The Vajreshwari Devi

This sacred place is popularly known as Nagar
Kot Kangra goddess. The holy journey is incom-
plete without the visit of this holy ‘Vajreshwari
Devi’ temple. Foreigners (who were non-believ-
ers) invaded the surrounding areas of the temple
but the temple precints remained untouched, by
the grace of holy mother. The breasts of holy
mother ‘SATI’ had fallen in KANGRA. This is sac-
red place of Tara Devi.

Kangra is situated at a distance of 53 kms from
‘Jwala Mukhi’ and is an important city of Himachal
Pradesh. It takes about 2 hours to reach by bus,
from Jwala Mukhi and 3 hours of journey by bus,
from Pathankot to holy temple. Kangra is con-
nected by bus to all important places of Himachal
Pradesh.

Historical and Mythological background of
Kangra

Most of the historians differ on the boundaries
of Kangra (Trigart State). Trigart means three
ditches. As such some people refer it to three
vales of river Ravi, Beas and Satluj. Some trace it to
Puranic times and connect it with three places
Kuril, Banganga and Niyogal forming present
Kangra district. Farishta, a historian, has named it
as Bhim-Kot. Kalhan, the great-historian of
Kashmir, has given it two names Viz. Trigart and
Jallandhar. The same two names have been
refered by Chinese-traveller ‘Hum Sang’. In the
rock edict of Baijnath the names referred to it in
Sharda dialect are, Susharmapur and Nagarkot.
Nagar Kangra is also known as Bhavan or Bhon in
local language. Bhon is deformed state of Bhavan.

Mehmood Gaznavi, the ruler of Afganistan,
attacked Kangra in 1019 A.D. and looted jewellery,
gold, diamonds etc. worth billions of rupees.
Along with looted wealth, he took away the silver
framed doors of the temple. These doors were
subsequently returned back in 1942. These doors
are affixed in the temple almirahs even now.

There is an old rock edict in the temple in Sharda
dialect. The name of a King Pratap Singh of Gajni
is mentioned in it. The king had no child. He
prayed here to goddess for fulfillment of desire
which was subsequently fulfilled.

He performed a sacrificial ceremony (Yagna)
here. He also gave alms to certain villagers
around the temple. These details are given in the
edict.

In addition to this, there is one more mythologi-
cal ritual connected with the temple. When the
goddess Vajreshwari conquered the demons after
killing them, the gods worshipped the goddess by
singing various hymns in her praise. The festival
of Makar Sankranti is celebrated on this eve. The
body of goddess was wounded during the battle
with demons. The gods applied ghee on these
wounds. This tradition is still continued. On the
night after ‘Makar Sankaranti’, popularly called
Lohn, the goddess (holy-PINDl) is smeared with
5 mounds (2 Quintals) of ghee (Desi) after washing
the idol by cold water of well, hundred times.
Later the PINDI is decorated by flowers and
essence applied. This practice is followed for a
week.