Shaktipeeth Jwalamukhi Temple : Jwalamukhi Town

           

Jwalamukhi Temple also know as Jwala Ji Temple

            
   Jwalamukhi is a small town situated in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh,about 35 kilometers from Kangra-town and about 55 kilometers from Dharamsala. The town is named after the Jwalamukhi Temple. 

Shaiyya bhavan (resting place) in the Temple campus..

Shaiyya bhavan (resting place) 

           Jwalamukhi Temple is famous Shaktipeeth where the tongue  of Pauranik Sati Parvati is stated to have fallen. The devi (goddess) is worshipped in form of a  flame.....(A legend says that after Goddess Sati sacrificed herself in the honor of Lord Shiva in her Fathers Yagya. Shiva took her body on his shoulder and started Tandav . In order to stop him from destroying the world Lord Vishnu divided the body of Sati into 51 parts with his Chakra. The tongue of Sati fell at this spot, thus making it a Shakti Peeth. )

 Hanuman Ji and Shani Dev idols in Jwalamukhi Temple

Jwalamukhi Temple was first constructed by Raja Bhumi Chand who had a dream about this sacred place where he decided to go and search for.After discovering this place,he decided to built a temple at this very place which came to be known as ‘Jwalamukhi’.

In 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. The Jwala Devi 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.

Gold chhatri (umbrella) presented by Mughal emperor Akbar

According to legend, the great Mughal emperor Akbar visited Jawala Ji temple and tried to douse of the flame of the temple. However, when he was unsuccessful, he willingly submitted to the power of the goddess. He presented a gold chhatri (umbrella) for the goddess which is said to have turned into copper when he turned around to have a look at it before leaving.

gilt roof presented by Maharaja Ranjit Singh

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 Ranjit Singh himself gave the gilt roof. Temple houses, a huge brass bell presented by the King of Nepal. 

Bell presented by King of Nepal

In 1809 for nearly a month a discussion went on at Jwalamukhi between Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab and Raja Sanar Chand of Kangra. When Raja Sansar Chand's terms were accepted, Maharaja Ranjit Singh with his hand over the sacred flame, took an oath to do him no harm.

A sacred flame from this 3000 year old temple in Himachal Pradesh has been brought to Singapore to be placed newly-built sanctum of a local temple. The Jwala Ji shrine flame placed at Lakshminarayan Temple in Singapor's "Little India" shopping precinct, it was first time that flame travelled outside India. The flame was brought to Singapore on a 6 hours flight in a vessel similar to the lamp used to transport Olympic flame, it took 6 months to prepare the flame's journey. Singapore has thousand of Hindus from India, who always wanted to have Jwalaji flame there.

Street of Jwalamukhi town

Old market of Jwalamukhi town

Ruin of Jwalamukhi town

Tara Devi Temple at Jwalamukhi

See also: Shaktipeeth Vajreshwari Mata Temple |

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Baijnath

The small town got its name from the ancient temple known as Baijnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Earlier, the town was known as Kiragrama. The town is located on the left bank of the river Binwa, a tributary of river Beas.

River Binwa

                  Baijnath town is set in the backdrop of the Dhauladhar  range, which is around 16 km from Palampur on National Highway-20 of Himachal Pradesh. Baijnath temple is main center of attraction of this town.

                               
                                       The structure of this temple is known as 'Nagara' style of temple. The architectural style has been imbibed from Orissan style, which is very much unique in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The temple uncharacteristically faces west and has two stone statues of Nandi – one seated and the other standing. The surroundings of the temple have been developed into lawns and flowerbeds so that devotees rest here and enjoy the ambiance.

two stone statues of Nandi

Baijnath (or Vaidyanath) is a form (avatar) of Lord Shiva. In this form, Lord Shiva is known to be the 'Lord of Physicians', healing people of their miseries and sufferings. In the Baijnath temple, Shiva is worshipped as the 'God of Healing'.

