Hinglaj Mata Mandir: Where Everyone comes for Pilgrimage

The Hinglaj Mata, also known as Nani Mandir and Hingula Devi is a Hindu temple and is located in Hinglaj, in the Baluchistan region of Pakistan. Hinglaj, a town, present in the Makran region, district Lasbela, Balochistan. It is also in the middle of the Hingol National Park. It is situated 250 kilometers away from Karachi. The Hinglaj Mata, is a small shrine within a cave. This cave temple is a form of Durga or Devi, which is located on the banks of the Hingol River. It is a 457 years old temple and is one of the Shakti peetha of the goddess Sati. The goddess is a rock, and not in a morphed form, instead, a shapeless stone is worshipped as Hinglaj Mata. This stone is coated with a sindur [vermillion]. That's why, it got its Sanskrit name Hingula, and presently as Hinglaj.

Many myths are associated with the Hingol region, one of them being that the area was ruled by a harsh ruler: Hingol. People prayed before Sati to get rid of Hingol’s ruthlessness, and the goddess obliged. Goddess Sati named the area in the name of the ruler, as per his last wish, erased him from the preface of history.  

The story behind Hinglaj Mata Mandir:

The story of the Hinglaj Mata started when Daksha Prajapati’s daughter Sati got married to god Shiva without the consent of his father, Daksha. Daksha, once organized a yajna ( a ritual performed in front of sacred fire with mantras). For this, he invited everyone including all the devatas except Sati and Shiva. When Sati became aware of the grand preparations of yajna by her father, she became exasperated to visit the Yajna by herself. She visited the place where her father affronted her and cursed his husband, Shiva. She didn’t bear the disrespect of her husband and decided to end her life. She jumped into the sacred fire. She died but her corpse did not burn completely. When Shiva knew the situation, he got impatient and decided to castigate Daksha. He slaughtered him because Shiva considered him responsible for his wife's death, Sari. After this, he mourned the sight of his wife’s dead body. He carried Sati's body and started wandering throughout the universe. Then, god Vishnu disarticulated the body of Sati into 52 pieces. In those pieces, 51 pieces fell on earth. Wherever the piece of Sati’s body fell, that place became Shakti peetha. Shakti peetha is a significant pilgrimage site, dedicated to a feminine power (of goddess in Hindu tradition). The Mandir of Hinglaj Mata is also one of the Shakti peethas. People say that Sati's Brahmarandhra fell in the region of Hinglaj. Brahmarandhra is related to a part of her head. God Shiva is also worshipped at each Shakti peetha as being the male correspondent of the goddess of the peetha.

Pilgrimage Site:

The annual pilgrimage of the Hinglaj Mandir commences in April. A 4 day festival, of which the 3rd day is considered the most sacred one. It is a traditional rule to visit it by bare feet so that one can bear the heating sun and other hardships to accomplish the penance. But the majority of people complete their yatra (pilgrimage) by using vehicles. Upon their arrival, they have to perform a few rituals. They climb the Khandeewari and Chandragupta mud volcanoes. They also give coconuts to the cavity. House making rituals are also observed. For this, disciples use broken pieces of earth and stones to build small houses. The disciples also pray before their God for the prosperity of their families and marital life. They also take part in the ceremony of bathing in the Hinglo River before approaching the main temple. Local Muslim communities including the Zikri Muslims show have the utmost respect for Devi. Muslims also pay homage to the Hinglaj Mandir. They call this ritual Nani ka Hajj (grandmother’s pilgrimage). 

Annually, approximately 2,50000 people pay a visit to the temple. The present-day Pundit of Hinglaj Mata Mandir is Maharaj Gopal Giri Hinglaj. He has served for the last 15 years as the Pundit. He is a very kind person, who welcomes people from all religions. He tells them about the story of Hinglaj Mata Mandir with utmost happiness. He also shares his blessings which he thinks are due to his devotion to the goddess. 

“You are free; you are free to go to your temples; free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in the State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or cast or creed that has Nothing to do with the business of the state”.

• Muhammad Ali Jinnah

“Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.”

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)