Located in Himachal Pradesh,India, the Baijnath Temple is a famous temple which lies on the Pathankot-Mandi highway (National Highway No. 20) almost midway between Kangra and Mandi. The temple is over 1,000 years old and was constructed in 1204 A.D. According to the two long inscriptions placed in the temple porch, there existed a Shiva temple on the spot where the present one was constructed. The two inscriptions fixed on the walls of the mandapa of the temple gives an account of the ancient history of the temple. The temple was built by two brothers named, Manyuka and Ahuka in Saka 1126 (CE 1204) and is dedicated to Lord Vaidyanatha. According to the inscriptions, there already existed a Sivalinga known as Vaidyanatha on the spot; however, without any proper house. Therefore, the present temple and a porch was constructed. An inscription of 1786 was noticed by the British Archaeologist Alexander Cunningham in the temple and it refers to the renovations of the temple done by King Sansara Chandra. A similar inscription on the wooden doors of the sanctum also provides the date as samvat 1840 (AD 1783), that is very near to the Cunningham's date. The shrine was damaged during the devastating earthquake that shook the entire region of Kangra on 4th april 1905.
The damage was reported by J. Ph.Vogel and has since been repaired. The temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India; however, the performance of worship and rituals of the temple are under a local board with SDM as its chairman.
According to the legends, during the Treta Yug, Ravana started doing penance in the Kailash to please Lord Shiva in order to get invincible powers. During the penance, Ravana offered his ten heads in the havan kund. Pleased with Ravana's devotion, Lord Shiva bestowed him with powers of invincibility and immortality and also restored Ravana's head. Ravana requested Lord Shiva to leave Kailash and accompany him to Lanka and stay there. Lord Shiva converted himself into a Shivling and asked Ravana to carry the Shivling without placing it down on the ground before reaching Lanka. Ravana became happy and carried the Shivling and travelled to Lanka. On the way, at Bajinath, Ravana felt the need to answer the nature's call. Ravana saw a shepherd and asked him to carry the shivling while he goes to relieve himself. However, the shepherd put the Shivling on the ground due to its heavy weight. Thus, the Shivling got established there and it is in the form of Ardhanarishwar (God in the form of half male and half female).
Amidst the lush green surroundings with intermittent blue of the lakes, above the settlements of the tiny village of Jayanti Majri, stands a hillock on which is situated the Jayanti Mata Mandir. Jayanti Devi is considered to be a benevolent goddess who fulfils the wishes of her devotees. She is one of the seven sisters, the seven goddesses of the Kangra valley. It is believed that the actual Temple of Jayanti Devi was in Himachal Pradesh and was build by Pandavas. The temple on top of the hillock was built later by the King of Hathnaur for the devotees.
The original Jayanti Mata temple was built by Pandavas in Himachal Pradesh. Legend behind the shifting of the shrine, talks about a young princess who was an ardent devotee of Jayanti Mata. When her wedding was fixed, she was filled with grief at the thought of going far from the deity of the Goddess she worshipped everyday.
The Goddess appeared in the young girl's dreams and promised to go with her wherever she went. After the wedding ceremonies when it was time for the bride to go, a strange thing happened. The doli turned so heavy that no one could move it. The bride told the father about her dream. The King removed the idol from the shrine and gave it to his daughter. The priest and his family also followed the Goddess. The king of Hathnaur, to whose brother the princess was married to, then established a temple for the Devi on a hillock in his estate. The temple was renovated and extended by a robber named Garibdas, a devotee of Mata, who used the money the stole to help the poor people in need.
Near the scenic valley of Kangra, stands the temple of Jwalamukhi. Regarded as one of the Shaktipeethas, this is the site where the tongue of the Goddess fell. In this beautiful shrine, the Goddess is believed to have manifested as blue flames. These nine flames, burning continuously, represent the nine facets of the Goddess- Maha Kali, Maa Annapurna, Maa Chandi, Maa Hinglaj, Vindhyavasini, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati, Maa Ambika and Anjana Devi. The construction of the present structure was started by by Raja Bhumi Chand and completed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835. The Pandavas are believed to have worshipped here. Legends regarding Akbar and Jehangir describes the Mughal emperors to have visited the place.
