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Introduction
Located in the picturesque Kangra Valley, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Jwalamukhi is one of the numerous Shakti Peethas of Goddess Parvati. It is unique for its embodiment of the phenomenal natural jets of flame, revered as the flaming mouth of Jwalamukhi. The jets of gas that gushes out from the hillside form small blazes as and when a priest strikes a matchstick to them. The shrine has been a site of awe-inspiring veneration by countless people, right from the kings and emperors to the swamis. Built some 800 years ago, the temple lent its name to the surrounding hills, which are called as the Jwalamukhi range.
Architecture
The temple’s construction comprises of a long stretch of steps bordered by shops selling items for worship-the coconuts, red gold-edged pieces of cloth in various sizes, miniature silver umbrellas, bangles, hand-woven baskets, etc. Inside, one has the living deity in the form of natural jets of flame flashing out from the hillside. Awesome icy cold water from a natural spring is to be found in contact with the burning, orange-blue jets of blaze. Surprisingly, the spring retains its frosty coldness. The archetypal temple has a gilded roof, a tribute constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a thanksgiving after winning the Afghan war. The temple’s silver-plated folding doors were the contribution of his son Kharak Singh.
Ritual
After the darshan or worship of the sublime deity, the temple courtyard reverberates to the sounds of ringing temple bells and the euphoric rejoicings of the pilgrims. At noon, one can have delicious free meal at the ritualistic feast called langar. The day culminates when the mighty Goddess is put to sleep on a red gold-brocaded velvet. The whole ceremony is marked with loud drumming and joyous tinkling of the numerous temple bells.
Legend
Legend has it that King Daksha, the father of Parvati, had organized a yagna (ceremony of sacrifice to the gods). He had invited all except Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. The yagna, in fact, was held to humiliate Shiva. Not knowing this, Parvati visited her father’s place. The arrogant Daksha started insulting Shiva in front of Parvati, which led Parvati to commit suicide. When Shiva came to know about it, grief stricken, he picked up her corpse and danced about relentlessly. To stop the Tandava Nritya, Lord Vishnu sent forth his Sudarshan Chakra, which cut up the dead body of Parvati. These pieces or the body parts of Parvati fell at various places, which later on became pilgrimage centers known as Shakti Peethas. Parvati’s tongue is said to have fallen on the spot now known as Jwalamukhi.
Other accompanying legends include the famed incident of Emperor Akbar, who tried to put off the flaming mouth by means of a water channel. Failing to do so, Akbar became a devotee of the Goddess and presented a chattra (umbrella) of gold to the Goddess. As he set on to leave, Akbar looked back with considerable pride at the precious gift that he had made to the Goddess, and was ashamed to find that the gold had turned into copper!
Where To Stay
Accommodation is available at the Himachal Tourism-run Hotel Jwalaji, at Jwalamukhi. The hotel is situated at about 350 m from the shrine of Jwalaji and 100 m from the bus stand.
How To Reach
Buses and taxis connect Jwalamukhi to Chandigarh. Regular buses ply to and from Jwalamukhi and other places in Himachal Pradesh. The recently introduced narrow-gauge train named Kangra Queen, which runs between Pathankot and Palampur, stops at Jwalamukhi.
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