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According to the history given
in the holy books Sati, a daughter of Raja Daksh was married to Lord Shiva.
Once the Raja arranged Brahspati Sav-Yajna at Kankhal near Haridwar. Brahma
was the chief guest. Daksh invited all the Devtas but totally ignored Shiva
who was known as Supreme among the Devtas. Narad Muni flashed this message
to Sati and Shiva. They felt insulted. But even then Sati insisted that they
should join the Yajna since there was no harm in going to father’s residence
for a daughter even if she had not been invited.
Lord Shiva refused to accompany her but said he won’t mind if Sati insisted
on attending Raja Daksh’s Yajna. Sati could not restrain herself and went to
Kankhal,. She found that no space had been earmarked for her husband at the
Yajna site. No body attended her rather she had to listen derogatory remarks
from her father for her husband. Feeling highly insulted , Sati immolated
herself in the Yajna-Kund.
When Lord Shiva learnt about the immolation, he sent his messengers to
disturb the Yajna. They created panic there and separated Daksh’s head from
his body, the same head was later thrown in to the Yajna-Kund. Later Shiva
took her wife’s dead body on his shoulders and started wandering in the
hilly areas , dancing about like a demented creature. The angles , fearing a
premature end of the world, approached Lord Vishnu requesting him to contain
lord Shiva so that the living world could be saved. Lord Vishnu converted
Sati’s dead body into pieces. Wherever a piece fell down, a Shakti Peeth
developed there. This was how 52 Shakti Peeths emerged in undivided
Hindustan. Shri Hinglaj is one of them.
Since, according to the myth, Sati’s head with its Hingul (Sindhoor,
Vermillion) fell at this place on the hills, it was named as Hingul Parvat
and the Peeth was known as Shri Hinglaj Mata Asthan. This Peeth is
considered supreme because Sati’s head had fallen here .
Geographical Location :
Hingula is 90 miles away from
Karachi. The road from Karachi to Hingula is alongside the Arabian sea. The
area actually is a part of Bilochistan province of Pakistan. Hingol river
falls on its way in Makran hills. Usual Transport is Camel or Camel driven
cart. A beam of light can be seen within the dark cave, where the temple is
located. The temple of Hinglaj is situated on the right bank of Hingol
river. It is a low mud edifice, built at the extremity of a natural cave of
small dimension, and only contains a tomb shaped stone, which is called the
Mata or Maha Maya (Goddess).
It is held in great veneration by both Hindus and Muslims. It is dedicated
to Hinglaj Devi, the Goddess of Fate, Muslims call it Bibi Nani or simply
Nani. In "Nani" there is a survival of ancient Goddess "Nanaia", whose
Semitic name is "Anhita". Hinglaj Devi alongwith another Devi called "Kurukullh"
was once upon a time, universally worshipped. Hingula means "cinnabar",
largely used as materia medica in ancient India. Since "Hingula" cures snake
bites and eliminates all types of poisoning, it came to be identified with
healing of all sorts of diseases.
Hinglaj is situated about a day's journey from the sea coast, at the
extremity of the range of mountains dividing Lasbella from Mekran. These is
a large circular tank near it, which is said to be of great depth. They
relate that one of the priests employed himself for a whole year in twisting
a rope for the purpose, but it was not long enough. Those who can swim, jump
into the tank from an overhanging rock, and proceed through a subterranean
passage to another part of the mountain, which is believed to purify them
from their sins. There is also a practice of throwing a coconut forcefully
into the water, and as the bubbles arise in a large or small quantity, the
individual accordingly will be happy or miserable.
It is believed that Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman visted this peeth during
Banvas.
After creation of Pakistan, the govt. had declared it a prohibited area for
residents of India but devotees residing in Pakistan and other foreign
countries still take holy pilgrimage to the Peeth starting from Shri
Swaminarayan Mandir complex in Karachi during Navratras in the month of
April. Like Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, the Hinglaj Yatra is also
considered difficult-one but those who perform it, are blessed heavily by
the Mata.
Mantra for Devi Hinglaj:
The mantra or incantation for Devi Hinglaj is attributed to Saint Dadhichi,
an important saint in Hindu mythology. The mantra is :
OM HINGULE PARAM HINGULE
AMRUTRUPINI TANU SHAKTI MANAH SHIVE SHREE HINGULAI NAMAH SWAHA
Translation : "Oh
Hingula Devi, she who holds nectar in her self and is power incarnate. She
who is one with Lord Shiva, to her we pay our respects and make this
offering (swaha)"
Reaching the Shrine
The pilgrimage continues for
another four to five days after leaving Chandrakup. The final stop is a
small village with wooden houses. It is home to the caretakers of the shrine
and Baluch tribesmen who revere the deity even though they are Muslims.
Before entering the shrine, the pilgrims bathe in the Hingol (also called
the Aghore) river. The shrine is situated on the mountain on the other bank
of the river. The pilgrims bathe and visit the shrine in their wet clothes.
The Shrine's Mark
The shrine is recognised by a mark which
resembles the sun and the moon. This mark is upon a giant boulder at the top
of the hill containing the cave. It is believed that Lord Ram created this
mark with the strike of his arrow after his penance ended.
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