There is a legend associated with Mindhal Devi. The spot where the temple now stands was originally occupied by a house with an upper and lower storey—typical of homes in
Pangi Valley. The house belonged to a widow who lived there with her seven sons. One day, in early autumn, while she was cooking in the upper storey, a black stone suddenly appeared in the
chulha (hearth), causing her great annoyance. She tried to push it away, but her efforts were in vain. Eventually, she began to tremble, and realized that the stone was a manifestation of a
Devi (goddess). Startled, she rushed outside and called out to her sons, who were ploughing a nearby field with two
oxen per plough, telling them that a
deví had appeared in their house. The sons dismissed her claim and mockingly asked if the goddess would allow them to plough using only one ox, or provide them with a
sisan (a local term, possibly referring to a specific agricultural tool or divine aid). Immediately, as punishment for their disbelief, the widow and her sons were turned to stone—the mother inside the house, and the sons out in the field. From that time onward, it is said that only one ox is used per plough in Mindhal, and the area has been considered an
ādān (a tax-free religious land grant) for many centuries. King Prithvi Singh visited Mindhala temple and made some donations along with an inscription on a copper plate to the temple. This plate is still in the possession of the temple and is dated
Vikrama 1698,
Śāstra 17 (AD 1641). == See also ==