According to legend, the demon King Ravana from the Hindu epic Ramayana, was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Once, he performed a huge penance to gain the blessings of Lord Shiva (at this place Baijnath) in order to obtain the kingdom of Lanka. While doing the penance, Ravana cut off his head and offered it to the sacrificial fire. So, Lord Shiva was very pleased with Ravana's devotion and not only gave him the boon but also bestowed upon him 10 heads and 20 arms for the one he lost. It is said that Lord Shiva transformed as 'Vaidhya' (doctor) and healed the injuries of Ravana. Hence, he is worshipped in the form of Vaidyanath.

There is a controversies regarding which temple is actually a Shiv Jyotirling (as there are other Baijnath temples such as in Bihar as well as in Uttrakhand) The archeological evidence says that this Baijnath temple is real one. Because this temple falls in the route from Kailash to Lanka. The background story is that demon King Ravana, wanted to have the biggest lingam in the world in his back yard, so he could worship lord Shiva when he feels like it.  He decided to bring  Mount Kailash, the largest lingam to Lanka.  According to Hinduism, Lord Shiva, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named Kailash, where he sits in a state of perpetual meditation along with his wife Parvati. The huge earth quake shook the mountain, it was actually Ravana lifting the mountain. Lord Shiva pressed his upper toe against the ground and the entire mountain fell on Ravana.

Mount Kailash (downloaded from internet) 

Ravana plucked his own nerves to make a veena (musical instruments)  and sang the Shiva Tandava Stotram (hymn). He praised lord Shiva for years under the mount and Shiva, pleased with his humility lifted his big toe. Lord Shiva gave him a lingam called Golinga. He said that this lingam is as powerful as the Mountain itself and he can carry it to Lanka. Lord Shiva warned him, however, that if he drops the lingam, then the lingam cannot be lifted. It will stay there permanently. Ravana agreed, and started moving south towards Lanka and reached Baijnath where he felt the need to answer the nature’s call. Lord Ganesh had requested Lord wind( Vayu ) to make Ravana to do so. On seeing a shepherd, Ravana handed over the Shivling to him and went away to get himself relieved. The Shepherd was actually Lord Ganesh in a form of a Shepherd. Lord Ganesh proposaly put the linga on the ground and thus become a  Jyotirling here..

                           The linga existed on the spot, and the temple was constructed in 1126, by Manyuka and Ahuka, two brothers, out of their devotion to Lord Vaidyanatha.
                                        The interesting fact about Baijnath town is that Dussehra a major Hindu festival (Dussehra celebrates the Hindu god Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil) is celebrated all over India, but not in this town. Fearing the wrath of Lord Shiva because no matter what demon king Ravana did in his life, he was first and foremost one of the greatest devotees of Lord Shiva.
Also, there is no goldsmith's shop in this town because it is believed that Lord Shiva hated gold.

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Nurpur

Pound in center of Nurpur town.

Nurpur is a small town in the Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, around 60 kilometers from Dharamshala. Located at a height of 643 meters above sea level, Nurpur was once the princely state of Pathania clans of Rajputs. The town is heaving beautiful temples and a very old fort which is the grandeur of this town. This place is so beautiful that even Mughal queen Noor Jehan also fell in love with the place.

main gate of Nurpur fort.

                The dynasty of Pathania was established in the end of 11th century by Jat Pal (who was the younger brother of the ruler of Delhi)  who settled at Pathankot (Punjab) and took possession of all the country in the foot of the hills.

Nurpur Civil Judge Court

Raja Bas Dev (1580-1613)  of Pathania dynasty  transfer the capital to Dhameri and build a fort there. Later name was changed to Nurpur during the period of Raja Jagat Singh (1619-46) by Mughal emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (who ruled between 1569–1627) in honour of his wife, Noor Jahan.

Under Jag at Singh the Nurpur state reach  the zenith of its prosperity. His strong personality commanded him to the favor of Mughal emperor and he is said to have possessed great influence with Noor Jahan Begum, whom he addressed as beti (daughter). His warlike exploits find honourable mention in form of subject of a poem. 'The Rhapsodies of Gambit Rai - the Nurpur bard' (1650) was written few years after his death.

The legend of Nurpur:
Noor Jahan was so impressed by the natural beauty of the town that she decided to construct her palace here. This posed a problem for then local ruler Raja Jagat Singh, as he did not want his freedom to be curtailed by the Mughal domination and politics. So, he perpetrated the story that the climate of the place was not good and causes a disease goiter, which was at that time very common among locals. Horrified, the queen dropped the idea of constructing her palace, but the name of the town was changed to Nurpur in 1622, by the Raja Jagat Singh to commemorate this visit of Begum Noor Jahan who had instantly fallen in love with this place.

