JAI MAA JWALA JI
(Source of Image:www.maavaishnavi.com)
"Jwala Ji" is name of Hindu Goddess in Hinduism. She is said to resides as an eternal flame since time infinity near a place called Kangra in Lower himalayas, India.
The mystical and astonishing fact about this flame is that it is burning since time immemorials.
Mythological legend goes that when Lord Shiva was in unconsious state due to death of his wife Sati who threw herself in holy altar after her father accused Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu divided Sati's body into fifty one pieces which fell on earth at various places. These places came to known as ShaktiPeeths and where Sati's tongue fell is Jwala Ji.
Some facts that can be traced in this regards-
- The flame burns flawless and in blue colour. (Scientifically this signifies complete combustion.)
- It is burning continously since first date of its known history. (Scientifically the source could be renewable in nature)
- We don't have any knowledge of its source. Some says it could be reserve of natural gas but same could not be validated.
- Legend goes that Akbar even tried to extinguish this eternal flame but couldn't get successful and the same could be validated in the form of golden umbrella which turned into copper (gift of Akbar in honour of Goddess Jwala Ji) in the temple.
- Governement of India with team of abled Geologists under Nehru Ji has also tried but in vain to establish the source of this eternal flame.
I think if it is spring of natural gas which is said to be the source of Eternal Fire as mentioned in Wiki, then why any other natural occurence of sacred flame as Jwala Ji can not be found in other parts of world posseing numerous springs of natural gas. Although I too beleive that there is surely some other phenomena and science that is working behind Jwala Ji eternal flame but that can be indication of glory of our ancestors.
Now many people can give the example of Baku Ateshgah, a place in Azerbaizan wherein a similar temple is said to be created since fire is sacred to both hinduism and zoroastranism. It has been established that the same was due to source of natural gas in the rocky region that begins around 16th century and is exhausted in current times.Case of Jwalaji temple is different since the flame is burning since time immemorial and is till burning naturally.
If you happen to go to Jwala Ji temple, notice that under the divine grace of Maa Jwala Ji, priest who perform prayers daily in the temple remains unaffected by the eternal flame (blue in colour) despite putting his hand in the flame to give blessings of "Maa" to her devotees.
Conclusion is that everything can not be tested and verified on principles of science and that is why it is often said " Where the thinking boundary of Science ends, Region of Spirituality begins".