Srinagar: The Holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva “Chhari Mubarak” was on Monday taken to ancient Sharika Bhawani Temple at Hari Parvat in the downtown Srinagar as per age-old tradition associated with annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Holy cave shrine on August 22, for final puja on the concluding day of the pilgrimage on the occasion of Shravan-Purnima’ (Raksha-Bandhan).
The pilgrimage has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, it was cut short and the yatris were directed to leave J&K after the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5.
However, all age-old traditions associated with the yatra will be performed. The holy mace was taken to Shankaracharya temple on Sunday.
“Bam Bam Bolay and Har Har Mahadev” rented in the air when Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, led devotees carrying holy Mace left Shri Amareshwar temple Akhara building in Budshah Chowk this morning for ancient Sharika Bhawani temple at Hari Parvat, in the down town, where shrine of Hazrat Mehboob-ul-Aalam is also located on other side of the mountain. There is also Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi in the foothill of Hari Parvat.
The Chhari Mubarak was taken there to pay obeisance to the Goddess on the occasion of Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada as per the age-old traditions. However, due to COVID pandemic, only few sadhus accompanied the holy mace and participated in the prayers that lasted or more than an hour, Mahant Giri said.
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, he said.
The holy mace later returned to Amreshwar temple, where Chhari-Sthapana’ ceremony shall be performed on August 11. Temple Akhara Building Budshah Chowk Srinagar and traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ shall be performed on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ that falls on August 13, 2021.
Chhari-Mubarak shall leave for Holy Shrine situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet in South Kashmir from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar for main course of pilgrimage on the auspicious occasion of ‘Shravan-Purnima’ (Raksha-Bandhan) falling on August 22 this year. (UNI)