Brij Raj Swami Temple inside Nurpur fort

Lord Krishna and Meera idols

 The Brij Raj Swami temple inside the Nurpur fort is a 16th century historical temple, the only temple in the world, where Lord Krishna and Meera idols are worshipped. It is said that the statue of Lord Krishna was worshipped by Meera, and when Raja of Nurpur went to Chittorgarh he got this statue as a return gift from the Maharana of Chittorgarh. Along with this, Raja also brought a Moulsary (a fruit-bearing plant) sampling and it dried on way back and it was put to life through Puja (worship)  and chanting of mantras. This plant has now grown into a huge tree. It flowers, but does not bear any fruit unlike such plants in Rajasthan.

view from Nurpur fort.

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War Memorial park, Dharamshala

War Memorial park, Dharamshala

                                 

The War Memorial Park is located at Lower Dharamshala, near Kaccheri Adda. The park is surrounded by lush green pine trees and beautiful landscaping. The park is dedicated to honour the Himachal Pradesh (Himachali) Martyrs who fell while defending India, during aggressions by Pakistan in 1947-48, by China in 1962,  by Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, and during some peace operations under United Nations auspices.

Three curved walls in black marble bearing the inscribed name of martyrs on five of their faces and mural on the sixth, are its main feature. The mural symbolizes the ever burning flame of national freedom.

There is also the model of INS Vikrant (R 11). INS Vikrant  was a Majestic -class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy . The name Vikrant was derived from the Sanskrit word vikrānta meaning "stepping beyond", "courageous" or "bold".The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II, but construction was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 . INS Vikrant was formally decommissioned on 31 January 1997.

General Zorawar Singh Statue 

General Zorawar Singh was born on 13 April 1786 in a Rajput family in Kahloor village of Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh. He is an icon of the Indian Military revival that took place in 1840. General Zorawar Singh led a 15,000 strong force of Dogra soldiers and conquered Ladakh and Baltistan and penetrated 700 kilometers into Tibet, beyond Mansrovar lake. Zorawar Singh indeed was a Military genius his spectacular assaults, crossing of Indus river, his bold spoiling attacks and raids, all mark him out as a superb tactician, he was a military genius who combined in his person superb skills, both as a proponent of manoeuvre warfare and as a logistician par excellence. His extraordinary Military exploits in extreme high altitude that he was ranked as one of the great captains of warfare. He is thus called the "Little Nepolean of India".

In May 1841, he ventured into western Tibet with just 5,000 soldiers. This is the most inhospitable region where the winter temperature goes down to minus 40 degree Centigrades. The proudest achievement of this expedition was the capture of Chinese flag by 4 Jak Rif in the battle of Purang on 30 May 1841. (The one and only captured Chinese flag with Indian army today)

Eventually, on 12 December 1841, in the battle of To-Yo near Mansrover lake General Zorawar Singh, one of the greatest warriors laid his life fighting heroically in the battle field.

The GNAT was a compact, swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft. Max Speed: 1,120 kilometers/hour at 20,000 feet, Range: 800 kilometers.  The GNAT was designed by W.E.W. Petter and it first flew in 1955. It was a light fighter aircraft developed for Royal Air Force. It was extensively flown by Indian Air Force. It took part in Indo-Pak war of 1965 and 1971. It was so successful against Sabre aircraft of Pakistan that it got the nickname "Sabre Slayer" GNAT. Pilot Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra (The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime), becoming the only Indian Air Force personnel to be given the award. GNAT served in the Indian Air Force from 1958 to 1991.

The 25 Pounder Artillery Gun introduced in British army in 1939, the Indian Artillery got this gun in 1941. Since than it has been the main gun of field branch artillery with a range up to 13,400 yards. It can fire a wide range of ammunition and is robust in handling. It was been most effective in all the wars so far fought by Indo-artillery since World War-II.

Auditorium in the park

See also:  Brig Sher Jung Thapa MVC Park  |

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