Jawala Mukhi
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Jawala Mukhi
Ancient site in the Dera Gopipur tahal of Kan- gra District, Punjab, situated in 31 degree 52' N. and 76 degree 20' E., on the road from Kangra town Nadaun, at the foot of a precipitous range of hills, which forms the northern limit of the Beas valley. Population (1901), 1,021. Once a considerable and opulent town, as its ruins testify, it is now chiefly famous for the temple of the goddess Jawala Mukhi, ' she of the flaming mouth,' which lies in the Beas valley and is built over some natural jets of combustible gas, believed to be a manifestation of the goddess Devi. Another legend avers that the flames proceed from the mouth of the demon Jalandhara, the Daitya king whom Siva over- whelmed with mountains, and who gives his name to the Jullundur -Doab. The building is modern, with a gilt dome and pinnacles, and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates, presented by the Sikh Raja, Kharak Singh. The interior of the temple consists of a square pit about 3 feet deep, with a pathway all round. In the middle the rock is slightly hollowed out about the principal fissure, and on applying a light the gas bursts into flame. The gas escapes at several other points from the crevices of the walls of the pit. It collects very slowly, and the attendant Brahmans, when pilgrims are numerous, keep up the flames with ghi. There is no idol of any kind, the flaming fissure being considered as the fiery mouth of the goddess, whose headless body is said to be in the temple of Bhawan. The income of the temple, which is considerable, belongs to the Bhojki priests. At one time the Katoch Rajas appear to have appropriated the whole or the greater part of the receipts ; and under Muhammadan rule a poll-tax of one anna was levied upon all pilgrims. The number of these in the course of the year is very great ; and at the principal festival in September-October as many as 50,000 are said to congregate, many coming from great dis- tances. Another festival of scarcely less importance takes place in March. Six hot mineral springs, impregnated with common salt and iodide of potassium, are found in the neighbourhood. A sarai erected by the Raja of Patiala is attached to the temple, and there are also eight dharmsalas or resthouses for travellers. The temple was slightly damaged by the earthquake of April 4, 1905. The municipality was abolished in 1885.
