There are 51 Shakti Peeth Temples around the world out of which maximum of Shakti Peethas are located in India. There are 36 Shakti Peeths and 4 Adi Shakti Peethas that are located in India. Some of the important Shakti Peethas are located outside India. Hinglaj Mata Mandir of Pakistan is one of the Shakti Peethas that is located outside India in Pakistan.

Lyari Tehsil is a remote hill in Baluchistan, Pakistan, about 250 km northwest of Karachi, Arabian Sea is 19 km away and 130 km west of the mouth of the Indus River. The ancient temple dedicated to Kottaridevi, the Hinglaj Mata Temple, is located in a narrow rocky gorge in Lyari.

Before India’s independence, the divided struggle and then the formation of Pakistan in 1947, the areas that make up Pakistan today were inhabited by large numbers of Hindus and Sikhs. After the split, nearly 6 million Hindus and Sikhs migrated to emerging India, reducing the number to about 3 million. out of which 2.3 millions are Hindu who were mainly concentrated in the Tharparkar (Thar) district of Sindh.

These are the people who form the largest pilgrim delegation that visits Kottaridevi every year. Although Kottaridevi is respected by all walks of life, communities and walks of life, many of the pilgrims who visit this temple are related and agricultural workers. The customs of these people, who live in rural Pakistan, are bright and vibrant in the dangerous and punishing mountain deserts. The women who came to pay homage to Kottari Devi wore the finest embroidery with a stack of bracelets. For Tari’s children, a united worker from an early age, it’s a fun annual expedition and time to see the world beyond what they know.

Hinglaj Mata Is Worshipped by Every Religion

Pilgrims’ journeys to Hinglajimata Shrine aim to connect people from all walks of life. It is a meeting place to work in community on behalf of the goddess. The setting up of a large community table for the purpose of practicing Seva and selfless service attracts pilgrims. Each year, hundreds of volunteers come together for this dedicated cause. In the kitchen, large amounts of food like roasted wheat, rice dishes, satvic vegetables and lentil soup are cooked daily for thousands of pilgrims.

Historically, it was virtually impossible to make a difficult journey across McLean’s desert to Hinglazi, where part of Devisati’s head is said to have fallen off. When they finally reached their destination, it was as if they had arrived at an oasis of faith, a sanctuary and a place of rest from the troubles of the world.

More unique, Kottari Devi of Hinglaj Temple is not only owned by Hindus and Sikhs in the area, but is also popular with local Muslims living in the area. The locals call it Bibinani (grandmother) and the temple is considered to be the Nani temple. Bibinani is most likely the goddess of Nana, who appeared on the Kushan coins and was widely worshiped in West and Central Asia. In fact, local Muslims participate in the pilgrimage and call it the “Nani ki Hajj”.

Story of Hinglaj Mata Mandir

There are many legends and stories surrounding the Hinglajimata Temple. One of them explains the origin of the name of this place. The story is about the two princes of the Mongolian Tatar clan, Hingor and Sundal, who live in Toreta Yuga. They spent days afflicting people with a thirst for conflict. To free the people from the tyrant, Sir Ganesha, Devi’s youngest son, killed Sundal. This is the death that made Hingor crazy with a thirst for revenge. The fear among the people became even greater, and in their despair they asked the great goddess and Virgin Devi to end their suffering.

The Devi, unable to see her devotees in pain, descended on to the battlefield. After warring with Hingol, she lured and trapped him in a cave, where she brought an end to his unrelenting ego and his life. In his last moments, with the clarity of one whose ego has been completely destroyed, Prince Hingol prayed to the Devi, requesting her to name the cave – the place which was bound to become a sanctified place of her worship – after him, so that he may always be associated with her. Since then the cave where the idol of Kottari Devi is worshipped is called Hinglaj Devi temple.

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