Jwala Ji Temple of Kangra – Jawalamukhi, India - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Jwala Ji Temple of Kangra

Jawalamukhi, India

Eternal flame said to be a Hindu Goddesses fiery tounge. 

View all photos
28
157
Top Places in India
Jatinga Bird Deaths
Jatinga, India
Marble Palace
Kolkata, India
Krishna's Butter Ball
Mahabalipuram, India
 See All

The English word “glow” comes from thousands of years ago. It reaches all the way back to an ancient Sanskrit word and invokes the name of a Hindu Goddess: Jwala Ji.

Throughout the Middle East and Asia one can find places of eternal flame. Fed by underground sources of natural gas, these flames were, for obvious reasons, seen as miracles and signs of the divine by ancient peoples. Worshipped by Hindu’s, Buddhists and Zoroastrians alike, the Hindu’s saw this magic fire as the incarnation of a Hindu Goddess they called Jwala Ji. (Also sometimes called it Jwala Devi, Jvala Jiand Jwalamukhi Ji.) Shrines were built around the fires and people came from across the lands to worship at them. 

One such place is the Jwala Ji of Kangra. Done in the traditional Jwala temple style of a four cornered building with a small dome on top, it holds in its center a hollowed stone in which a flame has been burning for hundreds of years.

The legend associated with the temple is that Sati - granddaughter of Brahma and wife of Shiva -immolated herself to punish her father for not accepting her husband Shiva. (This story is where the rather horrific practice of “Sati” where a widow self-immolates herself on her husbands funeral pyre comes from. In his rage at loosing his wife, Shiva danced with her burned corpse on his shoulders and in doing so she fell into 51 pieces and landed on earth, each of them a holy place of worship for Hindus.

The Jwala Ji of Kangra is said to be Sati’s fiery tongue.

Know Before You Go

One can easily reach Jwala Devi Temple by taking regular Buses or by hiring Taxis from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh ,India

will-o-wisps and spooklights sacred spaces
Nearby
Masrur Temple
17.50 miles
Losel Doll Museum
22.34 miles
Kasol: Little Israel of the Himalayas
58.82 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Reserve Jangal Masrur Joni-I, India

Masrur Temple

15 monolithic temples emulate an eroding sand castle.
Losel dolls on display at the museum.
Sidhpur, India

Losel Doll Museum

The art and tradition of Tibetan costumes are preserved through these dolls made by Buddhist monks.
Kasol, India

Kasol: Little Israel of the Himalayas

Remote town home to Himachalis, Israelis, and tons of hashish.
Chandigarh, India

Nek Chand Saini's Rock Garden

A palatial sculpture park was built illegally and in secret by a self-taught artist over 36 years.
Related Places
Janakpur, Nepal

Janaki Mandir

An enormous white temple that honors the birthplace of a Hindu goddess.
Ballineale, Ireland

Loughcrew Cairns

These Neolithic burial mounds and a still-intact passage tomb may have solar calendar significance on the spring and autumn equinoxes.
Mopti, Mali

Grand Mosque of Mopti

Every year, people come together to cover this mud-brick mosque with a fresh layer of earth.
Almo, Idaho

City of Rocks

This U.S. natural reserve is an ancient spiritual place and rock climber’s paradise.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web