 Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 21: ‘Chhari Mubarak’, the holy silver Mace of Lord Shiva was taken to ancient Sharika Bhawani temple in the downtown Srinagar on Tuesday to pay obeisance to the Goddess on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada’ as per the age-old traditions associated with the annual pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
However, only a selected number of Sadhus participated in Pujan that lasted for more than hour in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday similar traditional pujan, associated with the yatra, was held at Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar.
The custodian of the Chhari Muarak, Mahant Deependra Giri a group of sadhus took the Chhari Mubarak from Amreshwar temple, Akhara Building in the Budshah Chowk area of the city for Shankaracharya temple today.
However, he said all the traditions associated with the yatra will be followed before the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Holy Cave for final punja on August 3.
Later, he took the Chhari Mubarak to Ancient ‘Sharika-Bhawani’ Temple, Hari Parvat, where the shrine of Hazrat Mehboob-ul-Alam is also located on the other side of the hill and Gurdwara Chatibadshahi on the foothill in the downtown.
Mahant Giri and other sadhus paid obeisance to the Goddess on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada’, as per the age-old traditions.
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.
However, before leaving for Sharika Bhawani temple at Hari Parvat, also known as Kooh-e-Maran on the West of Dal Lake, Mahant Giri told a group of media persons that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted all walks of life across the Globe and shall definitely have an impact on the duration of the pilgrimage and number of Yatris that shall be allowed this year to undertake the pilgrimage. But, he said final call in this regard is yet to taken by Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB)”, which is meeting this afternoon.
“Since we are in war against the invisible enemy, we all need to be extra cautious. Quoting an example he said when we can see our enemy in the form of a wild animal, we can watch its movement and possibly can judge its strength too by its built and be more prepared. But, Mahant Giri said but when we talk about the Coronavirus we cannot see it.
To win a war we need weaponry, as same is the case with war against Covid-19 and our weapons are face mask, social distancing and sanitizing our hands frequently. We all have to play our the role in eradication of the pandemic so that we all once again can have our normal and natural life at the earliest”, Mahant Giri added.
He said Chhari-Sthapana’ ceremony shall be performed on July 23, at Shri Amareshwar Temple Akhara Building Budshah Chowk Srinagar and traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ shall be performed on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ that falls on July 25, 2020.
After performing the Chhari-Pujan at Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ on July 25, Mahant Giri will carry the holy mace to the holy Amarnath to have ‘Darshan’ on ‘Shravan-Purnima’ on August 3.
Mahant Giri has, in a communication sent to the Lieutenant Governor, urged to make all necessary arrangements to preserve the age-old traditions and to take appropriate preventive measures for the safety and security of the sadhus accompanying the holy mace.
He also advised Sadhus who intend to join Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Yatra-2020 to check with his office before starting from their hometown and added that Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust Srinagar will make all the arrangements for them.
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