JAMLU DEVTA TEMPLE MALANA - HIMACHAL PRADESH (INDIA)

This is an ancient temple in Malana(India) village that is prohibited to touch (a fine of 250 is levied). Malana is known for the best grown charas/weed/grass. The males can take weed openly while it isn’t taken in the right spirit for a female to have the same as she is responsible to involve in religious chores. The sad part is that the children are also found selling weed to tourists. Quite an ecstatic place.

That’s right Avid well spotted ” In the close vicnity of the priest’s house is the abode of Jamdagni Rishi called Jamlu Rishi in the local dialect.”
A Peep into its History

Jamdangni Rishi in the days of yore worshipped Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. After his intense prayers, Shiva appeared before him and told him to ask for a boon. Jamdagani Rishi asked for a place, secluded and full of nature’s bounty. Shiva told him to go to Malana. The Rishi’s two brothers followed him. In order to avoid them he created mist in the valley and told his brothers that the place was not good and further said that if they want to stay they could. His brothers lift his company and one of them went to Lahoul and the other to the Banjar valley. Malana was already in the control of a big Rakshasa when Rishi reached there the Rakshasa retaliated, which resulted in a fight between the two.

The conflict between Jamdagni Rishi and Banasura ended with the understanding on the following terms :-

Administration and justice were to be handled separately
The members of the executive were to be selected in consultation with Banasura.
Justice was kept under the preview of Jamdagni Rishi.
In case of a dispute in the administration it was to be sorted out by the judiciary.
The Kanashi language was made mandatory for those living in Malana, and also the customs and traditions prevalent there.
During festivals, the first sacrifice was to be made to Banasura the Rakshasha. With the passage of time, Jamdagini Rishi gained superiority over Banasura, but the village retained its traditions which are still followed there.

Religious Beliefs

The village priest Bua Ram, who is the only person in the village to wear a white turban, can be recognized form a distance. His forefathers have been there since ages to take care of the village-shrine and pass on the injunctions of the Jamlu Rishi to the villagers.

Bua Ram, the priest has a two-storied house, well decorated from outside and embellished with intricate wood carvings. His family members are to stay separately but they do visit him while providing food and other things to him. In the close vicnity of the priest’s house is the abode of Jamdagni Rishi called Jamlu Rishi in the local dialect.

Jamlu is the most revered and is considered to be the king. His courtiers are elected and they collect funds for the following services for the upkeep and maintenance of the civic amenities:

Land revenue from the villagers of Malana.
From outsiders who graze their cattle in Malana.
Offering of devotees in cash and gold and silver horses.
From the offering of visitors.
Malana Temple

The administration of Malana is based on religious faith and to maintain the faith the elected members select Bhandaris among the villagers who are assigned the following tasks:

To collect tax on land from the area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the village shrine.
To deposit land and other revenues in the shrine treasury.
To maintain the income and expenditure account.
To collect and deposit the offerings.
To arrange funds for functions and festivals and to organize them.
To hold symbols of Jamlu devata during the religious processions.