Narsingh Temple Ghagwal (Samba)

Narsingh Ji Temple Ghagwal

Dr Narinder Paul

Narsingh Ji temple is situated in the heart of Ghagwal town of the newly carved Samba District and lies at about 17 Km from the District headquarters. The temple lies at a walking distance both from the bus stop on National   Highway 1-A as well as railway station Ghagwal. By road this temple can be reached from Pathankot, Lakhanpur, Kathua, Jammu stations through a number of easily assessable transportation means. Besides, through rail route, it is also easily approachable both from Pathankot and Jammu railway stations as it lies close to the Ghagwal railway station and a number of trains take halt at this station.

 It is an ancient temple devoted to Lord Narsingh Ji and dates back to 1650 years ago. Literally, Nar- means Human being and Singh- means Lion. Narsingh is the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu in unified form with lower portion of body of the human being and upper portion of a sinhga (lion). It is believed that Lord Vishnu reincarnated itself in this form to free this earth from the cruelties of Hirnakashyapa- a Devil as he had taken blessings from Lord Bharama ji that he will never be killed either by a man or by an animal. To kill him, Lord Vishnu reincarnated itself half man and half animal which came to be known as Narsingh Avtar.

The main gate of the temple lies towards main bazar Ghagwal on Ghagwal-Sanoora-Rajpura road. After one enters the main gate, there is a pathway leading to the second gate. On the right side of the pathway there is a Naag Devta Mandir.  Towards the left side, there lies a big pond which earlier remained filled with clean water through out the year and people used to take bath in it before performing darshan in the temple but now the pond has dried up. It is encouraging that the work of revival of this pond is in progress.

The temple has deity in three different forms first Viraat Narsigh Avtar, Second Narsingh Roop and third Maa Annapurna. All the three forms are housed together at the temple. These three sanctorums have been placed below the naturally excavated idol of Narsingh Bhagwan with Maa Annapurna in the left hand side, Viraat Narsingh Avtar in the right and Narsingh Roop at the centre. Besides, idols of Sri Ram , Lakshman, Sita and Radha Krishan are also placed near these sanctorums. In addition to it, the main complex of the temple has temples of Shiv Parvati, Asth-Dasha, Mata Durga, Lord Dharam Raja and Lord Mahaveer ji Hanumaan.

Many legends have been associated with the origin of the sacred idols lying in the temple. One popular legend says that once upon a time there was a farmer. He had seven sons. One year due to drought crop yield reduced and grain production remained very low as compared to the previous years. While the heap of the produce was in the field, sons of the farmer began to quarrel over the share of the produce. Suddenly a divine girl came there and asked the reason for their quarrel. On hearing them, she blessed them to go to the heap of the grains and fill in the bags as they could. “This heap will never be finished.” Saying that she went away. The farmer’s sons stared filling the grains in the bags and lifting it to their houses. Days passed but the grains in that heap could not come to an end.

This news spread like a jungle fire. People from the surrounding areas also filled and carried the grains but the heap remained as such. The news reached the King’s darbar. He  was also requested to fill the grains for the godowns. His soldiers did so. All the godowns were filled with grains but the heap of the grains remained unreduced. The people began to worry over it. After consultations with the spiritual and elderly people, it was decided to dig the place where heap was lying. On digging, the natural sanctorum of Maa Annapurna appeared from below the field where the heap was lying. This natural sanctorum of Maa Annapurna is lying in the temple alone with Narsingh Roop and Virat Narsingh Avtar at one place in the temple today.  The natural sanctorum of Maa Annapurna is of the shape and colour of wheat grain. It has the images of all the foodgrains inscribed on it. As regards other two sanctorums, and idol of Narsingh ji Bhagwan, it is believed that they have been excavated below from the tri-species tree i.e. Pepal, Neem and Sehtoot growing in the intermingling from together in the premises of the temple complex. The sanctorum of Viraat Narsing Avtar is of the shape of lion head. 

The Narsingh Bhagwan and Maa Annapurna be-seated in the temple have been believed to have agriculture importance. When ever farmers sow their crops, they put the seed in the well prepared fields in the name of Narsingh Bhagwan. They have faith that Narsingh ji Bhagwan will ensure good germination of their crops, ensure good crop stand, protect their crops from all natural calamities and ensure bumper yields. Moreover, after the harvest the grains are filled before offering some part of their newly harvested produce to Narsingh Ji Temple. Besides farmers also purchase the milch animals after the name of Narsingh Bhagwan and dedicate the milk of their cattle for first few days to the Narsingh Ji temple after parturition. In addition to it newly born children especially male are offered before Narsingh Ji Bhagwan and then purchased by the parents from the temple Mahant with the belief that the Bhagwan will protect the children through out his life from all evils.

The main festival celebrated in the temple is the Kumb Mela which is conducted during the time of Kumb Mela at Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik and Prayagraj. Devotees throng the temple during the month of December every year when Rathakhara Mela is celebrated in Ghagwal town with religious fervour and gaiety as well as great pomp and show for a week. On the occasion of Janamasthmi a grand festival cum mela is held at the temple  for eight days. Daily numerous devotees  throng the temple  to perform darshan of the Narsingh Ji Bhagwan. The langar at the temple complex is run 24 hours for the devotees.

The temple Mahant is accorded the status of Maha-Mandaleswar, the Gadhi also known as Amarnath Jammu-Kashmir Nagar Khalsa. The Mahant Gadhi is also situated in the temple premises. A higher secondary school is also being run by the present temple Mahant Bairaghi Sri Ajay Dass ji Maharaj. The temple complex also has Samadhis of the former Mahants of the temple. Prime among is the samadi of Nar Hari Dass Ji Maharaj .

(The Author is Agriculture Extension Officer)