Contents

1 Geography

2 Demographics

3 Area Profile of Jawalamukhi Town

4 Jwalamukhi Devi Temple

5 The Jwalamukhi shrine as a Shakti Peeth

6 References

7 QUESTION AND ANSWER

JWALAj JI TEMPLE

JawalamukhiLocation in Himachal Pradesh, India

Coordinates: 31.88°N 76.32°ECoordinates: 31.88°N 76.32°E

Country India

State Himachal Pradesh

District Kangra

Elevation 610 m (2,000 ft)

Population (2011)

• Total 4,931

Languages

• Official Hindi

Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Jawalamukhi is a town and a nagar panchayat in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Geography

Jawalamukhi is located at 31.88°N 76.32°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 610 metres (2,001 feet).

Demographics

At the 2011 India census, Jawalamukhi had a population of 4931. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.

Area Profile of Jawalamukhi Town

As of 2011 India census,

Number of Households - 1,012

Average Household Size(per Household) - 5.0

Population-Total - 4,931

Population-Urban - 4,931

Proportion of Urban Population (%) - 100

Population-Rural - 0

Sex Ratio - 906

Population(0-6Years) - 608

Sex Ratio(0-6 Year) - 961

SC Population - 812

ST Population - 0

Sex Ratio (ST) - 0

Proportion of ST (%) - 0

Literates - 3,777

Illiterates - 1,154

Literacy Rate (%) - 87.0

Design of Jwalaji Temple(Architecture) The building of the temple is adorned by the beautiful folding doors of silver plates, presented by Sikh Emperor Raja Kharak Singh,.The dome of the temple is beautified by the gold plated material. The interior of the temple is built in the form of a square pit about 3 feet deep with a pathway all around. Amidst the temple premises, nestles a hollow rock which is considered as the fiery mouth of Mahakali and claims to be the major attraction of the temple.

Myth behind the Temple The story of Jwalamukhi Temple relates to Sati, a goddess born when gods concentrated their individual energy on the ground. These gods were looking for a respite or the protection from the atrocities of the demons. The girl named Adishakti or the first Shakti (Sati or Parvati). She was brought up in childhood by Prajapati Daksha and married Lord Shiva later by sati performing penance. The belief reveals that Prajapati Daksha once organised a yajna and invited everyone except Lord Shiva. Sati felt immensely humiliated and insulted at this act of her father and immolated her in the fire of the havankund which was organized by her father. With this action Lord Shiva became so furious that he carried Sati's burnt body and moved around the three worlds.

The gods could not foresee a calamity approaching them so they assembled before Lord Vishnu and asked him to do something to control anger of lord Shiva. As a remedy to this problem Lord Vishnu cut apart Sati's body into several pieces with the help of his Sudharshan Chakra. Wherever on earth the pieces of Sati's body fell, a shaktipeeth came up with different temples. These are the spot that are regarded as the power centre of the goddess. Jwalamukhi temple one of the form of Maa Durga is the place where the tongue of Sati fell. Here the goddess is manifested like tiny flames that burn through the fissures in the age old rock.

Shiva carrying the corpse of Sati DeviThe shrine is regarded as a Maha Shakti Peetham. It is believed that Sati Devi's tongue fell here.Shakti Peethas are shrines of Devi, the primodial Mother Goddess. Each Shakti Peetha has a shrine for the Shakti and Bhairava. Siddhida (Ambika)is the Shakti and Unmatta Bhairava is the Kalabhairava. The mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati's self immolation had immense significance in shaping the ancient Sanskrit literature and even had impact on the culture of India. It lead to the development of the concept of Shakti Peethas and there by strengthening Shaktism. Enormous mythological stories in puranas took the Daksha yaga as the reason for its origin. It is an important incident in Shaivism resulting in the emergence of Shree Parvati in the place of Sati Devi and making Shiva a

Who build the Temple

The temple is believed and supposed to be first built by a king who, on the complaint of a cowherd, tried to find out the place w from where a female emerged and drank the milk of the cow in those times. Since, the king was aware of the legend of Sati, as well he continued his search for the place and finally succeeded. Kind began construction of the temple there and employed priests to perform pujas.

Later in times the great Pandavas came and carried out some renovation work in the temple.

LATERThe temple was looted and destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1009.

