Hud Mata pilgrimage

Raghu Nath Thakur
Dev Bhumi of village Anant Nallah of newly created tehsil Dachhan, District Kishtwar is very sacred where two famous and Holy Dev sthans known as Shri Hudh Mata and Shri Trisindya Mata, are located at a height of about 8500 feet from the sea level near the famous Brahama Peak.
These shrines are situated on the northern side of district headquarter Kishtwar and western side of high altitudinal Zanskar(Ladakh). These shrines are unique in nature because miraculous darshans are witnessed here. One side of this Brahma Peak is always covered with snow and clouds and is considered the abode of Lord Brahama. Besides these natural gifts, there is Dood Ganga, a spring in which sand mixes with water and looks like milky water, that is why it called Dood Ganga; and Braham Sar at the foot of Brahama Peak which is surrounded by various types of natural flowers and looks very beautiful during Yatra days. It looks as if God Brahama is really living there and bathes in this pious water. To have a bath in this pond is considered auspicious. Some times at the Sandhaya time (evening prayers), different musical sounds of Dhol and Nagaray are also heard if any one gets a chance to stay in the area. On the other side of Brahma Peak, there is also a pond of the same nature where a temple has been recently constructed. Another Yatra named Brahma Sarover yatra is taken to this side of the Brahma Peak. Both sides of the Brahma Peak Shine in natural beauty. Satarcheen meadow on one side and Dhobati, Sonamarg meadows on the other side are worth seeing. Nomad Gujars and Bakarwals rear their cattle in these meadows during their migration to hilly areas in summer season.
Shri Hudh Mata Shrine is considered to be the abode of Shiv Parivar i.e Shiv Ji Maharaj, Mata Parvati (Sati) and Ganesh Ji. There is a small cave where three natural Shivlings exist. Milky water falls naturally on them from the roof of the cave. There is a pond where Darshans of different Devi-Devtas are observed differently by the devotees. There is also the Garb Joon. One can also see a live snake in the Bhawan during Yatra days. Pigeons which symbolise the presence of Shiv Parvati in the Darbar are also seen by the pilgrims. It is said that the Shrine at the present site was located at the top of the mountain and a Pujari used to go there for daily worship. Due to age and infirmity, he found himself unable to reach the shrine. Being helpless, he prayed to the Goddess you are really kind and benevolent and have Shakti, then come down so that I can perform puja/aradhana in this aged days also.” Next morning when he reached the present location of the Shrine, he was astonished to see that the Shrine along with whole surroundings had come down in the same shape as it existed at the top. Mata in the guise of a Kanya (girl) also gave him Darshan and asked him to perform puja there. Mata also gave him a trident (Trishul) as a gift for the puja/archana he performed for Her. The descendants of the said Pujari have preserved that Trishul up till now as a Nishani/Sign of Mata and have kept it in their house. Last year, the residents of Anant Nalla constructed a small temple and kept this pious Trishul in it for Darshan and daily puja. Besides, there is Ram Mandir in Kaikoot which is about 150 years old and constructed during the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh. It is said that the deodar timber used in its construction has been brought by the devotees on their backs and shoulders from a distance of about 30/40 Kms away from the temple namely Turien Bham forests in Dachhan which is considered very pious area in whole Dachhan because Turien leaves (a herb) used in Puja Archana etc. are found in this forest which is situated in between Tunder and Prangas villages.
About two-three kms away from the Holy Hudh Mata Shrine, is holy the Shrine of Trisindhya Mata, a stream (Nadi) which sometimes miraculously flows thrice a day from the top of a hill and stops naturally. This is not a regular flowing stream (Nadi) like other streams (Nadi-Nallahs) and mostly remains dry. There is neither any lake nor any pond on the top of the hill where from the water could come out.”Trisandhya”means three times of worship as per Hindu philosophy i. e. early morning, noon and evening prayers. ” Hudh”, is the changed form of Hindi word “Hutt”, which means to offer in the shape of Ahuti (offerings); to offer completely essential material for havan; to sacrifice oneself for good cause . Since Mata Parvati sacrificed her self for good cause i. e. for the honour and respect of Lord Shiva, (her consort) and for her own respect also by jumping in the Havan Kund, so she is called as Hudh Mata, Ahuti Mata or Sati Mata.
The pilgrims wait anxiously for hours together on both sides of the stream and pray to the Goddess by singing bhajans/artis and chanting Jaikaras in her praise so that pious water of Trisandhaya Mata (stream) comes down. It is a worth seeing scene of devotion and faith of devotees towards the Mata when the pious water flows down. The devotees get enthralled and become jubilant and dance in happiness as the Goddess has accepted their prayer. This Darshan and bath in the pious water of Trisandhaya Nadi vanishes the fatigue of the pilgrims who have travelled such a long distance on foot. After flowing for 1 to 2 hours the water starts receding from the bottom of the stream (Nadi) towards upper reach. One can see the water coming from the upper reaches but from the bottom / lower side, it starts decreasing. Pilgrims consider lucky enough to have a bath in this pious water and feel delighted. After two-three hours even a single drop of water is not seen in the stream.
Due to lack of motorable road connectivity, publicity and failure of the successive Government to explore such like religious places and the tourist sectors of the Jammu Province, these shrines do not come to lime light and are unknown to the devotees of the state/country.
Programme of yatra
Every year Trishul Yatra starts from Panch Narayan Mandir Dharalan Nagri Kathua on 2nd Tithi of Ashar Shukla Paksh. After night halts at Geeta Bhawan Parade Ground, Jammu, Gouri Shanker Mandir Sarkoot Kishtwar, reaches Radha Krishan Mandir Sounder wherefrom pious Jhanki/Chhari of Shri Hudh Mata is taken out with religious fervour and enthusiasm. On further journey the Yatra along with the pious Jhanki and Trishul halts at Dilgooth, Gowkoot and Kaikooth and reaches Bhawan on Ashtami. On Ashtami after Puran Ahuti, the yatris take a pious bath in Trisandhaya Nadi and Braham Sarovar. On Novmi, the Yatris return back to their homes. Any devotee from outside Jammu intending to perform this Yatra has to reach Jammu on 2nd Tithi of Ashar Shukla Paksh (Bright half) wherefrom he can join the Yatra.
This year Trishul Yatra is going to start from Panch Narayan Mandir Dharalan Nagri Kathua on 3rd of July, and after staying in Geeta Bhawan Jammu, Gouri Shanker Mandir Sarkoot, Kishtwar, shall reach Radha Krishan Mandir Sounder on 5th July where from the Jhanki (Chhari) of Mata Rani shall be taken on 6th July, which shall stay at Virat Mandir Dilgooth, Gaikooth and Kaikooth. It will reach Bhawan on 9th July.
Suggestions
If the Government is really sincere and interested in promoting the tourist sector in the State especially in Jammu province and enlarging the tourist circuit in the District Kishtwar, it should accelerate the speed of construction of Dangdhuru Dachhan road which will bring these virgin shrines on the religious tourist map of the state/country besides exploring the tourist potentiality of the area for which the State and the Central Governments are striving hard. If these miraculous shrines come to limelight, there will be great rush of tourists including pilgrim tourists to this area. The fate of the poor people will certainly change and decrease the unemployment problem in the area.
This year with the kind cooperation of Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, heli service to these shrines shall operate from 3rd to 10th July. The contract has been allotted to M/s Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd MG Road Gurugram (Haryana) and Heritage Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Bhikaji Cama Palace New Delhi.

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