Exodus begins – Around 1910 people residing in the village started leaving it in search of better avenues. The exodus of these families continued till 1944 and the last family to leave this place was that of Bhandari Jagat Singh in 1945. Till 1945 the houses and the Bhawan of the Mata were intact but gradually the houses constructed of stone masonry with mud thatched roofs started falling apart due to the vagaries of weather and by 1966-1968 the houses in the village were in ruins. Though the repair of the Bhawan of the Mata was done off and on, however by 1966-68 the Mandir due to lack of maintenance came to a stage where it was beyond repair such that the idols kept here (of Ganesh, Shiva, Parvati, Kalratri and an unidentified pindi) were shifted to the adjacent Keshav (Shri Krishna) Mandir located atop the hillock from where Ram Singh jumped at the time of the Gurkha invasion.
The Keshav Mandir built in between the years 1850-1855 was a 7 x 7 cubits long and wide, 11 feet high, domed structure with 18 inches thick walls. The Keshav Mandir was built by the contributions of Bhandari’s and other residents of the village. An idol of lord Krishna (made of black metal and 5 feet 6 inches high) was installed in it on which the name of Bhandari Devi Singh was got engraved by the consent of all since he made the maximum efforts in getting the Mandir built and idol made. The Keshav mandir itself needed repairs and so inbetween 1935-1940 the idol of Keshav and other pindis kept here were shifted to the house of Bhandari Gobind Singh in nearby village Basahan. From here it was shifted to Bhandar, another small hamlet where Bhandari Partap Singh lived. Bhandari Partap Singh was the Nambardar of the area (a person authorized by the King to collect land revenue and other taxes on his behalf). Bhandari Partap Singh being the Nambardar of that area was in touch with the then Raja of Sirmaur, Raja Rajendra Prakash and his mother Raj Mata Mandlasa (W/o Late Maharaja Amar Prakash). From Bhandari Partap Singh Raj Mata came to know about the idol of Keshav and advised him not to keep it in his house. The idol of Keshav was handed over to Raj Mata from where it went in to the hands of caretakers of the Jagan Nath Mandir, Bara Chowk, Nahan. The Keshav idol from here was sent to Mathura, and as per unconfirmed sources it was installed in a temple in Barsana. The other idols kept in the house of Bhandari Partap Singh were given to Bhandari Amar Singh who lived in Chashiya near village Basahan who kept them in the bawri (a natural source of water stored in a pool) near his house and later when the repair of the temple was over shifted them back to village Chanahlag. The Keshav Mandir was again got repaired in 1966-1968. This time the dome of the Mandir which was badly damaged was demolished and was replaced by a quadrilateral slanting roof of corrugated galvanized iron sheet. By that time the mandir of Kula Devi was in ruins so the idols from there were shifted to the Keshav Mandir which then came to be known as Mandir of Maa Jwala. In between 1973-1975 the Mandir of Maa Jwala developed cracks and could only be partially repaired due to lack of funds.
FORMATION OF MANDIR VIKAS SAMITI
In 2002 Bhandari’s-Parmar’s and other local people of the area worried over the upkeep and maintenance of Maa Jwala temple decided to built a new temple here. They thus formed a society for this purpose and got it registered as ‘Maa Jwala Nagar Koti Mandir Vikas Samiti Chanahlag’ [Registration No. 324/2002, dated 27/2/2002 and 2 (3) 2004 dated 14.09.2004], Village Ajag, P.O. Dinger Kinner, Tehsil Pacchad, District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh 173 001, with the following aims and objectives
- To build a new temple of Maa Jwala at the same site (as old Keshav Mandir) [achieved]
- To build a community hall in village Chanahlag so as to provide all modern amenities to people visiting this place [achieved]
- To install a statue of Late Dr. Y.S. Parmar in village Chanahlag, the first Chief Minister of the State of H.P. popularly known as Himachal Nirmata as this happens to be his birth place [achieved]
- To set up a museum in village Chanahlag depicting the history of the Mandir and the life history of Dr. Parmar
- To build a Shiva mandir where a raised platform for worshipping the Shirgul Devta was made in 1993 [achieved]
- To make village Chanahlag a heritage village
The process of building of Mandir was started in 2002 by the efforts of the Samiti. A water tank, temporary stores, path for pedestrians and mules were made initially. The water supply to the temple water tank was brought from a distance of about a km under the Swajaldra Rural Drinking Water Scheme of Government of India. The plan and drawing of the proposed Mandir was made thereafter and finances for the proposed construction were generated. The construction work started in 2008. On 13th April 2008 the idols kept in the Mandir were shifted and the mandir was demolished. The first phase of construction of Mandir was completed in February, 2011. The original idols of the Mandir kept outside in a temporary structure since 13.04.2008 was then taken to Haridwar on 03.02.2011. The damaged idols were immersed in the Ganges River whereas the undamaged idols along with the newly purchased idols of Maa Durga and Ganesh from Haridwar were anointed with the holy water of the Ganges. The idols were then taken to Jawalji in Kangra where after performing religious rituals they were brought back to village Chanahlag on 05.02.2011 along with the Jyot (sacred flame) of Mata. On 06.02.2011 Chandi paath (psalms) and havan was performed in the Mandir complex by a team of priests which concluded on 12-02-2011 after five days. Thereafter on 12.02.2011 corresponding to the 30th day of Magha of Vikrami Samwat 2067, Pran Pratishta was performed. Prana pratistha is a rite wherein hymns and mantra are recited to invite the deity to be resident guest. The ritual infuses life into the temple and the murti (image of a god) is consecrated (declare sacred).
