Tilla Jogian- An Ancient Hindu Temple in West Punjab.
Tilla Jogian is an abandoned Hindu Temple complex located on the summit of the Salt Range of Pakistan’s Punjab Province at altitude of 3200 ft. The site have been an important Hindu Pilgrimage center for at least 2000 years. It is said to have been established in 1st Century BCE.
The “Kanphata Yogi” , an ascetic order noted for its members’ ear piercings, was founded by Guru Gorakhnatha and was centered at Tilla Jogian. Tilla Jogian was the center for thousands of Jogis in Punjab prior to Partition of India in 1947.
Tilla Jogian’s importance as a Hindu Pilgrimage Centre attracted the founder of Sikh Faith Guru Nanak who is said have meditated here for 40 days during his stay. Following Partition, most of the area’s Hindu population migrated to India, abandoning the Hindu Temples which remain neglected until present day.
The last priest of the Complex was Sammand Natha Jogi. When riots erupted after Partition of India, Sammand Natha Jogi reportedly appointed a local official as the caretaker of this site and went to Kangra, India. The Jogi did not return within the 6 months so, the Temples’ meagre belonging were auctioned. Immediately, prior to Partition, an annual festival took place on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, during which communal meals were served to all the attendees.
Tilla Jogian comprises a complex of Hindu temples housing at least three baths and a network of waterworks with at least two minor dams which are dry. There are no developed pathways which lead to the complex — visitors must hike and bikers can ride on bikes or trails to the top of the mountain in order to reach the site.
The site has multiple Temples which lie in ruins. Upon entering the Tilla there is an Asthana of Guru Nanak ji. Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the late 19th century commemorated the visit of Guru Nanak with the construction of a stone-lined pond, and construction of a small monument to mark the exact spot at which Guru Nanak is said to have usually meditated.
Among the main Temples are temples of Matsyendra Natha, Balak Natha, Bhairav Natha, Gorakh Natha and Mata Durga. The Local Hindus mainly from Kohat, Peshawar, Bannu, Nowshera and Rawalpindi visit the Temples and perform their puja. They face a lot of hurdles as there are no Murtis or any arrangement of their food and water. So, they have to carry their puja Samigri and other requirements with them.
Besides its rich Hindu Heritage the site holds cultural significance as , Ranjha, the main character of the Punjabi poem, “Heer” got his ears ringed here. This site is believed to have been visited by Mughal Emperors, Akbar as well as Jehangir.
Local villagers have scoured the site in order to find coins and souvenirs to sell to visitors. Vandals have also damaged the site. Unfortunately, there is no development in the area. This is the Religious Heritage of Punjab thus, must be preserved in all respects.
Subscribe to “Panchanada” to explore the Hindu Heritage of Punjab and reclaim it for Hindu Civilization.
