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For more than a millennium, a mysterious flame has emerged directly from the earth in the Himalayas, drawing pilgrims, inspiring legends and defying easy explanation.
News18
Imagine going to a temple where there is no idol of the god but only a fire that has been continuously burning for more than a thousand years.
That is exactly what visitors to the Jwala Devi Temple in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh get to experience, as the temple has one of the most mysterious things about religion in India.
Each year, thousands of pilgrims visit Jwalamukhi for the purpose of seeing blue flames shooting out of rocks. This particular phenomenon in the temple has not stopped since its inception. And that’s where the story gets even more fascinating.
The temple is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in Hinduism. Legend says the tongue of Goddess Sati fell at this spot, and the eternal flames are believed to be a manifestation of the goddess herself. Unlike most temples, the object of worship here is fire.
For centuries, people regarded the flames as a miracle.
Modern science offers a possible explanation: natural gases escaping through underground fissures may fuel the fire. However, knowledge about how the fire burns has done little to demystify this fire. Instead, it has added to its allure.
The eternal flame has seen kingdoms grow and wane, been through invasions, and lived on past empires. The most well-known legend associated with the shrine is that of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Curious about reports of the never-ending fire, he is said to have visited the temple and attempted to extinguish it. According to local lore, he failed.
Whether fact or folklore, the story only adds to the temple’s enduring appeal.
Even today, the flame remains at the heart of life in the region. Priests tend to the shrine, pilgrims offer prayers and generations of families continue traditions that have survived for centuries.
In an age where almost everything changes, the sight of a flame that has reportedly burned for over a thousand years feels almost surreal.
Is it a geological wonder? A divine miracle? Or a little bit of both?
Whatever the answer, the eternal flame of Jwalamukhi continues to do what it has done for centuries—captivate everyone who sees it.
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