Jwala Devi Temple is one of the most revered Hindu places of worship. It is situated in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh and is a famous pilgrimage spot for thousands of devotees every year. The temple is a prominent attraction of the state and draws many visitors during Navaratri.


History of Maa Jwala Devi Temple

Jwala Devi Mandir was built in the 17th century by Raja Chand Katoch, a substantial devotee of Durga. He had the vision of a temple with the image of the goddess in a burning flame and so, sent his men to search for such a place. When the site was found, he started constructing the temple.

It is said that once the god Shiva was undergoing severe grief when his wife Sati was killed by Jalandra. As a result, he became crazed and he could not control his emotions. Lord Vishnu then flicked his Sudarshan Chakra (a spinning, disk-like weapon) which cut Sati's body into 51 pieces and the places of these body parts are now called Shakti Peeths.

Besides the mythological stories related to this place, it is also believed that the goddess Jwala Devi is residing here in the form of a flaming fire. This is the reason why it is known as Jyoti and it is also considered to be the most holy temple of the country.

Maa Jwala Mukhi Ji is adored by top tantriks like Guru Gorakhnath and it is said that she never leaves her followers even after they have left her temple. The place is a renowned center of tantrik worship and people from all over the country visit the temple to offer prayer with sincere sentiments. They offer rabri, misri, chunri, milk, flowers and fruits to the deity. The area is awash with colorful fairs and arti during the period of Navratri.

Features of Maa Jwala Devi Temple

The main feature of the Jwala Devi Temple is its Jyoti or a series of nine natural flames that are lighted continuously without fail. These flames represent the nine forms of Goddess Durga, namely, Mahakali, Annapurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Vindhyavasini, Basni, Saraswati, Mahalaxmi and Ambika.

It is a four cornered temple with a small dome on the top and a square pit of hollowed stone inside where the main flame burns continuously. It is surrounded by a pathway which leads to the main temple hall. The temple has a golden dome and silver plated folding doors presented by Maharaja Kharak Singh.

There are several shrines located around the temple which are dedicated to various deities and goddesses. These include the Shayan kaksha, where Maa takes rest after the evening aarti. It is said that the temple was damaged during the 1905 earthquake but it remained intact due to the blessings of Maa.

In the midst of the temple there is a natural water pond called Jal Kund. It is believed that the Mughal emperor Akbar tried to douse this pious flame with his own water but it did not work. It was after this that he offered a gold parasol to the goddess.