Hinglaj Mata

Hinglaj Mata is a powerful form of the goddess worshipped at the Hinglaj temple in Balochistan, Pakistan. According to the Shakti Pitha legends found in the Puranas, such as the Shiva Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana, this site is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas where the head (or brain) of Sati fell when Vishnu dismembered her body to calm Shiva's grief. The head is considered the most sacred part, making Hinglaj a preeminent pitha. The goddess is associated with the color vermilion and is often depicted with a lion mount, a trishula, and three eyes, symbolizing her all-seeing power.

The cave temple at Hinglaj, nestled in the Hingol National Park, is a natural rock formation that devotees enter to seek blessings. Worship at Hinglaj is notably syncretic: both Hindus and Muslims revere the goddess, with local Baloch Muslims calling her 'Nani Mandir' and participating in the annual Hinglaj Yatra. The Skanda Purana mentions Hinglaj as a place where the goddess grants protection and fulfills desires. In Hindu cosmology, Hinglaj Mata represents the westernmost extension of the goddess's presence, guarding the frontier of the subcontinent.

Regional traditions in Sindh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan hold that the goddess protects travelers and removes obstacles. The Hinglaj Stotram, a hymn in her praise, is recited during Navaratri and other festivals. The goddess is also known as Hingula Devi, referencing her association with the color red (hingula). The temple's location in a remote desert region emphasizes the goddess's role as a guardian of the wilderness and a bestower of boons to those who undertake the arduous pilgrimage.

Depicted as a powerful goddess, often with lion mount. Associated with the cave temple at Hinglaj. Sometimes shown with three eyes and a crown.