Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 27: To maintain the age old tradition, the puja of holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) of Lord Shiva was performed at Dashnami Akhara (Amreshwar Temple) Srinagar on the occasion of Nag Panchmi today by the custodian of holy mace Mahant Deependra Giri Ji and Sadhus.
A large number of Sadhus and devotees drawn from different parts of the Srinagar and other areas of Valley participated in the puja ceremony. Nag Panchmi is considered the auspicious day on which the Chhari Poojan is performed at Amreshwar temple in Akhara building Srinagar from times immemorial.
Talking to reporters on the occasion, Mahant Deepndra Giri Ji said that Nag Panchmi is the auspicious day and performing puja of holy mace is considered a good omen as per the Hindu mythology.
He said tradition goes that during the peaceful days in Kashmir valley, over two decades back on this day, the holy mace after puja was starting its journey to cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji with night halt at Durga Nag Temple, Srinagar followed by another night halt at Pampore temple, Awantipora and other holy temples enroute up to holy cave where it reaches on the occasion of Shrawan Purnima every year.
However, after the present unrest which gripped the Valley in 1989, the Charri Pujan is performed in a traditional way on Nag Panchmi at Amreshwar Temple after Chhari Sathapana.
He said the Chhari Sathapna was performed yesterday and Pujan today. The holy mace will leave for cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara on August 2 and it will reach cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on Shravan Purnima the day coinciding with Raksha Bandhan falling on August 7.
He said the ‘Bringesh Darshan’ of Kashmir throws light on holy Amarnath yatra and the holy mace and its journey from times immemorial. There is the description of the entire route of the holy cave and the halting points enroute in the Bringesh Darshan.
He said the Bringesh Rishi was the first who discovered the holy cave and had performed darshan of Lord Shiva there as described in this religious scripture.
He said holy mace will be kept in the Amreshwar temple for the darshan of the devotees upto August 2 morning.
Mahant Ji said that Sanatan Dharam is for welfare of entire humanity and all religions. “We always pray for the universal brotherhood and peace”. The Chhari Mubarak after reaching the holy cave on August 7 will make special prayers for peace and prosperity of the State as well as entire globe”, he added.
While condemning the recent terror attack on Yatra, he said this is not the first such attack but many times in past the yatra was also attacked as some elements did not want it should be run and peace should prevail in Valley. But the majority of people from Kashmir always cooperated with the yatra to ensure that it should run smoothly.
Mahant Ji said that the rush of yatra decreased after the recent attack at Anantnag to a great extent.
Meanwhile, 1,603 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country performed darshan at holy cave on 29th day of darshan today. With this, the total number of pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave since June 29 has touched 249,755.
According to an official spokesman, 700 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin base camps of Nunwan, Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag and Baltal, Sonamarg in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal.
Out of them 316 pilgrims left via shortest 14 km Domel track fromBaltal base camp while 493 pilgrims left via traditional 46 km long Chandanwari -Sheshnag track from Nunwan base camp, he said, adding the yatris having night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni halting stations also started their onwards journey to holy cave this morning.
A fresh batch of 599 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan this morning amid tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 19 vehicles, the spokesman said, adding this is the smallest batch which left for holy cave since the yatra started from here on June 28.
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