ஜுவாலாமுகி (வைஷ்ணவி) கோயில்Jwalamukhi (Vaishnavi Devi) Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

Jwalamukhi in the Kangra valley, invoked as 'Jwalayam Vaishnavi devi', is the fifteenth Maha Shakti Peetha and one of the most wondrous, for here the goddess is worshipped not as an idol but as an eternal natural flame. Tradition holds that the tongue of Sati fell here, and at that spot the Devi manifested as fire leaping from the fissured rock. Nine perpetual blue flames burn in the sanctum, revered as nine goddesses, Mahakali, Annapurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Vidhyavasini, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika and Anjidevi. The temple, its dome gilded by the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, has drawn emperors and pilgrims for centuries; a famous legend tells of Emperor Akbar's failed attempt to quench the flames with a channelled stream of water, after which he offered a golden parasol in humility. The goddess of the 'flaming mouth' is sought as the ever-living presence of Durga. Chief festivals are the two Navaratris of Chaitra and Ashwin, when great fairs fill the town, along with Makar Sankranti and the special aartis before the sacred flames.