Sarthal Mata Temple, Jammu And Kashmir

Sarthal Mata Temple, also known as Athra Bhuja Devi temple, is a cave temple having a single-piece black statue of 18- armed goddess, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. This idol was brought from the valley of Kashmir in the 14th century. At a distance of 18 km from Kishtwar, it is located in a lush wooded hilly trekking site. Every year an annual Yatra has been organized by the Shri Sarthal Devi Shrine Management Council during Ashar Shudi Ashtami and Navmi (June-July). Thousands of pilgrims throng the temple during the celebration to seek blessings of the goddess and also to experience the sights of fire dance or walking on fire activities.

History

The original temple was built with stones by locals with the help of Raja Agar Dev of Kishtwar. It is believed that a devotee of goddess residing at Agral village of Sarthal used to appease the goddess. Goddess appeared in his dream and the devotee was told that he could find Goddess in the form of an idol at a place called Kaligarh. On recovering the idol, this news also reached King Agar Dev. He wanted to take the idol to Agar but the idol became too heavy to be lifted. A stone temple was got constructed by the locals. Over time, a new temple was constructed about 5oo m away from the original site and the idol was installed amidst Vedic rituals which were done by Raja Maha Singh on Bhadarpad Amavasya. The present temple was constructed in 1936 by Maharaja Hari Singh from the woods of Dayalwan and Deviyun forest. The temple is situated on the top of a hill and it has some difficult stairs to be climbed.

According to another legend, it is believed that 18 armed Goddesses came from her abode at Hari Parbat in Kashmir Valley to take rest in the cave where the current temple is situated. Locals also say that Devi Sharika relocates to Kishtwar during the winter season.