Nestled in the picturesque Shivalik range of Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, the Maa Jwalamukhi Temple is the 15th Ashta Dasa Shakti Peetham. Here, the tongue (Jihva) and flaming essence of Devi Sati fell.
Sacred Peedam
Jwalamukhi Peedam
Devi Swaroopa
Goddess Jwalamukhi / Vaishnavi Devi
Associated Shiva
Lord Unmatta Bhairava
Fallen Body Part
Tongue / Head (Jihva / Shiras)
Sacred Location
Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram
"Jwalayam Vaishnavi devi"
Sacred Topography & Temple Sanctuary
Goddess Jwalamukhi / Vaishnavi Devi
Spiritual Significance & Temple Architecture
There is no physical statue or Murti in the temple. The Divine Mother manifests herself as eternal, inextinguishable blue-tinted natural flames emerging continuously from crevices in the subterranean rock, worshipped as nine divine flames (Nava Durga).
The Sacred Legend (Sthala Purana)
The Mughal Emperor Akbar famously tested the sanctity of the eternal flames by channeling water streams and covering them with heavy iron plates. When the divine flames miraculously burst through unquenched, Akbar became humbled and offered a solid golden parasol (Chhatra) in repentance and veneration.