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New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, said that Balochistan has one of the Shakti Peethas – the Hinglaj Mata Temple, which is of profound historical and spiritual significance for Hindus. On his X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister wrote, “The shrine is also deeply respected by the Baloch people, who affectionately refer to it as ‘Nani Mandir’, reflecting a rare legacy of intercommunal reverence and shared heritage.”

Shakti Peethas are sacred shrines and pilgrimage sites dedicated to Goddess Shakti. It is believed that these places are where the body parts of Maa Shakti fell. According to legends, there are 51 Shakti Peethas, and some say 18 or 52.

Over the last 30 years, this place has become more popular and serves as a gathering point for many Hindu communities in Pakistan. As the Assam CM mentions Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan, let us look at its history and cultural significance.

About Hinglaj Mata Mandir

Hinglaj Mata, also called Hinglaj Devi, Hingula Devi, and Nani Mandir, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in Shaktism, a branch of Hinduism. It is one of the two Shakti Peethas located in Pakistan, with the other being Sharada Peeth. Hinglaj Mata represents a form of Durga or Devi and is found in a cave on the banks of the Hingol River.

Where is it located?

The Hinglaj Mata cave temple is located in a narrow gorge in a remote, hilly area of Lyari Tehsil in Balochistan. It is 250 kilometres northwest of the Arabian Sea, 19 km inland, and 130 km west of the mouth of the Indus River. The temple sits at the end of the Kirthar Mountain range in the Makran desert, on the west bank of the Hingol River. This area is part of Hingol National Park.

What is the significance of the Hinglaj Mata Temple?

Hinglaj Mata is a powerful goddess who grants blessings to her devotees. The main temple dedicated to her is in Hinglaj, but there are temples in the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. A Hinglaj Temple from the Thirteenth Century exists in Hinglaj Fort near Amravati in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. In Hindu texts, particularly in Sanskrit, the Goddess is called Hingula, Hingalaja, Hinglaja, and Hingulata. She is known as Hinglaj Mata (Mother Hinglaj), Hinglaj Devi (Goddess Hinglaj), Hingula Devi (the red Goddess), and Kottari or Kotavi.

The main story about Hinglaj Mata involves the creation of the Shakti Peethas. Sati, the daughter of Prajapati Daksha, married the god Shiva against his wishes. Daksha organised a large yajna (ritual) but did not invite Sati and Shiva. Sati attended the yajna uninvited, where Daksha ignored her and insulted Shiva. Unable to bear the insult, Sati burned herself, activating her energy through her anger.

Sati died, but her body did not burn. Shiva, in his form as Virabhadra, killed Daksha for causing Sati’s death, but later forgave him and brought him back to life. Heartbroken, Shiva wandered the universe with Sati’s body. Eventually, the god Vishnu cut Sati’s body into 108 pieces, and 52 pieces fell to the earth, becoming Shakti Peethas, which are temples to different forms of the Goddess.

Each Shakti Peetha also honours Shiva as Bhairava, the protector of the Goddess. A small part of Sati’s upper head is believed to have fallen at Hinglaj.

Hinglaj Mata Mandir in other scriptures

The Kularnava Tantra lists 18 important places called Pithas, and Hingula is the third one. The Kubjika Tantra includes Hingula among the 42 Shakta or Siddha Pithas, placing Hinglaj in the fifth position. The Pithanirnaya or Mahapithanirupana section from the Tantrachudamani originally named 43 locations, but later additions brought the total to 51 Pithas. It describes the Goddess associated with each Pitha, the Bhairava (a form of Shiva), and the body parts linked to the Goddess. Hingula, or Hingulata, is the first on the list, with the body part being Brahmarandhra, located at the top of the head.

The Goddess goes by several names, including Kottari, Kottavi, and Kottarisha, while the Bhairava is known as Bhimalochana. In the Shivasharitha, Hingula is again first among 55 Pithas. Brahmarandhra is the body part, the Goddess is Kottari, and the Bhairava is Bhimalochana, who is in Koteshwar.

In the 16th-century Bengali work Chandimangal, Mukundaram lists nine Pithas in the Daksha-yajna-bhanga section, with Hinglaja being the last one mentioned as the location where Sati’s forehead fell.

Another story tells how the Goddess killed Hingol, who was disturbing the people. She followed him to a cave called the Hinglaj Mata shrine. Before his death, Hingol asked her to name the place after him, which she agreed to do.

What is the Hinglaj Yatra about?

