynasty.

Apart from Bhagwati Jwalamukhi in Kshetra Jwalamukhi, the other places of interest are:

Gorakh Dibbi – This place is on the right side by climbing ten steps in the circumambulation of the Jwalamukhi temple.  Gorakhnathji did penance here.  Those who had gone to ask for khichdi after holding the box did not come back with khichdi and the water in the box did not get hot.  The water of the kund keeps on boiling.  The water is really cold.  Here, on showing a burning lamp of incense in a small pond, a big light appears on the water.  It is written in the scriptures by the name Rudra-kunda.  Nagarjuna is said to have come with these Gorakhji.

Radha-Krishna Temple – There is a Radha-Krishna temple near Gorakh Dibbi which dates back to the time of the Katoch kings.

Shiva-Shakti – This place is above Gorakh Dibbi by climbing some fifteen steps.  Here there is a vision of Jyoti with Shivling, hence the name of this place is Shiva-Shakti.

Siddhi Nagarjuna– This place is above Shiva-Shakti by climbing one of the furlong steps.  There are two pagodas on its way, here there is a stone-statue some one and a half cubits high.  This is called Siddha Nagarjuna.  There is such a famous saying about them that when Guru Gorakhnathji went to bring khichdi and did not return even after a long time, he climbed the hill to see where Guruji had left.  After coming there, they did not see Guruji, in the end they found this place to be very picturesque and sat here after meditating.
Ten-fifteen years ago, travelers used to feel a lot of trouble to climb here, but now the stairs are made from the industry of the officials here, it does not seem that much trouble.

Ambikeshwar – This place is one furlong east of Nagarjuna and this place is Manmatt Bhairav ​​which is famous as Ambikeshwar.  Their philosophy is also important.  The officials here have also put a good effort in upgrading.

Ashtadashbhuji Devi – This place is also very ancient, which is present at a distance of one mile towards west from the temple of Bhagwati Jwalamukhi.  There is a huge pond here in which it is said that by bathing, Phulbahari (white leprosy) goes away.  There is also a crematorium here.

Shri Jwalamukhi Devi is worshiped in three ways:-

1. Panchopchar Vidhi:- In this method, scent, flowers, incense, lamp, naived etc. are offered in the service of the mother.
2. Dashopachar method: – Worship is done with Padya, Arghya, Achaman, Bath, Gandha, Flower incense, Naived lamp.
3. Shodashopachara method: – There is a law to worship Mateshwari with asana, welcome padya, arghya, achaman, honey, pure bath, clothes, bhushan, sandalwood, perfume, flowers etc.

1. The birth anniversary of Mata Jwala ji in idol form is celebrated every year on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi date of Falgun month. This idol form was established in 1965 by Raja Baldev Singh of Guler dynasty.
2. New Year Puja: – In every Chaitra month Shukla Paksha Pratipada, flag hoisting, worship is celebrated on the occasion of establishment and beginning of summer season.
3. Navratri festival:- Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratra.
4. Gupt Navratri Festival:- Magha and Ashadha Gupta Navratri.

Presently the following facilities are being provided to the devotees by the temple trust under the guidance of Honorable Commissioner Temple and District Collector Kangra:-

1. Free langar arrangement 
2. Grant for marriage of poor girls
3. Medicine distribution to devotees
4. Operation of Sanskrit College
5. Contribution to relief fund
6. Deployment of security personnel for the safety of passengers
7. Proper arrangement of cleanliness in the temple premises
8. Water and toilet system
9. Yatri Niwas (Mother House)

Shri Jwalamukhi Mandir is situated in the Jwalamukhi sub-division at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, located in the valley of Kalidhar, located in the Shivalik mountain range of district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.  The distance of this holy place from district headquarter Dharamshala is 50 kms.  Devotees use road, rail and air to reach here.  It is 200 KM from Chandigarh, 118 KM from Jalandhar, 105 KM from Pathankot, 180 KM from Shimla.  The nearest railway station is Jwalamukhi Road Ranital and can be reached by air from Gagal airport.