It is said that Akbar came here to test the power of the Goddess. Dhyanu Bhagat, a devotee of Jwala Devi, who lived during the time of Akbar is credited with popularising the divinity of the shrine.
Mythology believes the Jwalamukhi temple as one of the Shaktipeethas. When Lord Shiva's wrath at the death of his wife Sati manifested as the Tandava which would destroy the Universe, Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan chakra cut her corpse into pieces which scattered around the subcontinent. It is believed that the Goddess's tongue fell where the temple of Jwalamukhi stands today. Centuries later, Raja Bhumi Chand, a devotee of Durga, had a dream about the flame. He located the place where the flames were burning and started construction of the shrine.This temple is part of famous Nava Shakthipeeth Yatra and Shaktipeethas.
Amid the picturesque locale of lush green mountains and flowing waters of Ban Ganga is the Chamunda Devi Temple, dedicated to the fearsome form of the divine mother. Chamunda Devi Mandir is believed to be the abode of Shiva and Shakti. It is, hence, also known as 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham'. This ancient temple dates back to the 16th century. The temple with its serene surroundings is often visited by ascetics to meditate and pray.
Devotees believe that this shrine is where Sati devi's trunk of the bosy fell, making it one of the Shakthipeethas. It is believed that in ancient time, the shrine was situated above a hill near the present site of the temple. The spot is believed to be where Kali killed the two demons Chanda and Munda. Sometime in the 16th century, a King and a Brahmin priest implored Chamunda Devi to shift her location to where it would be easier for her devotes to access. The Goddess appeared in the priest's dream and agreed.
She asked him to dig a certain area to find her idol which can be worshipped. The King's men found the idol, but they could not lift it. Again, the Goddess appeared and informed the priest that the men could not lift the idol because they did not do it with reverence. The priest took bath, wore clean clothes, prayed and finally lifted the stone with ease. He placed the idol in the location which is the present Chamunda temple.This temple is part of famous Nava Shakthipeeth Yatra.
Mata Chintpurni Devi is one of the many manifestations of the Supreme Goddess Durga. In this form She is also called Maa Chinnamasta or Maa Chinnamastika - the one with detached head. We humans have endless desires; desires steer us towards anxiety and worry. The Divine Mother relieves Her devotees from worries (chinta) by fulfilling all their desires. That's why, appropriately called MATA CHINTPURNI. Just like any mother, our Divine Mother Maa Chintpurni Ji cannot see Her children suffering. She banishes all our sufferings and endows us with joy. All those who come to Mata Chintpurni with wishes, do not go empty handed. Mata Chintpurni showers Her blessings on each and every one.The Chintpurni temple is the abode of Mata Chintpurni Ji. To read more about Mata Chintpurni, follow the links in the above menu. Jai Mata Chintpurni Ji!
The Baijnath temple has been continuously under worship ever since its construction in 1204 A.D. by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka. The two long inscriptions in the porch of the temple indicate that a temple of Siva existed on the spot even before the present one was constructed. The present temple is a beautiful example of the early medieval north Indian temple architecture known as Nagara style of temples. The Svayambhu form of Sivalinga is enshrined in the sanctum of the temple that has five projections on each side and is surmounted with a tall curvilinear Shikhara. The entrance to sanctum is through a vestibule that has a large square Mandapa in front with two massive balconies one each in north and south. There is a small porch in front of the mandapa hall that rests on four pillars in the front preceded by an idol of Nandi, the bull, in a small pillared shrine.
