4014 pay obeisance at cave shrine
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU July 24: While the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) of Lord Shiva was taken to Chakreshwar Temple of Mata Sharika Bhawani on the hillock of Hari Parvat in the downtown Srinagar from Shri Amareshwar Temple, Akhara Building, this morning, 4,014 pilgrims paid obeisance to naturally formed Ice Lingam in holy cave of Shri Amarnath on 26th day of darshan today.
With this, the total number of pilgrims performing darshan in holy cave of Lord Shiva during last 26 days has touched, 2,44, 263.
“Bum Bum Bholey and Har Har Mahadev’’ rented the air when Mahant Deepender Giri carrying Chhari Mubarak of Shri Amarnath Ji left the temple in Maisuma area of the Srinagar city this morning for Sharika Bhawani temple on the hill lock of Hari Parbat the abode of Goddess Shakti.
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Mahant Giri said , “as per the age old tradition, the holy silver mace was taken to Sharika Devi temple to pay obeisance to the Goddess on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada.’’
Goddess ‘Sharika-Bhawani’ popularly known as ‘Tripursundari’, amongst the mystics, is believed to be ‘Isht Devi’ (Presiding Deity) of the Srinagar city who manifested herself in a figure of ‘Shila’ (Holy Rock) at Hari-Parvat.
Sadhus, who participated in the Pujan, prayed for everlasting peace for the State of Jammu & Kashmir, as well as entire nation, he said.
He said traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ will be performed on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ on July 27 at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Akhara Building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar with full religious fervour and gaiety.
Chhari-Mubarak on the final journey to holy cave of Shri Amarnath will leave on August 2 from Dashnami Akhara and reach holy cave situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on the auspicious day of ‘Shravan-Purnima’ coinciding with Raksha Bandhan on August 7.
Mahant Ji said enroute to Pahalgam, special prayers will be performed at Durga-Nag Temple and Sureshwar Temple, Srinagar, Shiv Temple Pampore, Shiv Temple Bijbehara, Martand-Tirth Mattan, Ganesh Temple across river Lidder, Ganeshbal and Gouri-Shankar Temple in Pahalgam.
He said after night halt at Pahalgam, special prayers would be offered at Pahalgam on August 3 before the start of the onward journey to the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas same day.
After leaving Pahalgam, he said the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Chandanwari for the second night halt on Dwadashi falling on August 4.
It will be taken to Sheshnag on Tryodashi (August 5) and would leave for Panchtarni on Chaturdashi the next day i.e August 6.
On August 7, the Chhari Mubarak would proceed for holy cave for Puja from Panchatarni on the occasion of Raksha- Bandhan coinciding with Shravan Purnima for darshan.
Traditional rituals would be performed for the whole day at the cave shrine, he said, adding before dusk, the holy mace would leave for night halt at Panchtarni.
On August 8, the holy mace will reach Pahalgam from Panchtarni for night halt, Mahant Ji said, adding ‘Pujan’ and ‘Visarjan’ ceremonies would be performed on the banks of river Lidder the next day.
Traditional ‘Kari Pakouri Bhandara’, which is the last ritual in connection with the pilgrimage, would be organised for Sadhus at Pahalgam, on August 9. Deependra Giri said in a communication to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has urged the State Government to make all the necessary arrangements and take the appropriate preventive measures for the safety and security of the Sadhus and pilgrims accompanying the holy mace.
He said Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust has made all the arrangements like yesteryears for sadhus coming from across the country for the annual pilgrimage for their food and comfortable stay at Akhara building in Budshah Chowk area of the Srinagar city.
“Pujan will also be performed at the historic Martand Temple, Mattan in Anantnag district en-route,” he said.
‘Chhari-Sthapana’ and ‘Dhwajarohan’ ceremonies would be performed at Dashnami Akhara on July 26 followed by traditional Chhari-Pujan on Nagpanchami the next day, Mahant Ji said.
Yesterday the holy mace was taken to Shankaracharya temple for pooja.
Meanwhile, the 40 day long Shri Amarnath yatra which started on June 28 from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas is proceeding smoothly from both Baltal and Chandanwari tracks.
On the 26th day of darshan 4,014 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance to naturally formed Ice Lingam in cave shrine. With this the total number of pilgrims performing the darshan during last 26 days has touched to 2,44,263 an official spokesman said.
He said hundreds of yatris from twin base camps of Baltal, Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and Nunwan Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag who had reached from Jammu yesterday left for holy cave early this morning.
Besides, the yatris having a night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards sojourn early this morning.
A fresh batch of 673 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal early this morning.
Chanting Bum Bum Bholey and Baba Barfani ki Jai these pilgrims left in a cavalcade of 24 vehicles under tight security measures. As per last reports all the pilgrims had reached to the base camps by this evening where from they will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning.
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