History
Through legends and historical record, the name of Sukrala is derived from Sharikalaya, the abode of Sharika which though, of course is another revered name of Mata Sharda. The historical records reflect the narration as to the origin of the sacred spot of Mata Sukrala Devi. The story goes that there used to live a renowned saint Pandit Shri TrilochanDutt Ji Maharaj born in the Upadhyaya dynasty who had received his education in Kashmir and Kashi, there he visited many shrines including those of Shri AmarnathJi, Sharda, Hari Parvat etc. He was a strong devotee of Gods and Goddesses. During his ardouspenace and devotion, the mother goddess was very pleased and so he had a holy dream. When asked by Mata jiabout his wish,Trilochanji said, “I am fortunate enough and blessed to have a Sight of you, Now I do not want anything else.”
Mata againasked Trilochanji, Bhagat:
At the end, Trilochanjireplied, "Mata, if you want to give me a Varadaan, then give me this Varadaanthat the one who succeeds (heirs) me should keep worshipping you and should accept whatever you offer."
At the end, Trilochanjireplied, "Mata, if you want to give me a Varadaan, then give me this Varadaanthat the one who succeeds (heirs) me should keep worshipping you and should accept whatever you offer."
The devotee prayed that he wants that Mata should make abode at his native place so that locals can be relieved of the pains and agony and are blessed by her Shakti. Mataji granted him the boon that she will appear at the time of his grandson and so the devotee disclosed the same to the locals.
The devoted Brahmin had number of sons amongst whom two most pious and learned were Amolak Ram and Mahadev Shiv Nandan. They preferred and adopted Billawar and Basohli as their residences.
Exactly in the time of Mahadev (Shiv Nandan), a shila (stone slab) miraculously started emerging out from a spring at Sukrala. The people of the area soon started realizing the prophecy of the grandfather as had earlier been disclosed. They (the inhabitants) accepted it as an emblem of the goddess and as such started worshipping it regularly.
Like his father, Mahadev Shiv nandanji also used to be absorbed in devotion. When Shivnandanji was six years old, his father sent him to study in the school and himself used to engage in the worship of SukralaMata Ji. He did not get enough time to listen to lessons from Shivanandan. It has been a long time since Shivnandanji went to school. One day when his father was meditating, he started thinking that it has been a long time since he heard from his son. He called Shiv nandanji and said, "Give me your book and recite the whole lesson." While reciting the text, Shivnandanji forgot a couple of words. His father was very strict, so he hit Shivnandan and chided him how did heforget the lesson. On this, Shiv nandanji left the home and did not return overnight. So, his family members thought that he would be at someone's house.
It is said that there was a group of Sadhus in Basohli which was going for Kashi Yatra. Shiv nandan stayed in the group of Sadhus for the whole night and as soon as morning went to Kashi with them. After reaching Kashi, he stayed there for 25 years and thought that he had attained complete knowledge &requires no further stay there.So, he left for his home and then reached Kashmir. After a few days, while living in Kashmir, he met a Kashmiri Panditand narrated his entire story.
Shiv nandanjishared about his acquired knowledge with Panditji and asked forlearning lesson of DurgaSaptashati from him. Panditjiagreed with the condition that he has to look afterhis household chores, then he will teach himDurgaSaptashati. He agreed and started working there. After few months, Panditji took DurgaSaptashati and taught him some chapters. Panditji then proceeded to attend marriage ceremony somewhere and returned after a period of eight months. During that time, Shivnandanji memorized the entire (13 chapters) of Shri DurgaSaptashati. On his return, Panditji took Saptashati and asked Shivanandan to recite the lesson which he had taught him. To his surprise, Shivnandanji narrated the entire Saptashati (13 chapters) to PanditJi.
When the year was over, Panditji said to Shiv nandanjithat now hecan go back to his home and gave him ₨11/- to spend on food and other needs during the journey. When he was on the way to home, he reached SharikaBhavani's temple in Baramulla and resolved that by staying there, he would do penance and please MaaSharika. He bought the havan material for the 11 rupees that he received from Panditji.
When the Navratri of Ashwin month came, he started his Havan recitation. The havan continued, after a few days he ran out of havan material. So he thought that ashe hasno money, how he would be able to complete the havan. So he held Khanda (Sword) in his hand and started sacrificing his flesh by cutting it. When he was about to sacrifice his head, the Mata Ji appeared and said to Shivanandan that I am pleased with your penance.Shivanandan greeted the Maa by bowing down and holding her feet. Seeing such devotion of her devotee, the Maa also gave those four Varadaans to Shiv nandan (1) to become a Pandit (2) to become a Vaid (3) to become a Poet (4) to become a Tantrik. Shivnandanji also asked for the same Varadaan like his grandfather (TrilochanDutt) that the generation who will be next to me should worship you and eat what you have given, I don't want anything else.
After this,Shiv nandanji left for his home Basohli. After a few months, the goddess appeared to him in a dream and said, "Pandit! There is a tree of malti flowers in a forest inBillawar, under that tree my Pindi is lying. Take it out and worship me." When Shivnandanji reached that forest in Billawar, he did not see anything. So, he returned. On the second day, Mata appeared again in his dream and said, "Pandit worship me." So, he visited that forest and witnessed the miracles of the Mata. There was a huge rock lying on the way coming from Billawar. That rock burst and a path came out from the middle of it. Shivnandanjiused to come from Billawar every morning to worship and return back in the evening. The rock which split by the power of the Maawas still lying on the side of the road. All the Devotees passing through there used to pay obeisance.