The recognition of Shri Jwalamukhi Temple is paramount among the 51 Shaktipeeths.  According to mythology, his daughter Sati and her husband Shiva were not invited to the huge yagya performed by King Daksha.  Mother Sati reached the yajna without being called, but as a humiliation of her husband Shiva, she jumped into the pool and abandoned her body.  Seeing the terrible form of Shiva, the gods prayed to Lord Vishnu to pacify Shiva’s anger.  In order to save the entire creation from the catastrophe, Vishnu ji divided the body of Sati into many pieces and Shakti Peeths were established at the places where the parts of Sati fell.  The place where the soul of Sati fell, the goddess appeared in the form of flame.  This place became famous by the name of Shri Jwalamukhi.

According to a legend, a shepherd used to bring a herd of cows of Emperor Bhumi Chand to graze around this place in Satyuga.  A milch cow’s milk used to be taken out during the day by a girl full of divine leela.  This cow did not give milk at night in the cowshed.  When it was discovered, flames appeared at that place, on getting information about them, King Bhumi Chand got the temple built here and got the right to worship two Brahmins of Bhojak caste from Shak Dweep to worship the goddess.  The descendants of the same Brahmins have been worshiping in the court of Goddess Jwalamukhi till date.

Ahmad Shah Abdali was defeated by Maharana Ranjit Singh in 1765 at Khyber Darwaza, Walakot Afghanistan, also known as the gate of foreign invaders.  In this victory, Maharana Ranjit Singh got the Kohinoor diamond and gold deposits.  Of the gold reserves received by Maharana, 50% was used in the construction of the main dome of Golden Temple, Amritsar, 25% in the Jwalamukhi temple and 25% in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. This magical dome has been built in the mandapa style, the present temple is in the same form.  Thereafter, the main silver door of the temple was acquired by Bhutaraja Dilip Singh, son of Maharana Ranjit Singh.

It is said that during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, Dhyanu Bhagat, a resident of Nadaun village, was traveling with other travelers with the desire to see the mother, seeing the crowd of people, Akbar’s soldiers brought him to the king’s court and the reason for this journey  And asked the importance.  Dhyanu Bhagat glorified Jwala Mai, the master of the whole world, on which Akbar cut off the head of a horse to test Bhagat and asked Dhyanu Bhagat to revive the horse from his Jwala Mai.  kept.  Dhyanu Bhagat came to the court of Jwala Mai and reverently requested that if you do not accept my prayer, then he will also cut off his head and dedicate it to Mahamayi.  After examining the miracle of the goddess for a few moments, Dhyanu Bhagat cut off his head and placed it at the feet of Bhagwati.  On this, Mother Bhagwati appeared in a real form and attached the head of Dhyanu Bhagat herself and in Akbar’s court also the head of the horse was attached to the torso.  Pleased with the devotion of Dhyanu Bhagat, the mother gave a boon with abhay donation that any devotee who will meditate on my form with a sincere heart in my court and offer coconut in place of head, I will accept his all-good wishes.

Impressed by the devotion and reverence of Dhyanu Bhagat, King Akbar sent a volcano from his soldiers, a message was given to King Akbar that the flames from the ground at the said place are ignited without any fuel, ghee, etc.  Akbar tried to stop these flames by constructing a water canal to stop these flames, but Mother Bhagwati maintained her flame form.  After that an attempt was made to extinguish these holy flames with huge iron pans, but the flame appeared by tearing the iron.  King Akbar, on the advice of the courtiers, reached Sawman’s gold umbrella to see Jwala Mai, but to break his pride, Bhagwati changed the form of the umbrella so that this umbrella was neither of iron, nor of copper nor of glass.  This umbrella still exists today.

According to Tarikh-e-Firozshahi, there was a library of thirteen hundred books in one in the Jwalamukhi temple, out of which one book was translated by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

After grabbing the Kangra fort in 1620 AD, Jahangir also visited Kangra and this temple has been mentioned.