The newly constructed Mandir is 15 by 15 feet in length and breadth and 10 feet high. The temple is built in brick masonry with 9 inches thick walls. A five feet wide circumambulatory pathway is built around the temple for parikrama (circumambulation). It is open on the sides but covered on the top by a slab measuring 29 feet long and 29 feet wide. On the slab an octagonal (8 sided or asht kon) brick wall has been made which is 6 feet high. An opening in each wall has been kept for illumination and ventilation. On the octagonal brick wall 35 feet tall, 24 sided (tetracosagon or chaturvimshatihi kon) pyramid like sloping structure has been made which closes on the top and the entire structure is 51 feet high. To reach the main entrance of the mandir one has to climb 58 stairs from its north end and 51 stairs from the south end. The mandir has been made from kind donations made by various individuals and varied quarters of the society. The work has been done under the visionary guidance and untiring efforts of the President of the Samiti, Sh. Yash Pal Parmar along with the help from other members of the Samiti and the local villagers, especially Sh. Mohan Lal Ex Pradhans and Bal Mukund Ex Pradhans of Lana Baka. The Mandir has been constructed by Sh. Om Prakash Sharma S/o of Pt. Surat Ram Sharma, R/o of village Kotla Molar, Tehsil Nahan, District Sirmaur, HP and his team of workers. Sh. Keshav Dev Sharma S/o Sh. Som Datt Sharma R/o of the adjacent village of Bakral have put in lot of voluntary effort in the construction of the Mandir and in organizing all the religious rituals. Presently, Sh. Keshav Dev Sharma is the pujari of the temple.
Though the Mandir is named as the Mandir of Maa Jwala of Nagar Koti but in the Revenue record it is mentioned as Keshav Mandir. Maa Parvati has a number of manifestations and at the Mandir at Chanahlag she is worshipped in the manifestation of Durga. The Mandir houses an idol of Durga (Kalratri), one each of Ganesh, Shiva and Parvati and other unidentified idol and pindis in addition to a newly installed Murti of mata. The temple is opened throughout the year. Puja and aarti is done every day in morning and evening by the Head Priest of the temple Pt. Keshav Dev Sharma. Special puja and archana is held in the temple during Navratra’s which occur during the months of Chaitra and Ashwin according to Hindu Vikrami Calendar corresponding to the Christian Calendar months of March/April and September/October. At this time bhandara (food as a worship offering) is served by the devotees. For offering Bhandara one can contact the office bearers of the trust. Special puja and archana can also be organized for the devotees visiting temple on prior request to the temple priest. Newlywed couples and new born kids with their families pay their obeyance to their Kula Devi to get her blessings. At this time kadhai i.e. prashad or bhog of halwa made out of wheat flour and desi ghee is offered and sometimes a he-goat is also sacrificed as per one’s sukhna (a solemn promise).
In July 2012, adjacent to the temple, a community hall measuring 41 by 24 feet in length and breadth, along with a store measuring 23 by 10 feet, a Langar bhawan (presently used as kitchen) measuring 23 by 14 feet, and separate washrooms for ladies and gents were made from the funds received under the Vikas Mein Jan Sahyog Scheme of the Government of Himachal Pradesh and donations received from the members of the Samiti and other pilgrims who visit the temple to pay their obeyance. The kitchen and washrooms are on the ground floor and the community hall on the first floor. Way to the hall and kitchen is by way of stairs from the both the north and south side of the temple. More common is the northern entry. Southern entry is approached if one comes by trekking from near village Katyana.
During 2014-2015 a ground measuring 135 by 50 feet in length and breadth was developed in the forefront of the temple that is used for serving bhandara. Additionally a collection centre measuring 23 by 13 feet in length and breadth is under construction. Funds in part for these works were received from Sirmaur Zila Parishad and rest as donations. Substantial amount for the development of the Mandir and its premises has been donated by Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib (Rs.100000/-) and by Mrs. Amar Kanta Parmar W/o Late Sh. Ranjit Singh Parmar of Bara Chowk, Nahan (Rs.242000/-).