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Jamdagni Rishi (Jamlu Devta)Temple Malana Village
- November 30, 2019
- Posted by: user
- Category: Himachal
This is an ancient temple in Malana 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.”
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.
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 fore fathers 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.
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.