Mata Sarthal Devi Mandir is nestled in
Sarthal village of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. Sarthal Mata,
a re-incarnation of Devi Durga, is the presiding Goddess of Hindus in
Kishtwar and adjoining regions. Sarthal Devi is also known as Athara
Bhuja Mata or Goddess with 18 arms among the devotees. Situated at
approximately 6000 ft, this beautiful temple is covered with snow during
winters. It is a cave temple which houses a single piece black idol of
18 armed goddess Sarthal which was brought from the Kashmir valley in
the 14th century.
The original temple was built with the stones by locals with the help of Raja Agar Dev of Kishtwar. It is believed that a devotee of goddess residing at Agral village of Sarthal used to appease goddess. Goddess appeared in his dream and the devotee was told that he could find Goddess in the form an idol at a place called Kaligarh. On recovering the idol, this news also reached the King Agar Dev. He wanted to take the idol to Agar but the idol became too heavy to be lifted. A stone temple was got constructed by the locals. With the passage of time, a new temple was constructed about 5oo m away from original site and the idol was installed amidst Vedic rituals which was done by Raja Maha Singh on Bhadarpad Amavasya. The present temple was constructed in 1936 by Maharaja Hari Singh from the woods of Dayalwan and Deviyun forest. The temple is situated on the top of a hill and it has some difficult stairs to be climbed.
According to another legend, it is believed that 18 armed Goddess came from her abode at Hari Parbat in Kashmir Valley to take rest in the cave where the current temple is situated. Locals also say that Devi Sharika relocates to Kishtwar during the winter season..
Festivals and Celebrations
Annual pilgrimage which is held in the month of July is an important event when people from adjacent villages visit the temple to seek blessings of the goddess. People offer tridents in the temple. The temple has a large collection of trident which are hundreds of years old. During the Dogra Rule, this annual event was known as "Sarkari Yatra". It is a three-day event which is celebrated in the entire district. It is considered auspicious to have first Mundan of a baby at this temple.
Every year, yatra is organized by Shri Sarthal Devi Shrine Management Council during Ashar Shudi Ashtami and Navami.
Sarthal Mata, considered as re-incarnation of Goddess Durga, is the chief deity of Hindus in Kishtwar (Jammu and Kashmir) and adjoining areas. Originally made from the stones by locals under patronage of Raja Agar Dev of Kishtwar, this holy temple was renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1936 from the wood of Dayalwan and Deviyun-van forest. Situated at approximately 6000 feet, this scenic temple is covered with snow during winters. A number of peaks in the Pir Panjal Range are visible from the temple.
According to the local legend, Shri Paul who was the first saint from Kishtwar region, had directed his disciples to worship goddess durga in the form of Mother with 18 Arms. The legend goes on to say that one of the locals was able to invoke goddess in the form of a young girl who pointed towards the eighteen armed idol of goddess. King Agar Dev of Kishtwar is then believed to send his courtiers to make a temple for the idol at an appropriate place. It is said that the Idol became too heavy to be carried beyond its present abode at Sarthal where a Stone Temple was constructed
The management of the temple lies with Dharmarth Trust that takes care of the running of the temple. An Inn (Dharamshala) has been constructed next to the temple where pilgrims can stay for the night at nominal payments
Annual pilgrimage (in the month of July) to the temple is an important event in the local calendar when people from nearby villages throng the temple to receive blessings of the goddess. People bring in tridents (trishul) to the temple. The temple boasts of trident collection that is hundreds of years old. During the Dogra Rule, this pilgrimage was known as "Sarkari Yatra" during which there was a 3-day holiday in entire Doda district for celebration of this yatra. It is considered auspicious to have Mundan (First Hair removal of a baby) at the temple. It has a dedicated vehicular road starting from Hasti (Near Kishtwar) that leads unto the base of temple. The temple is situated on the top of a hillock, and has some difficult stairs to be climbed to reach the top.
The original temple was built with the stones by locals with the help of Raja Agar Dev of Kishtwar. It is believed that a devotee of goddess residing at Agral village of Sarthal used to appease goddess. Goddess appeared in his dream and the devotee was told that he could find Goddess in the form an idol at a place called Kaligarh. On recovering the idol, this news also reached the King Agar Dev. He wanted to take the idol to Agar but the idol became too heavy to be lifted. A stone temple was got constructed by the locals. With the passage of time, a new temple was constructed about 5oo m away from original site and the idol was installed amidst Vedic rituals which was done by Raja Maha Singh on Bhadarpad Amavasya. The present temple was constructed in 1936 by Maharaja Hari Singh from the woods of Dayalwan and Deviyun forest. The temple is situated on the top of a hill and it has some difficult stairs to be climbed.
According to another legend, it is believed that 18 armed Goddess came from her abode at Hari Parbat in Kashmir Valley to take rest in the cave where the current temple is situated. Locals also say that Devi Sharika relocates to Kishtwar during the winter season..
Festivals and Celebrations
Annual pilgrimage which is held in the month of July is an important event when people from adjacent villages visit the temple to seek blessings of the goddess. People offer tridents in the temple. The temple has a large collection of trident which are hundreds of years old. During the Dogra Rule, this annual event was known as "Sarkari Yatra". It is a three-day event which is celebrated in the entire district. It is considered auspicious to have first Mundan of a baby at this temple.
Every year, yatra is organized by Shri Sarthal Devi Shrine Management Council during Ashar Shudi Ashtami and Navami.
Sarthal Mata, considered as re-incarnation of Goddess Durga, is the chief deity of Hindus in Kishtwar (Jammu and Kashmir) and adjoining areas. Originally made from the stones by locals under patronage of Raja Agar Dev of Kishtwar, this holy temple was renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1936 from the wood of Dayalwan and Deviyun-van forest. Situated at approximately 6000 feet, this scenic temple is covered with snow during winters. A number of peaks in the Pir Panjal Range are visible from the temple.
According to the local legend, Shri Paul who was the first saint from Kishtwar region, had directed his disciples to worship goddess durga in the form of Mother with 18 Arms. The legend goes on to say that one of the locals was able to invoke goddess in the form of a young girl who pointed towards the eighteen armed idol of goddess. King Agar Dev of Kishtwar is then believed to send his courtiers to make a temple for the idol at an appropriate place. It is said that the Idol became too heavy to be carried beyond its present abode at Sarthal where a Stone Temple was constructed
The management of the temple lies with Dharmarth Trust that takes care of the running of the temple. An Inn (Dharamshala) has been constructed next to the temple where pilgrims can stay for the night at nominal payments
Annual pilgrimage (in the month of July) to the temple is an important event in the local calendar when people from nearby villages throng the temple to receive blessings of the goddess. People bring in tridents (trishul) to the temple. The temple boasts of trident collection that is hundreds of years old. During the Dogra Rule, this pilgrimage was known as "Sarkari Yatra" during which there was a 3-day holiday in entire Doda district for celebration of this yatra. It is considered auspicious to have Mundan (First Hair removal of a baby) at the temple. It has a dedicated vehicular road starting from Hasti (Near Kishtwar) that leads unto the base of temple. The temple is situated on the top of a hillock, and has some difficult stairs to be climbed to reach the top.
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