Raghu Nath Thakur
Shri Hudhmata- Trisandhaya Yatra, an annual feature, usually commences in the month of Ashad (June or July). The Trishul Yatra starts from Vill. Dharalan (Kathua) and Holy Mace (Charri) of Shri Hudhmata Trisandhaya starts from Sounder Dachhan. The pilgrimage is the symbol of obeisance and faith of the pilgrims upon the Divine Mother. The route of the yatra is Dharalan (Kathua), Jammu, Kishtwar, Dachhan, Anantmatta, Bhawan, Trisandhaya, Dood Ganga & Brahmsar. The yatra passes through some of the most beautiful and panaromic mountain ranges.
Tehsil Dachhan in Distt Kishtwar offers bewitching, charming and worth seeing natural beauty. God has gifted the vale with lush green forests medicinal herbs, springs, rivers and snow peaked mountains.
Shri Hudhmata & Trisandhaya Mata Shrines are located at an altitude of about 2900 metre (approx 9600 ft) in the vicinity of world famous Brahma Peak. These shrines are about 310 Km away from Jammu. The on foot journey is approximately 42.5 km from Dangdhuroo to Brahmsar. It is a treasure encapsulated with natures glimpses, attractions, old temples, caves, fresh water streams, springs and sharp mountain peaks. The pilgrimage has been divided in number of haltage stations with night halts at Jammu, Kishtwar, Sounder, Dilgooth, Gugath and Kaikoot. The most important and impressive aspect of the yatra is the unique Holy Mace of the Goddess which remains ahead of the pilgrims to provide strength and inspiration enroute.
The founder of Shri Hudhmata- Trisandhaya Yatra was late Mahatma Dina Nath Teerath Wasi who started the yatra from Geeta Bhawan Jammu in 1983. He had taken his Samadhi at Dharalan Kathua in 1997. Now the yatra is being taken out from there.
Shri Hudh Mata
Shri Hudh Mata shrine is considered to be the abode of Shiv Parivaar i.e Shiv Ji Maharaj, Mata Parvati (Sati) and Ganesh Ji. There is a small cave in which three natural Shivlingams exist like that of Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi District. The entry of the cave is like that of original Vaishno Devi Shrine Cave in Katra. Milky coloured water naturally falls on these Shivlingams from the roof of the cave.
Many legends are connected with this Shrine. One is that in Tratya Yug “Daksh Prajapati’, (Father of Mata Sati) arranged a grand Yagya. He invited all Devi-Devtas, Lord Brahma and Vishnu to participate in the Yagya except Lord Shiva (His son in law) and Mata Sati (His daughter). On seeing all Devi Devtas going to participate in the Yagya, Mata Sati became anxious and asked Lord Shiva to go there and participate in the Yagya. But, Lord Shiva refused on the pretext that they are invited and non-invited guests are neither entertained nor respected and will face humiliation and insult. But Mata Sati insisted that she would certainly go to participate in the Yagya even without getting any invitation. Mata Sati left all alone. Lord Shiva feeling adamancy of Mata Sati became helpless. He, however, sent two Sevaks (Gans) for her safety and security. On reaching the venue of Yagya Mata Sati was surprised to note that she was not received passionately and respectfully as other guests. Even her mother and sisters did not bother to entertain her and no seat was reserved for Lord Shiva without whom no Yagya gets culminated. On feeling humiliated and insulted, Mata Sati became angry and jumped in the Havan Kund and ended her life by burning herself with Yog Agni. When Lord Shiva heard the news. He rushed there in a raged mood along with Sevaks (Shiv Gans) and beheaded Daksh Prajapati after destroying the Yagya venue. The Devi Devtas present in the Havan became panicky and prayed to Lord Shiva that due to the killing of Daksh Praja Pati the Yagya cannot be completed and requested Lord Shiva to give life to Daksh Prajapati so that havan can be completed. Lord Shiva acceded the prayers of Devi Devtas and transplanted the head of HE Goat on the dead bofy of Daksh Prajapati. He came to life again and completed the Yagya. Thereafter Lord Shiva took the burnt dead bofy of Mata Sati on his shoulders and started wondering/roaming in the Universe in a raged mood. Devi-Devtas requested Lord Vishnu to console the sad and angry Lord Shiva who had lost his consort. Upon this, Lord Vishnu started cutting the burnt dead body of Mata Sati with his Sudarshan Chakra in various parts. Whereever these parts fell, these places became Shakti Peeths. At last, Lord Shiva reached here with some portion of dead body and disappeared somewhere in this Holy Place. “Hudh’’ by the passage of time is the changed from of “:Hutt’’ a Hindi word which means to offer in the shape of Ahuti (offerings, to sacrifice one self for good cause). Since Mata Sati sacrificed her self for good cause i.e for the honour and respect of herself and Lord Shiva, so she is called Hudh Mata.
Another story related to the shrine of Hudh Mata is that the Shrine where it exists now was not originally at this place but was at a distance of about 1 km away from Ram Mandir Kaikoot on the top of the hill. Mahanand (Rizik) a devotee used to go there daily for Pooja/Archana from Village Pransan, about 4 km below the shrine. When he became very old he faced difficulty in reaching the shrine. One day he travelled some distance and became very tired and helpless to perform the pooja. He prayed to the Goddess to come down so that he may be able to perform the daily rituals/pooja. On the next day, when he reached the same place he was astonished to see that the Shrine had slipped down by about that a km in its original shape. Thereafter he worshiped the Goddess there, i.e the present location of the Shrine. There is a hollow space on the top of the hill where from it has come down. This hollow space is called “Hudh Kund’’. The people irrespective of their religion have great faith in this Shrine as their wishes are fulfilled whenever prayed for. The various darshans at Hudh Mata Shrine are Hudh Mata Bhawan, Garbh Joon, Shiv Gufa and Hudh Kund.
Trisandhaya Mata
About two and a half km away from the Holy Hudh Mata Shrine, is Trisandhaya Stream (Nadi) which sometime miraculously flows thrice a day from the top of a hill and stops naturally, which means that it is not a regular flowing stream like other streams and mostly remains dry. When the stream flows the volume of water is so much that a water mill can easily function. There is neither any lake nor any pond on the top of the hill where from the water could flow or spill. “Trisandhaya’’ means three times of worship as per Hindu philosophy i.e early morning, noon and evening.
The astonishing fact is that water after flowing for 2-3 hours recedes flowing from the bottom of the stream (Nadi) towards upper reach. One can see the water coming from the upper reach but from the bottom/ lower side, it starts decreasing. After two-three hours even a single drop of water is not seen in the stream. Usually, pilgirms feel lucky enough to have a bath in this pious water because at some occasions the water does not flow at all as per its routine. This type of unique drashan has never been heard existing anywhere.
Doodh – Ganga
Doodh-Ganga is another religious stream which originates from the feet of the great Brahma Peak. It has inland drainage system. Its water comes out in fountain form, after digging a few inches of the sand. The sand mixes with the oozing water of the springs and looks white like boiling milk therefore it has got the name of Doodh Ganga.
Heli Services
This year the District Administration of Kishtwar, with great efforts has managed helicopter service from proper Kishtwar to Bhawan a (a run of about 16-17 minutes) from the facility of the pilgrims who cannot perform the yatra by foot and fixed Rs 5207 for Adult and Rs 4781 for children for one way and Rs 9976 for Adult and Rs 9976 for Two way. This step taken by the Administration will certainly help the devotees to perform the yatra and will bring the shrines on the lowest map/circuit of the District and the State.
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