Exclusive: The mystery flame of Jwala Ji temple that burns without oil and wick

India is the land of mystique, and every region has a tale of faith and devotion that goes beyond logic and science, and one such mystery has been burning for more than 500 years and still remains as a symbol of divine presence in the divine temple of Goddess Jwala Ji in Kangra. Himachal. What’s makes the burning flame an enigma is that it burns without oil and wick, which makes it one of the most unique Devi shrines around the world. Let’s find out…

The temple of divine flames

Nestled in the lush-green lower Himalayas of the Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh is the divine abode of Jwala Ji, which is one of the most powerful Shaktipeeths across the country and holds a spiritual and scientific enigma of the constant-burning flames. There are nine different flames in the temple, each representing a different form of the Goddess, such as Mahakali, Durga, Annapurna, and Saraswati.

Unlike traditional Hindu temples where lamps are lit by adding oil or ghee, the "eternal flames" of Jwala Ji temple emerge directly from the cracks of the ancient rocks and are self-manifested flames that have been burning for centuries. It is revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where it is believed that the tongue of the Goddess Sati fell, and since then, the physical manifestation of the divine has been believed to be in the form of flames. However, science has a different vision, but devotees and mythology have tales of devotion and faith that are etched in the hearts of devotees for ages.




Beyond faith

From a scientific perspective, it is believed that the burning flames of Jwala Ji are caused by natural gas emissions, but the exact source is still a matter of research. According to experts, the temple is situated over a subterranean pocket of natural gas, which is primarily methane mixed with other hydrocarbons, which seeps through the porous sandstone of the Himalayan foothills. When these gases contact oxygen at the surface, they ignite as flames. While the natural gas seeps are found in various parts of the world, the consistency and longevity of the Jwala Ji flames are different and remarkable, as they have been burning for hundreds of years without interruption.

Akbar’s attempt to stop the flames

The mystery of these flames raised the curiosity of powerful rulers. According to legend and historical records, Akbar was skeptical of the divine flames and attempted to extinguish them using a massive stream of water channeled through an iron conduit. But despite all his efforts, the flames continued to flicker through the water, unfazed. Understanding the divine power of Jwala Ji, it is believed that he walked barefoot to the temple and offered a golden parasol (chhatra) as a gesture of repentance. As per local tales and beliefs, the Goddess rejected this chhatra, and a strange, unknown metal replaced the gold chhatra.

Science and studies

Amidst the mystery and local belief, in the mid-20th century, the Government of India made efforts to harness the potential energy source of the temple. Geologists and engineers from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) conducted extensive surveys and drills aimed at locating the massive reservoir of gas that they assumed was the mystery behind the temple flames. However, despite drilling deep into the terrain, they were unable to locate a viable source of natural gas, which made it more mystical.