History

Every Dev/Devi Sathan (place/shrine) has a historical background, legend and myth connected with its existence and continuance. Many legends/myths are connected with this Shrine also, One is  that in Tratya Yug ‘Daksh Prajapati’, (Father of Mata Sati) arranged a grand Yajna in Kankan in Haridwar. He invited all Devi-Devtas, including Lord Brahama and Vishnu to participate in the yajna. But he did not invite Lord Shiva (His son-in-law) & Mata Sati (His daughter) on this auspicious occasion. On seeing all Devi Devtas going to participate in the Yajna, Mata Sati became anxious and asked Lord Shiva to go there. But, Lord Shiva refused to go on the pretext that they are not invited and non-invited guests are neither entertained nor respected and in case we go uninvited, we will face humiliation and insult. However, Mata Sati insisted that she would certainly go to participate in the Yajna even without getting any invitation. Lord Shiva feeling the adamant attitude of Mata Sati (NARI HATT) became helpless and Mata Sati left all alone. However, Lord Shiva sent VEER BHADAR GAN ( sevak) with her for her security. On reaching the venue of Yajna, Mata Sati was surprised to note that she was not received passionately and respectfully as other guests. Even her mother and sisters did not bother to entertain her. She observed that no AASAN (seat) was reserved for Lord Shiva without whose participation no Yajna gets culminated. On feeling humiliated and insulted, Mata Sati became angry and jumped in the Havan Kund and ended her life. When lord Shiva heard this sad news, He rushed the  Sathal(venue) in a raged mood along with other Sevaks (Shiv Gans) and destroyed Yajna Sathal and beheaded Daksh Prajapati. The Devi- Devtas present in the Yajna became panic and prayed to Lord Shiva that due to the killing of Daksh Prajapati the Yajna cannot be completed and requested Lord Shiva to give life to Daksh Prajapati so that Yajna can be completed. Lord Shiva then acceded to their prayers and transplanted the head of HE Goat on the beheaded dead body of Daksh Prajapati who came to life again and completed the Yajna. Even now,  if one  goes to a Shiv temple, he has to make voice of a HE GOAT as a ritual to please  Lord Shiva and in memory of Raja DAKSH PRAJAPATI, Thereafter Lord Shiva took the half burnt dead body of Mata Sati on his shoulders and started wondering/ roaming in the Universe in a raged mood. Feeling danger to the existence of Universe, Devi-Devtas requested Lord Vishnu to console the sad and angry Lord Shiva. Upon this, Lord Vishnu started cutting the burnt body of Mata Sati with his Sudarshan Chakra into various parts. Wherever these parts fell, these places became Shakti Peeths. At last, Lord Shiva reached this place and performed HER last rites by consigning the remaining portion of her dead body  to the flames and then disappeared. Therefore. this holy place is known as HUDHLOHERH which means HUDHMATA DARBAR.  Hudh is the changed form of Hindi word “Hutt”   which means to offer in the shape of AHUTI (offerings, to sacrifice oneself for good cause). Since Mata Sati sacrificed herself for good cause i.e. for the HER Honour   and  that of Lord Shiva, her consort, so she is called as Hutt Mata, Hudh Mata, Ahuti Mata or Sati Mata .

Another legend/myth related to this Shrin is that the Shrine, where it exists now, was not originally at this place, but was at  its hill top .Mahanand, a devotee used to go there daily for Pooja / Archana. When he became aged and infirm and was unable to reach the shrine at the top of the mountain, he prayed to the Goddess to come down so that he could perform pooja in his aged days also. Next morning, when he reached there, he was amazed to see that the Shrine along with whole surroundings had come down in the same position as it existed at the top. There became a deep hollow on the top of the mountain wherefrom the shrine had come down which is called as HUDH KUND.