In 1809 AD, after the Gorkha invaders were driven out of Kangra, Sandi was signed between Maharana Ranjit Singh and Raja Sansar Chand in the Jwalamukhi temple.

In Shri Jwalamukhi Mandir, the responsibility of worship is entrusted to the matrimonial and hereditary priest for the fulfillment of the Guru tradition, this tradition is being carried out for the last hundreds of years.  According to this tradition, only after receiving initiation after marriage, the priest is entitled to worship, whereas the initiation of the pilgrimage is given by the father, this hereditary priestly class has the status of Bhojak dynasty.

Apart from Bhagwati Jwalamukhi in Kshetra Jwalamukhi, the other places of interest are:

Gorakh Dibbi – This place is on the right side by climbing ten steps in the circumambulation of the Jwalamukhi temple.  Gorakhnathji did penance here.  Those who had gone to ask for khichdi after holding the box did not come back with khichdi and the water in the box did not get hot.  The water of the kund keeps on boiling.  The water is really cold.  Here, on showing a burning lamp of incense in a small pond, a big light appears on the water.  It is written in the scriptures by the name Rudra-kunda.  Nagarjuna is said to have come with these Gorakhji.

Radha-Krishna Temple – There is a Radha-Krishna temple near Gorakh Dibbi which dates back to the time of the Katoch kings.

Shiva-Shakti – This place is above Gorakh Dibbi by climbing some fifteen steps.  Here there is a vision of Jyoti with Shivling, hence the name of this place is Shiva-Shakti.

Siddhi Nagarjuna– This place is above Shiva-Shakti by climbing one of the furlong steps.  There are two pagodas on its way, here there is a stone-statue some one and a half cubits high.  This is called Siddha Nagarjuna.  There is such a famous saying about them that when Guru Gorakhnathji went to bring khichdi and did not return even after a long time, he climbed the hill to see where Guruji had left.  After coming there, they did not see Guruji, in the end they found this place to be very picturesque and sat here after meditating.
Ten-fifteen years ago, travelers used to feel a lot of trouble to climb here, but now the stairs are made from the industry of the officials here, it does not seem that much trouble.

Ambikeshwar – This place is one furlong east of Nagarjuna and this place is Manmatt Bhairav ​​which is famous as Ambikeshwar.  Their philosophy is also important.  The officials here have also put a good effort in upgrading.

Ashtadashbhuji Devi – This place is also very ancient, which is present at a distance of one mile towards west from the temple of Bhagwati Jwalamukhi.  There is a huge pond here in which it is said that by bathing, Phulbahari (white leprosy) goes away.  There is also a crematorium here.

Shri Jwalamukhi Devi is worshiped in three ways:-

1. Panchopchar Vidhi:- In this method, scent, flowers, incense, lamp, naived etc. are offered in the service of the mother.
2. Dashopachar method: – Worship is done with Padya, Arghya, Achaman, Bath, Gandha, Flower incense, Naived lamp.
3. Shodashopachara method: – There is a law to worship Mateshwari with asana, welcome padya, arghya, achaman, honey, pure bath, clothes, bhushan, sandalwood, perfume, flowers etc.

1. The birth anniversary of Mata Jwala ji in idol form is celebrated every year on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi date of Falgun month. This idol form was established in 1965 by Raja Baldev Singh of Guler dynasty.
2. New Year Puja: – In every Chaitra month Shukla Paksha Pratipada, flag hoisting, worship is celebrated on the occasion of establishment and beginning of summer season.
3. Navratri festival:- Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratra.
4. Gupt Navratri Festival:- Magha and Ashadha Gupta Navratri.

Presently the following facilities are being provided to the devotees by the temple trust under the guidance of Honorable Commissioner Temple and District Collector Kangra:-

1. Free langar arrangement 
2. Grant for marriage of poor girls
3. Medicine distribution to devotees
4. Operation of Sanskrit College
5. Contribution to relief fund
6. Deployment of security personnel for the safety of passengers
7. Proper arrangement of cleanliness in the temple premises
8. Water and toilet system
9. Yatri Niwas (Mother House)