What is the story of Hinglaj Mata Temple in Pakistan?

 

Hinglaj Mata

Also known as Hinglaj Devi, Hingula Devi and Nani Mandir, is a Hindu temple in Hinglaj, a town on the Makran coast in the Lasbela district of Balochistan, Pakistan and is the middle of the Hingol National Park.

It is a form of Durga or Devi in a mountain cavern on the banks of the Hingol River. The shrine is known as Hingula, Hingalaja, Hinglaja, and Hingulata in Hindu scriptures, particularly in Sanskrit.

There is no temple structure, just a low mud altar and a small stone worshipped as the goddess.

Mention of Hingula in Tantra texts and Puranas

It is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in Shaktism of Hinduism. It was believed that a small part of the upper head of Sati, during dismembering of Sati’s body by the Chakra/discuss of Vishnu, is believed to have fallen at Hinglaj.

The Kularnava Tantra mentions 18 Pithas and mentions Hingula as the third one. In the Kubjika Tantra, Hingula is listed among the 42 Shakta or Siddha Pithas in which Hinglaj is at the fifth place. However, the other tantra texts do not mention about Hingula.

Further, Hingula does not find place in the list of 18 Shaktipeetas, as mentioned in the "Shakta Pitha Stotram" or "Asta Dasha Shakti Peetha Stotram" , a hymn composed by Adi Shankara.

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Having stated the available facts, the my understanding about Hinglaj Mata, is mentioned below:

Though inclusion of Hingula in the list of Shaktipeetas, shrines related Devi Sati may be doubtful, yet it could be the place where Rig Vedic rishis and subsequent rishis might have performed austerities upon the DIVINE ADITI, the mother of Gods mentioned in the Rig Veda.

A question may arise as to how DIVINE ADITI is related to Hingula.

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Rig Veda 1.164.27 mentions about the DIVINE COW (वसुपत्नी) making hiṅ (हिङ्) sound, while searching for its calf, as explained in another post.

 We have to remember that the DIVINE COW is none other than the ADITI, the mother of Gods.

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The Rig Vedic rishis stated that ADITI (the feminine energy of the BRAHMAN) is approachable through this bija mantra hiṅ (हिङ्).

The Rig Vedic rishis might have performed austerities at this place on DIVINE ADITI, through this bija mantra hiṅ (हिङ्). Thus, this place might have been known to subsequent generations as Hingula.

The DIVINE ADITI is a formless, ALL PERVADING FEMININE ENERGY. As the rishis prayed to the formless, all pervading Feminine Energy ADITI and attained SELF REALISATION at Hingula, a small stone, instead of a deity, is being worshipped now as the goddess Hinglaj Mata.

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As the rishis of ancient period performed austerities at this place upon DIVINE ADITI, the place Hingula might have acquired SPIRITUAL ENERGY. And, due to the presence of this vibrating SPIRITUAL ENERGY, the place of worship of Hinglaj Mata, might have withstood the onslaughts of successive invaders on this place.