BhagsuNag Temple: Temple of god Shiva situated around 2 km from McLeodganj Bazaar. Constructed by 1 GR by around 1800 century and then worshipped majorly by 14 Gukha platoon villages in Dharamshala. Very next to Bhagsunag temple is a water fall, one of the major tourist attraction spot in Dharamshala.The temple of Bhagsunag-dedicated to Lord Shiva, some 2 kms from Mcleodganj, is a beautiful village full of natural scenes. Their situated is a famous ancient tample of Lord Shiva, a cold running water tank and springs. The temple's story is an interesting one, though it predates the temple itself. It is said that Bhagsu was a king, or a local chief, and his region was plagued by drought. He set out, promising his subjects that he would bring water. His search brought him to these mountains, more specifically, to a lake – the Nag Dal – which belonged to the serpent king. Bhagsu himself had magical powers. He managed to transfer the water from the lake into a kamandalu (water receptacle), and started on his way back home. The serpent king returned home that night to find his lake empty. Needless to say, he was irate, and he set out to find the one responsible. He caught up with Bhagsu here, and there was a terrible fight. Bhagsu was lethally injured, and the kamandalu fell, releasing the water, which flowed down the mountain.
Realizing that his end was near, he surrendered to the serpent king, asking only that the water be allowed to flow on, so that his people would be relieved from the drought, and that his name be associated forever with this place. The serpent king relented, and henceforth, the water flowed free, and this place came to be known as a combination of both their names– Bhagsu Nag.
Kunal Pathri is a little rock temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Kunal Pathri Mandir dharamshala located in the beautiful Dhauladhar Ranges in Kangra district, this ancient temple is surrounded by dense tea gardens and is the perfect place for a long peaceful walk amidst the lush surroundings. The temple displays exquisite carvings of gods and goddesses. It is said that there is a stone in the temple that always remains wet. According to local legend, the moment it starts drying, it rains. It is believed that when goddess Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, died, her skull had fallen here on this spot. The road to the temple goes through forests and tea gardens and the temple premises offer a good view of the mountains and low lying greens.It is dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is believed to have been immortalized in a stone that always remains wet inside the temple. The temple displays wonderful carvings of gods and goddesses and it is believed that when Goddess Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, died, her skull had fallen here on this spot. The alluring surroundings, exquisite design, and magical atmosphere of this temple attract a lot of tourists every day.
The Nagani Mata Temple, located about 6 km from Nurpur town on Pathankot/Kullu highway, is also very famous. It is unique because water comes from below the temple where the idol of Nagni Maata is placed. People who get snake bite, come to Naagni Maata and simply drinking water and applying the Mitti, get cured completely. The amount of water which flows there is quite sufficient, and there are number of water mills installed for grinding grain. Also Nurpur is famous for its silk and silk mills .there are various showroom of silk in Nurpur {himachal silk emp.,buttico} where different qualities of silk can be seen.
This royal Rajput family is said to be founded by Rajanaka Bhumi Chand in 4300 B.C. Legend has it that there was a time when Goddess Ambika (a form of Goddess Parvati) was fighting a ferocious demon. In the long and hard battle, a drop of the goddess's sweat fell on Earth. From this emerged Bhumi Chand of the Chandravansh (the moon clan), who helped the goddess fight the demon. As a blessing, Ambika grant
It is believed that Maharaja Susharma Chandra of Katoch dynasty had built Kangra Fort. He fought for Kauravas in Mahabharta battle. After the defeat of Kauravas, Susharma Chandra didn't return to his capital in Multan but came to Kangra along with his soldiers. He took Trigarta under his control and built the fort to protect his kingdom. Aishwarya meant here that it was better to lose one's leg rather than their head while entering the fort, since in all possibility; a lurking guard would simply behead whoever entered.
This was because such was the lure of the fabled riches and jewels stored here that Alexander the Great, Mahmud Ghazni, the Mughal ruler Jahangir, Maharaja Ranjit and the British had all attempted to control it.
The kings of Hind, the chief of Kangra and all the rich devotees of the Brijeshwari Temple sent their treasures and precious jewels time after time to be presented to the large idol within the temple, so that they may receive a reward for their good deeds. The accumulation of years had attained such an amount that the backs of camels could not carry it, nor vessels contain it, nor writers hand record it and nor the imagination of an arithmeticians conceive it. It is said that the fort is supposed to have had a greater quantity of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, than was ever collected in a Royal treasury.
The first attack on this fort was by Raja of Kashmir Shreshta in 470 A.D.