When pilgrims arrive in Hinglaj, they perform several rituals. First, they climb the Chandragup and Khandewari mud volcanoes. Devotees throw coconuts into the craters of the Chandragup mud volcano to make wishes and thank the gods for their answered prayers. Some pilgrims scatter rose petals or paint their bodies and faces with clay. Next, they take a ritual bath in the Hingol River before approaching the shrine that marks the Goddess’s resting place. The annual four-day pilgrimage to the Hinglaj Mata Temple takes place in April. The main ceremony happens on the third day when priests recite mantras to ask the gods to accept the offerings from the pilgrims and bless them. Pilgrims usually bring three coconuts as offerings. While some stay in Hinglaj for all four days, others may visit for just one day.

Pilgrims traditionally begin their journey from the Nanad Panthi Akhada in Karachi. A holy staff bearer called the chaadiar leads the groups, and the Akhada authorises this person. The sadhus, sacred men, share a strong bond and follow special traditions. In the past, few could make the long trip to Hinglaj, which involved a tough trek of over 160 miles through the desert. However, new roads have made it easier for more pilgrims to visit, changing age-old rituals.

Pilgrims carry traditional red banners and wear decorative red-gold headscarves associated with the Goddess Hinglaj. What used to be a 150-kilometre journey on foot is now relatively easy due to the Makran Coastal Highway that connects Karachi with Gwadar. Hinglaj is about 328 kilometres away and is a nearly 4-hour drive from Karachi on this highway.

The pilgrimage serves as a gathering point for community activities, such as raising funds to build a Hindu temple. Hundreds of volunteers help organise the event. They set up diesel generators and large community kitchens to prepare meals using donated food, like wheat flour, rice, lentils, and vegetables, to feed the pilgrims. They prepare three meals a day and provide temporary bathroom facilities and camps.

Baba Chandragup: Important stoppage on the way to Hinglaj Mata Mandir

The Chandragup mud volcano is considered holy by Hindus and is an important stop for pilgrims on their way to the Hinglaj Mata shrine. Devotees throw coconuts into the craters to make wishes and thank the gods for answering their prayers.

The Chandragup mud volcano represents Lord Shiva and is known as Baba Chandragup. Many pilgrims believe they can only enter Hinglaj’s temple after paying respects to Baba Chandragup. Traditionally, pilgrims stay awake all night to fast and meditate on the sins they will confess at the crater’s rim the next day. They bake roti using ingredients contributed by all the yatris. The following day, they climb to the top of Chandragup, serving the roti as an offering to Baba Chandragup. Nowadays, they also offer coconuts, betel nuts, and dal.

SACRED Customer’s (Ponds) of Hinglaj Mata Mandir

There are seven sacred ponds (kunds) near Hinglaj that devotees use for spiritual cleansing. These are Anil Kund, Brahma Kund, Kir Kund, Kali Kund, Ratna Kund, Surya Kund, and Chandra Kund.

Lord Ram and his visit to Hinglaj

After defeating Ravan, Lord Ram returned from exile to take the throne of Ayodhya. A sage named Kumbodhar told him that to cleanse himself of his sins, he needed to go on a pilgrimage to Hinglaj Mata, the only place to purify him. Ram followed this advice and set off for Hinglaj with his army, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman.

At the mountain pass, an army guarding the entrance to the Sacred Valley of Hinglaj stopped them. A battle broke out, and the Goddess’ army defeated Ram’s forces, instructing them to retreat. When Lord Ram sent a messenger to the Goddess, she told him to return to his first stop, now known as Ram Bagh, and make the journey a simple pilgrimage.

Ram left his army and vehicles behind and walked to the shrine with his closest friends. His men were upset that they could not join him on this journey. The Goddess promised them their descendants would eventually return to complete the pilgrimage. To help them through the harsh desert, Ram called on Lalu Jasraj, a hermit living nearby at some hot springs, to guide them. Only then did the Goddess allow the group to cross the pass.

After some travel, Sita became thirsty in the intense desert heat and asked Hanuman and Lakshman to get her water. Hanuman tried to find water by stomping his foot on the ground, but this only revealed a dry riverbed. Lakshman shot an arrow into the mountains, but it just caused a hill to break loose. Sita placed her palm on the soil, which created five wells, allowing the group to drink. These five wells are known as Seeta Koowas. They are said to have come from either Sita’s powers or the Goddess Hinglaj, but they are no longer visible today.

After a tough journey, Ram reached the Goddess’ shrine, and she purified him of his sin. To mark the end of his journey, he carved the symbols of the Sun and Moon on a mountain near the temple, which can still be seen today.

Before going to Hinglaj, pilgrims stop at Khari Nadi, where they bathe in the ocean and worship Lord Ram.