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Hinglaj Mata Mandir: Place, Mythology & Importance
Last Updated:March 22, 2025
Hinglaj Mata Mandir: Want to know who Hinglaj Mata is and why the followers worship her? What are the mythology and importance of this place? Want to know about it? Show your interest in reading this article.
In this blog, we are focusing on describing the importance, place, and mythology of the Hinglaj mata mandir.
This is the only hindu temple in the world whose way to visit is a volcano. Located in Pakistan is among the most vulnerable places, but some hindu places remain now due to their sacredness. The temple is one of them which is a UNESCO site in Pakistan.
Hinglaj Mata temple in Pakistan receives a huge number of visitors from all over the world.
It’s one of the most popular Shaktipeeth among 51, and visiting it is a must for Hindus. This is due to the fact that without its darshan, visiting Char Dham is not worth it.
Who is Goddess Hinglaj?
Goddess Hinglaj is called Adi Shakti and is the embodiment of the goddess Sati. She was the first wife of lord shiva and the incarnation of Adi Shakti Durga.
The goddess has many names as Hinglaj devi, Hingula, and Nani mandir. However, the Nani mandir is revered by mostly Pakistani Muslims and Sindhi Muslims who have faith in goddesses.
The temple, rooted in the rugged terrain of Balochistan, Pakistan, stands as a testament to the ancient hindu spirituality and devotion.
The sacred place called Hinglaj Mata Mandir or Nani Mandir is scattered around the Indian subcontinent.
Every one of these peethas indicates a location where part of Goddess Sati’s body is thought to have fallen, following self-immolation and Lord Shiva’s subsequent dance of cosmic destruction.
Among these sacred locations, the Hinglaj Shakti Peeth is special because it is thought to be the location where Sati’s head, or in other traditions, her brahmarandhra (the crown of the head), fell.
Despite its distant position, the site attracts pilgrims from all over the world because of its great spiritual influence.
Where is the Goddess Hinglaj Located in Pakistan?
The temple of Hinglaj Mata is located in the middle of Hingol National Park on the Makran coast in the Lasbela district of Balochistan.
The entire temple premise is spread around an area of 6400 square meters in the desert of Makran.
The complex houses multiple sub-temples devoted to other hindu deities as the main shrine of the goddess is in a small cave at the end of the range of the Kirthar mountains.
The temple is rooted on the bank of the Hingol River in the desert stretch and hence gives life to the mountain region.
The area is still isolated due to the desert and dry landscape. Still, a lot of devotees are collected in the yearly celebration in April.
Yet, the temple Caretakers cater to goddesses throughout the year and conduct rituals like aarti and bhog.
They schedule the annual celebration and work for the infrastructure development of the temple as well.
The Legend and Significance of Temple
The tale of this shakti is connected to hindu mythology. As per the legend, Goddess Sati, consort of lord Shiva, was deeply hurt when her father King Daksha insulted lord shiva during a grand yagna.
She was unable to bear the humiliation and immolated herself in the sacrificial fire.
The grief-stricken and enraged, lord Shiva picked up Sati’s lifeless body and started tandava, the dance of cosmic devastation.
To stop this world-ending dance, lord Vishnu cut Sati’s body into many pieces with his Sudarshan chakra. The pieces fell at different subcontinent of the world.
Mythology of Hinglaj Mata Temple
The history of the temple states that King Daksha was the son of lord Brahma and had many powers and prominent rank among deities.
He had a daughter named Sati who was the wife of lord shiva and Adi Shakti. She married the lord against the wish of her father. Hence, Daksha started to hate lord shiva and goddess Sati.
To insult lord shiv, Daksha organized a maha yagna and invited all the deities except Shiva.
Yet, sati decided to visit the event ignoring the formality of the invitation. Once reaching there, her father began to insult her and mock lord shiva.
It was unbearable for the goddess and she decided to give up on her life by immolating into sacred fire.
When lord shiva knew about the incident, he became angry and thought of destroying the universe.
He started to perform tandav in the pain of losing Goddess Sati. He began wandering in the universe carrying the dead body of Sati in his lap.
The other gods were worried about the situation and decided to split the dead body from lord shiva. Following this, it was impossible to alleviate the anger of lord shiva.
Then lord Vishnu ordered his sudarshan chakra to cut the body of Sati into many pieces.
As a result, the Sudarshan chakra dismembered Sati’s body into 108 parts, among them 51 fell on Earth while others were on different planets.
Thus, the place where the body part of the goddess Sati fell on earth is known as Shakti Peeth and Hinglaj Mata temple is the place where her head is believed to have fallen.
Why is the Volcano Thought the Door to Visit The Temple?
Chandra Gup Mud Volcano is the volcano that is thought to be the door to visiting the temple.
It’s because only the Chandra group can allow the devotees to visit the main temple. If it accepts the wishes of visitors, only then they can enter the temple.
In the Makran desert area, the Chandra Gup mud volcano is active. The hindu followers revere the volcano as the Bhairav form of lord Shiva.
This is about 300 feet high and has more than 450 steps to climb up. Devotees climb the volcano to present Prasad and get permission to seek the blessings of goddesses.
Hinglaj a Symbol of Unity Among Devotees
Hinglaj Mata temple has been a powerful sign of unity among Hindus worldwide. Apart from the temple’s location in Pakistan, a primarily Muslim country.
Hindus around the world visit temples whether in India, Pakistan, or the US, they share a deep reverence for Nani hinglaj.
The temple has a reminder that Hinduism, as a faith, goes above political boundaries and unites people with shared traditions, beliefs, and religious practices.
