Jwala Ji Temple () or Jwalamukhi Temple () is Hindu shrine in the town of
Khrew in the
Pulwama district
The Pulwama district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is sup ...
of
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir may refer to:
* Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory since 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (prin ...
, India.
The temple is dedicated to the deity
Jwala Ji
Jwala ( Pahari: जवाला जी, , ) is a Hindu goddess. The physical manifestation of Jwala is typically a set of eternal flames.
The Hindu temple Jwala/jawala(flame) or Jwala Mukhi (a person with a face glowing like fire) is mentioned ...
, the
Kul Devi of many
Kashmiri Hindu
Kashmiri Hindus are ethnic Kashmiris who practice Hinduism and are native to the Kashmir Valley of India. With respect to their contributions to Indian philosophy, Kashmiri Hindus developed the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism. After their exodu ...
families.
Every year in the month of
Ashadha
Ashadha or Aashaadha or Adi () is a month of the Hindu calendar that corresponds to June/July in the Gregorian calendar. In India's national civil calendar, this month is the fourth month of the year, beginning on 22 June and ending on 22 July. I ...
, the Jwalamukhi Fair is held at the mandir; it exemplifies communal harmony common to the tradition of
Kashmiriyat
''Kashmiriyat'' (also spelled as ''Kashmiriat'') is the centuries-old indigenous tradition of communal harmony and religious syncretism in the Kashmir Valley in Indian-administered Kashmir. Emerging around the 16th century, it is character ...
, with both
Kashmiri Hindus
Kashmiri Hindus are ethnic Kashmiris who practice Hinduism and are native to the Kashmir Valley of India. With respect to their contributions to Indian philosophy, Kashmiri Hindus developed the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism. After their exodu ...
and
Kashmiri Muslim
Kashmiri Muslims are ethnic Kashmiris who practice Islam and are native to the Kashmir Valley of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute between India and Pakistan ...
celebrating the festival.
History
The historian
Kalhana
Kalhana (c. 12th century) was the author of '' Rajatarangini'' (''River of Kings''), an account of the history of Kashmir. He wrote the work in Sanskrit between 1148 and 1149. All information regarding his life has to be deduced from his own wri ...
refers to the village "
Khrew" in the ''
Rajatarangini
''Rājataraṅgiṇī'' (Sanskrit: Devanagari, राजतरङ्गिणी, IAST, romanized: ''rājataraṅgiṇī'', International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɑː.d͡ʑɐ.t̪ɐˈɾɐŋ.ɡi.ɳiː ) is a metrical legend ...
'' as "Khaduvi" and writes of three hundred and sixty freshwater springs being present there.
According to Kalhana, at the hillside to the east of the village, a mystical diagram was drawn on a rock.
Construction
The construction of the Jwal Ji temple dates back to the twentieth century, commissioned by Raja Daya Krishna Kaul. Legend has it that before the temple was built, the divine presence of Jwala Devi appeared as a radiant light (Jyoti) at this sacred site. The story goes that the gods were on a quest to seize Kubera's treasure, but the demons tried to stop them. Upon the deities' request, Jwala Devi intervened and halted the gods' journey at this location. In response to the plea of the deities, Jwala Devi decided to reside permanently at this place, leading to the establishment of the revered Jwal Ji temple.
Holy Spring
At the base of the hill, the shrine has a
holy spring
A holy well or sacred spring is a well, spring or small pool of water revered either in a Christian or pagan context, sometimes both. The water of holy wells is often thought to have healing qualities, through the numinous presence of its guard ...
locally called ''Bod Nag'', ''Aneek Nag'', ''Anu Nag'', or ''Nagabal''.
It is customary for pilgrims to perform
ablutions with the water of the holy spring before entering the temple.
See also
*
Jwala Ji
Jwala ( Pahari: जवाला जी, , ) is a Hindu goddess. The physical manifestation of Jwala is typically a set of eternal flames.
The Hindu temple Jwala/jawala(flame) or Jwala Mukhi (a person with a face glowing like fire) is mentioned ...
References
{{Hindu Temples in Jammu and Kashmir
Hindu temples in Jammu and Kashmir
Pulwama district
Shakti temples