Information of Kalika Temple, Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir

One of the most famous temples located in Reasi town is the Maha Kali temple. The temple is situated at the top of the hill near the Reasi Bus Stand in the main town. The temple is also known as Bahu or Bawey Wali Mata as it is inside the Bahu Fort. The fort is considered to be the oldest fort and was constructed by Raja Bahulochan near about 3000 years ago. The temple is basically visited during the summers because the place is quite mild and soothing during this season. Bahu Mela is celebrated with great prominence inside the Bahu Fort in the Kalika temple. The local people tend to involve themselves in the development of the temple in order to increase the flow of the pilgrims visiting the temple.

Kalika Temple Religious Importance

It can be mentioned that the temple has attained much importance because of the devotees' faith upon Maa Kali. After Vaishno Devi, Kalika temple is considered to have attained much significance because of the mystical power of Maa Kali. Due to the rising faith of the people in the divine power of Kali, the temple has attained popularity worldwide. The people of Reasi district tend to visit the temple on a regular basis in order to achieve blessings from Maa Kali.

Kalika Temple Mythology & History

It is often believed that there are no strong evidences that who was the first person to construct the temple of Maa Kali within the Bahu Fort. However, from the experience of the experts it has been evident that the fort used to prevail at the times of Amir Timur attack in 1399 A.D. According to one of the legends, it is believed that the temple was developed by King Bahu Lochan. The other legend relates the development of the temple with the attack of the Mohamad Gauri and Mohamad Gagnavi who belonged to India. It is said that during such attack the Rajputs of Rajasthan were forced to leave and settled in the Sivalik hills creating the foundations of principalities in Jammu. Among such principality, one of them was those of Raja Kripal Dev who ruled the Bahu town while his brother named as Sangram Dev ruled Jammu. There were numerous other rulers of Bahu principalities but in the meantime Jammu principality gained prominence among the entire principality. With the pace of time, Maharaja Ranjeet Dev who was considered to be one of the strong rulers of Jammu merged the principality of Bahu with that of Jammu.

Kalika Temple Architectural Importance

It is believed that after the attack in the Bahu fort, Maharaja Ranbir Singh had a dream wherein Maa Kali appeared and requested him to restructure the destroyed temple. The temple as well as the fort was rebuilt thereafter. It is also said that during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh, a saint who opposed animal sacrifice practice took out the idol of Maa Kali from the temple. He tossed it in the bed of the river named Tawi. Subsequently, Maa Kali appeared in the dreams of Pratap Singh and ordered him to fulfill the wish of the saint by stopping animal sacrifice practice. The saint was called and pleased to return the idol back in the temple. The same idol has been installed in the temple at present. Looking at the architecture, though not of that great importance, but the faith that is holds among the devotees counts which makes it a popular temple of Kashmir, where hundreds of devotees come to offer prayers and take home blessing for happy and prosperous days to live.