In Pakistan, the local hindu and Muslim followers have worked together to serve the sanctity of the temple.
It makes sure that it remains accessible to visitors. At the same time, Hindus in India, Europe, and North America have supported these efforts, promoting a sense of solidarity around borders.
Hindus of many nationalities gather in Hinglaj to reaffirm their common cultural identity and show their devotion to the deity.
This solidarity is demonstrated by the yearly Hinglaj Yatra, in which thousands of pilgrims traverse the untamed hills of Balochistan to arrive at the temple.
To exemplify the spirit of unity that Hinglaj embodies, pilgrims from all over the world unite on this journey.
The temple has thus come to represent resiliency and unity, serving as a reminder to Hindus worldwide that their religion and culture are not limited by national or regional borders.
How to Reach Hinglaj Mata Temple?
Pakistan does not care for religious centres unlike India which belong to Indigenous peoples. The reason, devotees suffer many problems in reaching the temple in Balochistan.
They can travel to the temple only in groups as the route is isolated and lacks infrastructure.
A devotee can’t reach the temple alone due to fear of getting attacked by robbers. Here are the ways to reach Hinglaj Mata Temple:
By Airport
If you decide to come through the Air route, then Jinnah International Airport is the closest option to reach the temple.
The airport is in Karachi, though Turbat International Airport is also accessible for landing but the distance from here is more than Karachi.
The temple is at a distance of around 240 km from Karachi and is located in the west. Once reaching there, you can book a bus or travel the rest by road.
By Road
The best option is to visit the Hinglaj Mata temple in Pakistan. The Karachi Quetta highway links Karachi to the Quetta district.
Thus, reaching there, the route to Hingol National Park on Makran desert road.
Hinglaj Yatra: A Visit to Spiritual Enlightenment
The main Hinglaj yatra is about a 45 km barefoot journey from Chandra Gup mud volcano to the main temple. It is necessary to take permission from Baba bhairav before beginning the journey.
When the yatra starts it includes activities like holy baths and visiting every temple on the way to the main premise. Below are the things performed during the yatra to the temple.
1. Getting permission from Chandra gup (Volcano mud)
Before reaching the temple, devotees have to go through Chandra Gup mud volcano to cleanse themselves by observing fast and waking up all night.
They present coconuts, rose petals, and baked rotis to Baba and seek permission to enter the temple. Their wish only be granted when the tossed coconut comes out from the mud.
2. Taking a holy bath in the Aghor River
After stepping down from the volcano, devotees need to take a bath in the Aghor River. The essence of the river is the same as the Holy River Ganga in India.
Hence, a first-time devotee donates his hair and moustaches in the river following the hindu custom.
3. Taking Blessing of Lord Ganesha
After having the bath, devotees visit Ashapuri Dham and please lord Ganesha. They take his blessings before starting the yatra as Lord Ganesha is considered to be vighnaharta. Pilgrims pay for achieving their yatra successfully without any problem.
4. Visiting Other Temples on the way
On the way to reach Hinglaj temple, there are various small temples where devotees seek darshan and are blessed by the deities. The temples include Pathri Wali Mata Mandir and Kali Mata Mandir.
5. Final visit to Hinglaj Mata Temple
In the end, devotees reach the Hinglaj Temple through a newly constructed gate. In the Hinglaj Mandir, Mata resides inside a small cave.
The principal idol of Mata is a tiny rock coated with Sindoor (Vermillion). The idol contains only the head because of its belief.
Places to Visit Near Hinglaj Mata Mandir
1. Hingol National Park
This is one of the largest national parks located in Pakistan and covers the Hinglaj Devi temple.
The park is popular for its diverse wildlife, including the Persian leopard, along with stunning landscapes, like the Princess of Hope rock formation.
2. Kund Malir Beach
Situated along the Makran Coastal Highway, the beach is popular for its serene sightseeing.
This is good to relax, swim, and take a stroll along the shoreline. It offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea and the nearest hills.
3. Ormara Beach
The next place to visit near Hinglaj, Ormara Beach is visited due to its calm waters and beautiful surroundings. It’s a great place for water activities like swimming and boating.
4. Bela
The town is popular for its historic fort, called Bela Fort. It dates back to the 17th century and is a unique historical attraction.
5. Kund Malir Desert
Apart from beaches, Kund Malir features a desert landscape with sand dunes. This is an amazing place for camel rides and experiencing the desert environment.
6. Gwadar
Gwadar, a port city renowned for its natural beauty, is a good choice if you are searching for a bigger metropolis.
You can go to the local markets, tour the Gwadar Port, and eat fresh seafood at neighbourhood eateries.
7. Jezira Haft Talar, or Astola Island
Astola Island is a secluded and unspoiled area in the Arabian Sea, despite being a little further from Hinglaj.
It is renowned for its varied marine life, coral reefs, and unusual rock formations. However, accessing the island necessitates rigorous preparation and authorization.
Conclusion
Hinglaj Mata Mandir is known as a beacon of religious significance, drawing pilgrims and curious followers alike to its remote location.
Its rich history, mythology, and challenging pilgrimage create a truly remarkable experience.
Whether you’re a devout hindu follower or an interested visitor, Hinglaj temple gives a glimpse into the world of faith. The history of the temple is intertwined in fascinating ways.
Remember that Hinglaj Shakti Peeth is more than just a place to visit; it is a journey into the core of long-standing customs and unwavering faith when you organize your trip or just learn more about this hallowed location.
I hope that your intellectual and physical tour of Hinglaj Mata Mandir will inspire and enlighten you.
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