Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, Kangra – The Temple

Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, Kangra – The Temple

The temple is situated overlooking the Dhauladhar range and set amidst undulating hills. Jwalamukhi Temple is built on a wooden platform in the Indo-Sikh style of architecture. The temple is amazingly perched on the ridge known as Kali Dhar. The building is modern with a gilt dome and pinnacles and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates. The structural design of the temple is simple, but the religious aura makes it undoubtedly divine.

The dome and spire of this temple are covered with Gold. The main door of the shrine is plated with silver. The interior of the temple consists of a square pit about 3 feet deep with a pathway all around. There is a small platform in front of the sanctum and a big mandapa where a huge brass bell presented by the King of Nepal is hung. No idol is located in the temple.

An eternally burning flame that come out from the crevices of the rock in the sanctum is considered the manifestation of the goddess Devi. Usually milk and water are offered and the ahutis or oblations are offered to the sacred flames in the pit, situated in the centre of the temple in between the floor pillars supporting the roof.

The deity is offered Bhog of Rabri or thickened milk, Misri or candy, seasonal fruits, milk. There is a mystic Yantra or diagram of the goddess, which is covered with, shawls, ornaments and mantras are recited. The puja has different 'phases' and goes on practically the whole day. Aarti is performed five times in the day, havan is performed once daily and portions of Durga Saptasati are recited. For Aarti, the temple remains closed from 11.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. and from 06.00 P.M. to 07.00 P.M.

This Temple has nine ceaseless natural flames in the temple which are worshipped as a manifestation of the nine Goddesses - Mahakali, Annapurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Bindhya Basni, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Ambika and Anji Devi. These flames burn continuously without any fuel or assistance and may be seen erupting from a rock-side.

The Bhairava associated here is Unmatta Bhairava. 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. In the temple complex, there are several small shrines including Gorakh Dibbi and Chaturbhuj Temple.