Hinglaj Mata

The Temple Cave of Hinglaj Mata, Hingol National Park

Hinglaj Mata, or Nani Mandir, is a temple situated in the town of Hinglaj, Balochistan. The site is a part of the Hinglaj National Park. The deity honoured is goddess Sati. 

The shrinewas formed in a narrow gorge on the bank's of Hingol river. It is a cave,  with a mud roof.  There is no man-made idol of goddess Sati. Instead, a shapeless rock is worshipped. 

There are many legends of Hinglaj Mata.  One of them pertains to the formation of the shrine. It is said that Sati and Vishnu married against the wishes of Sati's father, Daksha. Infuriated, he organised a yajna, and did not invite Sati and Vishnu. They still decided to go,  however. Daksha clashed with Shiva, and Sati,  strickened by grief, jumped into a pyre. 

Sati died, but her body did not burn. Shiva cut her body up into 52 pieces and scattered them in the universe. It is said that Sati's head landed in Hinglaj. 

Hinglaj is visited my many Hindu devotees. The local Muslims also worship and protect her, calling her Nani Mata.

Please visit Ishtadevata for information on Hindu temples around the world.