One of the 51 Shaktipiths of India, the temple of Jwalamukhi is in Jwalamukhi town which is about 70 kilometers from Dharamsala. Jwalamukhi is a famous temple of Goddess Jwalamukhi, the deity of flaming mouth, believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess Sati. In this temple there is a copper pipe through which natural gas comes out and the priest of the temple lights this. This flame is worshiped as a manifestation of the goddess Jwalamukhi. The nine flames have been named after goddesses - Mahakali, Unpurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Bindhya Basni, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika and Anji Devi, continuously burning without any fuel, or assistance,may be seen erupting from a rock-side.

The deity is- offered Bhog of Rabri or thickened milk, Misri or candy, seasonal fruits, milk and arti is done. The puja has different 'phases' and goes on practically the whole day. Arti is done five times in the day, Havan is performed once daily and portions of "Durga Saptasati" are recited.

In princely times, temple affairs were guided and supervised by the princely state of Nadaun. In 1809, Maharaja Ranjit Singh visited the temple and after dyeing his hand in saffron, stamped an agreement in the temple premises with Raja Sansar Chand-the local ruler. Later after tasting success in the Afghan war, Maharaja Ranjit Singh gilded the roof of the Jwalamukhi temple as a thanksgiving. His son Kharak Singh, presented to the temple a pair of silver plated folding doors.

LEGEND

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 Jwalaji (610 m) and the goddess is manifest as tiny flames that burn flawless blue through fissures in the age-old rock. Even the Pandavas are believed to have visited this sacred place.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Nagini Mata (4.5 km): The site of a fair held in July/August, this is located on the hill above Jwalaji.

Shri Raghunathji Temple (5 km): Popularly known as 'Tera' mandir, it stands at a tilt after the earthquake of 1905. Rama, Laxman, and Sita are said to have stayed here and the first temple is supposed to have been built by the Pandavas.

Ashtabhuja Temple (1 km): This ancient temple has a stone image of the eight-armed goddess. Other smaller shrines adjoin this.

Nadaun (12 km): Closely connected with the glory of Kangra's erstwhile rulers, there are numerous old temples and the remains of a couple of old palaces here.

Chaumukha (22 km via Nadaun): There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva with a huge four-faced image.

Panj Teerthi and Mahakaleshwar (9km or 28 km via Nadaun): By the banks of the river Beas and closely associated with the exile of the Pandavas are these two sacred places. They are within a few hundred metres of each other.

Bankhandi (36 km): Here, at the Banglamata temple there is a stone image of the goddess. At the nearby Shiv temple is a 'linga' said to have been placed by the Pandavas.

Haripur (45 km): There are numerous attractive temple and an old fort.

Mangarh (37 km): On top a hill is this octagonal fort named after Raja Man Chand.

Chintpurni: Sati's feet fell at Chintapurni (940 m) and the devout come here to leave their worries and pray for boons. The legend goes that the temple came into being after the goddess revealed herself to Mayidaas, an ardent devotee. The temple is built around the Devi's 'pind'. Her image depicts her without a head - for it is said that she cut it off to assuage the blood thirst of her companions. And hence the name, 'Chinmastika Devi' 'The goddess without a head'