Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha is commonly known as Jwala Ji. The temple is located in the picturesque Kangra of Himachal Pradesh in Bharat. It is revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas where the tongue of Sati Devi fell when she immolated herself in fire.
The presiding deity, Jwala Devi is known as the ‘Goddess of Light’. The goddess resides in the form of nine eternal sacred flames that burn continuously day and night without fuel from an external source. Such is the wonder of the temple; there is no deity of the goddess, she is worshiped in the form of nine sacred flames that have been named after the goddesses-Mahakali, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika, Chandi, Annapurna, Vidhya, Hinglaj, Basni, and Anji Devi.
Jwala Devi Temple attracts a huge crowd of devotees from every corner of India. Each devotee is drawn by the temple’s sacred momentousness and the wonderful imperishable flame. Pilgrims come to seek sanctification, perform rituals, and behold the divine essence that has been venerated for generations. The temple’s tranquil aura and the surrounding innate beauty further enhances the spiritual rebirth, turning it into a treasured destination for those in pursuit of divine association and inner contentment.
Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha, Kangra
According to history, a cowherd noticed that one of his cows did not give milk. He went behind the cow to find out where the cow was going. When he went deep inside the forest, he found out that a beautiful little girl came and drank the milk and disappeared.
He immediately went to the king and narrated the whole incident. The king was aware that Sati’s tongue had fallen in this area. The king tried very hard to find the spot but failed. After several years, the cowherd boy had seen a flame burning in the mountains and informed this to the king.
The king went in search of flame and found the spot where it was located. The king was a great devotee of Durga Maa and constructed the temple in honor of the goddess.
Akbar’s Failed Attempts to Extinguish the Sacred Jwala
There is a false story that is circulating about the history of a temple during the moghul era.
According to this story, Akbar became a devotee of Jwala Ji, had gifted the golden Chhatri (umbrella) to the goddess and it turned to bronze, because it was disliked by the goddess.
Infact Akbar was not a devotee, he made several attempts to destroy the temple. He tried to extinguish the sacred fire using several techniques. He poured water onto the fire, placed boulders over it. But all his attempts failed. Eventually, admitting defeat, Akbar walked away.
Architecture of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha
The Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha, Kangra in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh stands as a testimony to the region’s vibrant history and ornate craftsmanship. Its architectural splendor showcases the strong cultural and elegant traditions of the area. According to folklore, this temple was built by the Pancha Pandavas.
This temple is built on a wooden framework, and it is a harmonious blend of Nagara style of architecture. The main features of the temple include a dome-shaped roof, a golden spire, and a white marble facade.
The temple is constructed with gilt dome and pinnacles. The roof of the temple is also gilt inside, but the gilting is obscured by smoke.
The temple has a splendid folding door made of silver plating which was gifted by Kharak Singh, who was second king of Sikh Empire. The main shrine has a domelike shape with the lotus pattern. Chhatra is places over three Kalashas which is placed one over the another. Lowest most Kalasha is the biggest, while the middle one is smaller and topmost is the smallest in size. Kalasha is placed on four corners of the main shrine. The mantapa is decorated with Kalasha placed on all the sides of the walls.
The dome of the temple is adorned with gold, and the main door is plated with silver. There is a huge brass bell in the temple, which was gifted by Nepal King. Inside the temple, there is a 3-foot pit where flames are burning. The offerings are made into this pit, symbolizing the mouth of the Jwala Mukhi Goddess. There are two lion statues located at the entrance of the Jwala Mukhi Temple.
Rituals of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha
The aarti performed to Jwala Devi is the main attraction of the temple. Aarti is performed 5 times a day.
First Aarti: It is called ‘Mangala Aarti,’ is performed early in the morning around 5:00 AM before sunrise, when the temple gate is open.
Second Aarti: It is also performed during sunrise; it is called as ‘Panchopachara Pujan’.
Third Aarti: ‘Bhog ki aarti,’ the goddess is offered Bhog of Rabri, made of thickened milk, misri, seasonal fruit, and milk.
Fourth Aarti: This is the evening aarti that is performed at 7:00 PM.
Fifth Aarti: The last aarti, called ‘Shayana Aarti,’ is performed at 10:00 PM. During this aarti, the bed of Devi is beautifully decorated with dresses, flowers, and ornaments. Also, Soundarya Lahari, which is composed by Adi Shankaracharya is read.
The aarti timings of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha are as follows:
Mangal Aarti: From 5.00 AM to 6.00 AM
Bhog Aarti: From 11.00 AM to 12.00 Noon
Evening Aarti: From 7.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Shayana Aarti: From 9.00 PM to 10.00 PM
Havan (Homa) is performed every day by chanting Vedic Sanskrit hymns. Some portions of ‘Durga Saptapadhi’ are read.
Festivals of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha
Navaratri: It is a nine-day celebration festival, dedicated to goddess Jwala Devi in the months of Chaitra (March-April).
Jwala Mukhi Fair: It is celebrated in the month of Ashaad (June-July), where a large number of devotees gather here to attend the fair. It is conducted two times in a year, once during Navaratri and another in the month of Ashvin (September-October).
Ashvin Navaratri: It is celebrated in the month of Ashvin (September-October) and witness’s large numbers of devotees seeking blessings from the goddess.
Shivaratri: This festival is celebrated with great zeal. Since it is a Shakti Peetha, there is a shrine for Shiva and Shakti. Here Lord Shiva is worshiped as Bhairava.
Temple Timings of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha
The darshan timings of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha are as follows:
Summer season: From 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Winter season: From 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Best time to visit Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha
October to February is the best time to visit Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha, since the weather is cool and pleasant.
Places to Visit Nearby Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha
Mata Tara Devi Temple: This temple is located just above the hill of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha and has 100 steps from the back side of the temple.
Mata Ashtabhuja Temple: Goddess Shakti is worshiped in the form of eight arms.
Sri Raghunath Ji Temple: It is also known as ‘Teda Mandir’. This is located above Jwala Devi shrine. It is the place where Lord Sri Rama, Sita Devi, and Lord Laksman stayed here during the 14-year exile.
Nagini Mata Temple: It is on the same road as Shri Raghunath Ji Temple, just 4 km away from Jwala Devi Sakthi Peetha.
Arjun Naga Temple: It is located just on the right side of Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha, can reach this place from the front gate of the Jwala Devi Temple, just by climbing 200 stairs.
Baijnath Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, located around 15 km from the temple, located on the banks of the river Binwa. Here Lord Shiva is worshiped as Vaidyanath.
Kareri Lake: A marvelous trek to the freshwater Kareri Lake takes you to a sub-tropical pine forest. It is one of the major attractions of the place.
How to Reach Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha?
If you plan to visit the Jwala Devi Shakti Peetha, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, and other sacred places, consider taking Tirtha Yatra’s Nava Shakti Peetha yatra. All arrangements are well taken care of.
If you prefer to travel by yourself, here are a few options.
By Air: The nearest airport is at Gaggal Airport, Dharamsala, which is 50 km away. From there, taxis, buses, or autos can be hired.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Kangra railway station. From there, an auto, bus, or taxi can be hired.
By Road: If you prefer to travel by bus, the regular buses are available from the nearest cities like like Gaggal, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Hoshiarpur etc. Also, an auto or taxi can also be hired.
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