The Mughal Emperor Akbar, learning about the legends of Jwalamukhi tried to douse the flames with a stream of water. However, the great power of the Goddess, still kept the flames burning. Realizing the power of Jwala Devi, Akbar came with his army to this temple. He brought a Gold umbrella (Chatra) for the Goddess, but on offering, the umbrella turned into an unknown metal suggesting that the Goddess did not accept his offering.

grihastashrami(house holder) Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid a visit to the temple in the year 1809. His son, Kharak Singh gifted a pair of silver plated folding doors to the temple while Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid a visit to the temple in 1815 and the dome of the temple was gold-plated by him. Just a few feet above the Jwalamukhi temple there is a six-feet deep pit with a circumference of about three-feet. At the bottom of this pit there is another small pit about one and a half feet deep with hot water bubbling all the time.

The temple is identified as one among the 52 Shakti Peethas . It is also one of the most renowned temples of Goddess Durga .

The Jwalamukhi shrine as a Shakti Peeth

Moreover, in the princely era, the work of the temple was managed by the Raja of Naduan. He himself appointed the temple priest. After independence, things changed a lot. The pujaris are now appointed and paid by the government. A part of the money collected by the temple is used to improve the facilities for the visiting pilgrims.

Different ways of worshipping Mata Jwala Devi

There are mainly 3 ways of doing Mata Jwala Devi's Pooja Archana, i.e. Panchopchal, Dashopchal and Sholshobchal. Similarly there are 5 different Jwalaji Aartis done of Mata Jwala Ji

Shringar Aarti- Shringar Arti is done early mornings at Brahma Mahurat time. In this aarti, Malpua, Khoya and Mishri are offered to Maa Jwala.

Mangal Aarti- This aarti is done after around half an hour difference to the first one. In this aarti, yellow rice and curd is offered to Maa Bhagwati.

Madhyayan Kaal Aarti- This is performed in the afternoon(Madhyayan Kaal). In this, rice, Shatras Dal and sweet/ desert is offered to Maa.

Sayan Kaal Aarti- This is, as the name suggests, performed in the evenings. In this aarti, Poori, Chana and Halwa is offered to the Jagad Janani.

Shaiyya Aarti- As the name suggests, it is the bedtime aarti of Maa, before the pandits offer the last prayers in the late evening of the day and prepare Maa's bed to sleep. This aarti starts around 9:00 PM in the evening. Milk, Malai and seasonal fruits are offered to Maa Jwala.

Significance of the temple The temple of Jwalamukhi does not have an idol to worship too. The building of the temple has a gilt dome and silver plated folding doors. Inside the Jwalamukhi Temple there is a 3 feet square pit with pathway all around and in the centre, there is a hollowed rock over a primary fissure of flame. This one is regarded as the mouth of the Mahakali.

The Flames emit out from several other point in the pit. They are nine in total which represent the different form of the goddess - Saraswati, Annapurna, Chandi, Hing Laj, Vindhya Vasini, Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Ambika and Anjana. There are two lions in front of the temple. The Jwalamukhi temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Light. The temple is made up of a dome and peak like pinnacles. The flame is believed to represent the Goddess.

Rules and Rituals of the templesIn Jwalamukhi Temple during the whole day, there are about five aartis conducted in the temple. The first aarti is performed early at 5am in the morning called as the Mangal aarti. The next aarti is done at the time of sunrise called Panjupchaar Pujan. At around midnoon, it is time for yet another aarti which is named as the Bhog Ki Aarti. The evening aarti at around 7 pm is simply called aarti while the last one at around 10 pm is known as the Shaiyan ki aarti.

The last aarti of the day in the Jwalamukhi Temple is very much unique since it is only here that such an aarti is conducted. During the aarti, the bed of the Maa Jwala goddess is decorated with beautiful dresses and jewellery. The aarti is performed in two parts firstly the one is in the main temple while the second one is performed in the sejabhavan. Slokas from 'Sondarya Lahri' by Shri Shakracharya are through the day recited throughout the aarti for the auspicious and scared shrine of Maa Jwalamukhi.

Havan is also performed once a day and parts of Durga Saptarshi are recited during it. Offerings made before the goddess in puja include bhog of rabri or thickened milk, misri or candy, seasonal fruits and milk.

The deity is offered Bhog of Rabri or thickened milk, Misri or candy, seasonal fruits, milk and arti is done. Devotees coming to the Jwalamukhi temple can either buy prashad from any of the nearby shops of the temple or bring in their own prasad from home. Usually, the prasad that is offered to the deity include pan, supari, dhawaza, narela, loung and elaichi.