The earliest records of foreign invasions on Kangra fort refer to attacks by Mahmud of Ghazni back in AD 1009. The Persian ruler was said to be captivated by the immense treasures of the Kangra fort.
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, the Turkic Sultan of Delhi, was the next ruler to capture the fort later in 1337. And after his death in 1351, his successor Feroze Shah Tughlaq conquered Nagarkot in the same year.
It is interesting to note that Mahmud was the first enemy to ever step foot in the fort. His attack was so swift that the garrison commanding the fort and the town could not even close the gates of the city wall (the Katoch armies had been greatly reduced in number because the Raja of Kangra Jagdish Chandra was out on an expedition against the Raja of Kaluta – present day Kullu).
After gaining access into the town the sultan blackmailed the garrison commander within the fort (with the lives of the town citizens). Under these circumstances, the fort was handed over to the sultan who, after taking control of the fort, killed all its occupants. Abu Nasir Ahmed bin Mohammad Farighuni the ruler of Juzjan, Altuntash and Asightigin (Sultan's chief chamberlains) – were appointed incharge of the gold and silver. The sultan himself took charge of the jewels.
In 1619, the Mughal army laid siege to the fort for nearly 14 months, for which as many as 52 unsuccessful attempts had been made since 1615 by Akbar. And finally in 1620 Akbar's son Jahangir could capture this fort.
In 1758, Sansar Chand's grandfather, Ghamand Chand the predecessor of the Katochs, had been appointed governor of Jalandhar by Ahmed Shah Abdali. Building upon this background, Sansar Chand rallied an army, ousted the then-ruler of Kangra, Saif Ali Khan, and succeeded in recovering the ancient fort of his ancestors in 1789.
Maharaja Sansar Chand had successfully established himself as a powerful ruler till that time and was able to set a deal with Jai Singh (King of Jaisinghpur in Kangra Valley) and gained control over the fort. He had to give some plain territories to Jai Singh in return.
This was when Sansar Chand emerged as a dominating ruler and conquered almost all neighbouring regions, including Chamba, Kahloor, Mandi and Sirmaur.
All the defeated hill kings then sought help from Amar Singh Thapa, the Gurkha commander, and came together against Sansar Chand. They invaded Kangra with Gurkha troops and won the fort.
uring battle, the gates of the fort had been kept open for supplies. The Gurkha army entered the open and scarcely armed gates in 1806. This forced an alliance between Sansar Chand and Ranjit Singh. Sansar Chand had to agree to transfer Sandhata district and the Kangra fort to the Lahore Darbar. A treaty was signed and the rulers of Kangra never gained control of the fort again, and the Gurkhas eventually left too. The fort was finally taken by the British after the Sikh war of 1846.
The magnitude-7.8 earthquake killed more than 20,000 people. Apart from this, most buildings in the towns of Kangra, Mcleodganj and Dharamsala were destroyed. What no army could do in hundreds of years, nature did–it literally shook the foundations of the Kangra fort.
The fort is spread over a large area on both sides via a 4-km-long outer circuit. The entire Fort is guarded by high rampant parts and massive walls of black stones. The highest point is occupied by the palace courtyard, below which there is a large courtyard containing the stone carved temples of Laxmi Narayan, Ambika Devi and the Jain Temple (a point of pilgrimage for the Jains as it holds the original idol of Mahavir). The fort has a total of 11 gates and 23 bastions.
The temple courtyard is closed by the Darshani Darwaza (the gate of worship), the next gate leading up from here is called the Mahlon ka Darwaza (palace gate).
This gate is a passage 7 m in length and is wide enough only for two men (shoulder to shoulder) or one horse to pass through and its walls are almost 15 feet high. This was built in order to stop/slow down the charge of an enemy army – above the side walls are flat grounds that accommodated the Katoch army, which defended these gates from the vantage point.
After independence, the Archaeological Survey of India returned the fort to Maharaja Jai Chandra under a management agreement of national importance. The only portions of the fort still under the control of the present family are the temples and parts of the palace courtyards.The Katochs still come to offer their prayers to their deity, Goddess Ambika Devi, whose temple still remains intact inside the fort.
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Distt, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh 177114
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