Earlier Nagraj Village
kol Kandoli Mandir
kol Kandoli Mandir (Earlier Nagraj Village) is not in Katra. It is on the way to Katra when you are travelling from Jammu to Katra (or vice versa) via Nagrota.
The distance of this temple from Jammu Railway Station is about 18.6 kms.
The distance of this temple from Jammu Airport is about 14.5 kms.
The temple is dedicated to Mata Vaishno Devi.The Goddess is established in this temple in the form of a pindi. It is believed to be good to visit this temple before starting the journey for Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
The temple derives its name from two words Kaul-Kandoli. Kol means bowl and Kandoli means marbles.
According to mythology, Mata Vaishno appeared here at the age of 5 years in the form of a little girl and did penance here for 12 years
After the penance, she settled here in the form of a pindi. In this temple, the Goddess Herself appears before the devotees in the form of a natural pindi and fulfils the wishes of Her devotees.
The Goddess had herself played marbles and swing along with local girls here. During the 12 years penance, the Goddess performed many Havans for the world peace. Mahamaya had presented the silver bowls here four times. Mahamaya offered 36 types of food prepared in the silver bowls to 330 million deities.
In the Mahabharata era when Pandavas were under Agyat Vaas, they got to know about the Goddess in Nagraj village. Then they all visited the place and prayed before the Goddess for the ending of their agyaat vaas and also for retrieval of their kingdom. Then the Goddess appeared before them and asked them to build a temple for Her. They all built a temple there in one night which spanned for 6 months.
There is a well of Mother in the temple premises. One feels very relaxed and peaceful after drinking the water from the well. One gets cleansed by sprinkling the water over body.
The atmosphere of the temple is very soothing to the body and mind of the devotees. It is said that the flowers offered to the Goddess here and converted into Bhasm(babooti) after special kind of treatment. All the skin diseases are corrected by eating it or by applying on the affected area.