Jhula Devi Temple In Ranikhet
Jhula Devi temple is one of the earliest and primordial temples constructed in Ranikhet, a beautiful cantonment town located in Uttaranchal, India. Ranikhet is known for its exquisite beauty and magnificent vistas of the majestic Himalayas. An important tourist point in the Kumaon region, Ranikhet is unrivalled in its idyllic charm. The town has, since centuries, enthused visitors gleefully over its gorges, paddocks, precipices, mounts, ice-covered mountains, meandering rivers and sparkling streams.
Ranikhet has several temples freckled across the cantonment but the most acclaimed in the society is the Jhula or Jhoola Devi temple. It is an ancient 8th century temple located in the calm and unruffled environment in close proximity to Ranikhet. The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Durga and it is largely believed that the Goddess answers everybody's prayers and fulfills the wishes of her devotees.
History Of Jhula Devi Temple
According to the popular legend, about 700 years back, Chaubatia gardens of Ranikhet was a thick impenetrable jungle which was inhabited by feral animals like tigers and leopards. These animals attacked nearby villages and the farm animals used to fall prey to these ferocious animals. This made the villagers feel vulnerable and beleaguered. The villagers prayed to Ma Durga for help and defense. It is believed that a shepherd had a dream in which Ma Durga appeared and guided him to dig up a certain place where he'll find an idol and the goddess instructed him to build up a temple at that site. Following the dream, that place was dug up and an idol of Ma Durga was excavated. A temple was erected by the villagers at that place and the excavated idol was mounted in the temple. People attained liberation from the fierce animals and now became free to stroll around at their will. Even shepherds became hassle free and were able to leave their livestock in the forests for grazing.
But again someone had a dream in which the goddess asked for a 'Jhula' for herself. Thereafter a wooden Jhula was arranged & was set up inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and the idol was placed on it. Thus, the presiding deity Ma Durga was henceforth named as 'Maa Jhula Devi'. Even today the villagers strongly believe that the goddess still continues to safeguard them from the tigers and leopards and they and their cattle wander around freely inside the jungle.
About The Temple
Jhula Devi temple is one of the most sanctified sites in Ranikhet and devotees throng the temple from far off places to worship Ma Durga. The most important feature of the temple is the cluster of bells hanging in the temple complex. The reverberation of these bells can be heard even from far off distance. The power of gratifying wishes can be weighed by the number of bells being hung in thanksgiving in the temple complex. For every prayer being answered and for every wish being fulfilled, people hang a bell to thank god and this is the forte of the temple. But now, so many bells have strung up and bundled together that they have loaded up in one of the corners and gives the appearance of a junk stack of bells.
It is also said that once in every month a leopard comes to the temple but it is seen only by the high priest.
The Jhula Devi temple is one of the most venerated temples of the region and is worth a visit.