TIME TABLE OF JAWALA JI TEMPLE

SUMMER

WINTER

12:00 AM

2:24 AM

4:48 AM

7:12 AM

9:36 AM

12:00 PM

2:24 PM

4:48 PM

7:12 PM

9:36 PM

12:00 AM

OPENCLOSE

TIME TABLE OF JAWALAJI MANDIR

OPEN(MORNING) CLOSE(EVENNING)

SUMMER 5 AM

10 PM

WINTER 6 AM 9 PM

Festivals and Rush times at Maa JwalajiThere is a huge rush in this area with lakhs of devotees during the times of Chaitra Aswin Navratras and Shrawan Months from Delhi, Punjab, Himachal and other parts of India. Though otherwise, in the changing trends of modern followers, devotees from north India, specially Delhi, Punjab visit this place regularly on weekends. The locals prefer to visit mainly on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Climate

In winter, the climate is cold but pleasant when woollens are required. During summer the temperature is hot and cottons are recommended.

Transport Facilities at the Temple For tourists the closest airport is at Gaggal which is around 50 km away

The nearest railhead is a narrow gauge one at Ranital, 20 km away. The Chandigarh airport and railway station are at the distance of about around 200 km. Trains from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar leave at 2.15 h, 4.50 h, 8.50 h, 9.35 h, 13.10 h, 16.00 h and reach Jwalamukhi road in 3 h and from there by bus to visit Jwalaji.

The Jwalamukhi temple is also well connected by road. State transport buses from cities of Punjab and Haryana are available.

Taxis are also there to take you to the Jwalamukhi temple. Frequent buses pass through Kangra, distance 54 km and takes 2 hour. Kangra is 36 km away from Jwalamukhi. Buses are also coming from Pathankot (123 km), Mandi (171 km), Manali (281 km). Simla (321 km), Palampur, Joginder Nagar and from several places of North India.

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Jawalaji temple provide employment both private as well as government sector.

in the temple by selling the flower, toys and home made thing. The people are earning money and it gives big result in increasing in the money and a great improvement in their daily life style pay of a person in normal day 500 to 100rs per day. There are many campany plays a great role in this area like tour and travel company, tourist company ,hotel and transport companies etc.

USE OF FOOD GRAIN IN LANGAR- FOOD GRAIN 1 DAY SUNDAYDAY NAVRATRE QUANTITY

RICE 5-6 5-7 9-15 QUANTAL

FLOUR 12-15 13-17 15-20 KG

BESAN 15 20 30 KG

DAL 25-40 30-45 40-55 KG

CYLINDER 2-3 3-5 5-7

RICE FLOUR BESAN DAL CYLINDER0

10

20

30

40

50

60

DINSUNDAYNAVRATREQUANTITY

WORKER WORK IN LANGARTOTAL NO OF WORKER=17

CLEANER=2

NUMBER OF COOK=15

WORKERS

WORKERCLEANERCOOK

NO

NO OF PEOPLE EATING FOOD IN ONE DAY=4000-10000

NO OF PEOPLE EATING FOOD IN NAVRATRE=12000-15000

FOOD CHARITY=5000 RS PER DAY

IN 30 DAYS = 16000 RS

IN NAVRATRE= 20-25000 RS

CROCKERY

PLATE= 300-400

TUMBLER=150-250

CAULDRON=6-7

BUCKETS-4

SPOON= 150-200

SECURITY GUARDPOLICE ALSO PROVIDE SECURITY TO TEMPLE AND SOME PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER ALSO DOING THEIR WORK IN CIVIL.

THE SECURITY OFFICIER TELL FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT GUARDS

TOTAL NO OF GUARDS =80

RESERVE GUARDS= 40

NORMAL DAYS GUARDS=08

NAVRATERE NO OF GUARDS=32

CHARITY GIVEN BY FOLLOWERSONE DAY CHARITY= 10 LAKH-12LAKH.

CHARITY IN ONE NAVRATRE= 15LAKH-25LAKH.

CHARITY GIVEN IN 9 NAVRATRE= 150 LAKH.

CHARITY IN YEAR= 15 CRORE -20CRORE.

GOLD GIVEN BY FOLLOWERS IN CHARITY(1 DAY) = 50-130 GM

SILVER GIVEN BY FOLLOWERS IN CHARITY(1 DAY)=90-200 GM

GOLD GIVEN BY FOLLOWERS IN 9 NAVRATRE = 500-10000 GM.

SILVER GIVEN BY FOLLOWERS IN 9 NAVRATRE = 1200-1600 GM

GOLD GIVEN BY FOLLOWERS IN A YEAR = 50-85 kg

SILVER GIVEN BY FOLLOWERS IN A YEAR= 75-95 KG

CHART OF CHARITY

CASHGOLD

SILVER

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

DAY

NAVRAT

YEAR

DAYNAVRATYEAR