Construction
It is said that once upon a time the king of Chamba, ShriMadho Singh used to rule in Chamba (Himachal Pradesh). But his brother did not like him. So, after fighting and quarrelling snatched all the Kingdom from him and himself became the king. Madho Singh came from there and reached Sukral area where his aunt (Bua) was living. At that time, the king of Billawar and Madho Singh had a very good relationship. Madho Singh had been living in Billawar for a long time, so one day a thought came in his mind that let's go hunting, he went to the king of Billawar to get permission. The king permitted him. Madho Singh went hunting the next day.
Whole day he wandered hungry and thirsty but the Shikar (Hunt) was not found anywhere. In the evening, when he started coming back towards Billawar, he saw Pijade (wild goats) in the forest. The king went to kill the Pijade (wild goats). When Pijade (wild goats) were killed, Mata Rani got very angry. After hunting, when he came to Billawar, he started suffering very badly and was about to die. When Vaid was called, he gave some medicines but Madho Singh did not recover.
Worrying about his deteriorating health, his relatives calledPanditShivnandanji who after enquiring about him began to cast spell (Fanda)with peacock feather, owing to which the king got a little relief.
It is said that there used to be a disciple (Chaila) of a Mata whose name was Hiru. He was deaf and dumb. He used to graze sheeps and goats in the forest.One day, when Panditji was performing ablution of Mata ji coupled with litting (Dhoop) Agarbati, and sacred lamp (Diya/Jyot) along withutterance ofthe aarti of the Maa, hiru witnessed the same that day. On inhaling the fragrance of incense, hiru abruptlychanted Jai Mata Di out of his happiness, to which Panditji also reverted the same way.
Panditji on hearing this, came to him and enquired about as to how he shouted Jai Mata Di to which Hiru (Chaila) replied that “Maahas entered his body, so he began to speak and chant in praise of Mata. He also narrated that the king has done a Loss (Haani) by killing the innocent Pijade (wild goats), “Either give me 140 goats or get my Temple (Bhavan) built then I will leave”. WhenPanditji enquired about the matter from the King, he replied, “When I will be alright and will get my kingdom back, I will definitely built Mata’s Temple.”
But before this, the king wanted to test power of Mata jias he did not trust anyone. Shiv nandan called Chaila, gave him incense(Dhoop) and then the disciple (Chaila) started dancing (Bhar) due to entry of Mata in his body. The King wanted to test this, so he laid down the condition that if the dried Lasooda tree (cordiamyxa) in Sukrala forest will turn green by morning by the power of Mata (Maa), then he will believe in the might of Mata.To everyone’s surprise, the Losooda tree (cordiamyxa)turned green in the next morning. When the king was told, he could not believe it and said that he himself want to witness that how could a dried tree turned green. On witnessing the same, he thenpaid obeisance before the Maa and went back to Chamba.
The turning of dried lasooda tree back into green by the grace and might of Mata eventually got the name “Sukrala” which is portmanteau of ‘sukha’ (dried) and ‘haryala’ (green)
When MadhoSingh was on his way back to Chamba, he got the news that his brother had passed away. On reachingChamba, he performed the last rites of his brother and took over the Kingdom (Raj Path). He got busy in the day to day affairs of the kingdom and got lost in the luxury life and he forgot about the construction of the building (Bhavan) that he had promised earlier. This made the Maa angry with him. One day the king was sleeping in his palace when suddenly he fell down from the cot. On the second day, the Raja of Nurpur attacked Chamba and captured Chamba. Madho Singh was taken taken to Nurpur and imprisoned.
While in prison, the king recalled his promise of constructing the temple of Mata and started praising Mata by chanting her name again and again and also apologized for his mistake. The Maa, the protector of the devotees, took pity on her ignorant devotee, appeared and said, "You forgot me, but I never forget my devotees."
On the wish of the Maa, the Raja of Nurpur released Madho Singh the next morning and gave him his royal throne back. When the king reached Chamba, he narrated to the family and subjects about the power of the Maa and said that we have got all these royal lessons by the grace of the Maa.
The next morning, the king and queen picked up a brick each and walked from Chamba to the Sukrala forest and laid the foundation of this temple. There is a Popular saying that-
“Chambe De Raaje Ne Tera Bhavan Banaya Si
Pathar, ChunaPani Sab Chambe To Aya Si”
Seeing the blessings of the Mata Ji on Raja Madho Singh,people also started worshiping the Mata and started coming in thousands. Mal Mata Sukrala Devi is very benign goddess who fulfils the wishes of his true devotees.
According to a popular belief, all wishes to the extent of the birth of child, securing Job for livelihood and for the curing of chronic diseases are fulfilled by the shrine Shakti of Mal Mata.The men and women who come here with a true & pious heart did not go back empty handed. A person who was mute got completely cured by the grace of Mata Sukrala by doing penance here, A man who was blind, got treatment from many Hakims/Vaids, but his eyesight did not return.When paid obeisance in Darbar of Sukrala Mata Ji, got his eyesight.
