JULFA MATA TEMPLE NANGAL

JULFA MATA TEMPLE- NANGAL

Julfa Mata Temple is situated in a small town of Nangal, in the district of Rupnagar, in the state of Punjab. It is one of the fifty one Shakti Peethas. According to the local legends and religious scholars, it is strongly believed that the hair of the deity fell at this particular spot. This shrine is located atop the hill range of Nangal — Hambewal road in the Shivalik hills.

According to the story, there were demons who were harassing gods over the Himalayan Mountains. Gods decided to destroy them. Lord Vishnu was leading them. The Gods focused their strengths in a huge flame which rose from the earth. Out of the fire a young girl took birth and regarded as Adishakti (means first shakti). She grew up in the house of Prajapati Daksha. She was called as Parvati or Sati. Later she became wife of Lord Shiva.
Once, Prajapati Daksha insulted Lord Shiva. Parvati was unable to accept this and she killed herself. When Lord Shiva came to know about her wife’s death, there were no boundaries of his extreme anger. He began stalking the three worlds while holding Sati’s body. The other Gods approached Lord Vishnu for help as they were afraid of Lord Shiva’s rage. Lord Vishnu fired arrows which served Sati’s body into fifty one pieces. Where ever the pieces fell, the fifty one sacred Shaktipeeths came into existence. It is believed that at Julfa Mata temple, Sati’s hair fell. The word ‘julfa’ means hair.

Near the entrance of the temple, on the right hand side, there is a Shiva temple. There is a Peepal (Bo or Sacred Ficus) tree and devotees tie threads to that, the thread is known as moli. There is a belief that deity fulfills all the wishes of devotees. Inside temple there is idol of Mata. There is a priest who takes care of temple. Devotees usually bring offerings for the Devi. The offerings includes sweets (Suji halwa, laddu, barfi), kheel (sugar-coated puffed rice), narial (coconut) and flowers. During Navaratri and saavan days, the temple gets decorated with lights, etc.

Devotees and visitors regularly visit to seek the deity’s blessings for better personal and professional life.