Uma Bharti keeps Someshwar Dham issue on the boil

Bhopal: The Someshwar Dham Mahadev shrine matter shows no signs of abating as erstwhile Union minister and Madhya Pradesh’s former chief minister Uma Bharati reiterated on Sunday that she would perform jalabhishek at the obscure approximately one-millennium-old Paramara-era temple with water from the Gangotri.

“Through the medium of a news report, I learnt regarding the likelihood of the Archaeological Survey of India taking a decision in the direction of opening conserved temples for worship. If that transpires then it shall constitute an illustrious victory for Raisen fortress’ Lord. The urn containing Ganga-Bhagirathi water is with the Collector. If the state dispensation completes the formalities, I will offer water at Raisen and Vidisha’s Vijay Mandir (a reference to a shrine of Goddess Charchika),” the BJP leader wrote in social media.

Ms Bharati visited the Someshwar Dham temple in the recent past.

It was constructed during Udayaditya’s reign in what is present-day Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district and suddenly shot into the politico-religious limelight with a demand for its unlocking being followed hard upon by Ms Bharati announcing on April 7 that she would perform jalabhishek there on April 11, which was the first Monday after Navratri.

“I was in fact seeking a place where Lord Shiva has ‘manifested’ Himself. Suddenly, I chanced on a report published in a prestigious newspaper quoting eminent kathawachak Pandit Pradeep Mishra saying that such a shivling is existent within the citadel there. I am ashamed over my ignorance in that context,” Ms Bharati wrote earlier while mentioning the “treachery” perpetrated by Sher Shah Suri on Raja Puranmal.

“My libation will be for Raja Puranmal, his spouse Ratnavali, their two innocent sons who were slain, a daughter who fell victim to savagery and the king’s soldiers who were killed. I shall seek forgiveness for my lack of knowledge,” she added.

The shrine, located atop an approximately 800-ft-high hill, was thrust into the epicentre of an issue wherein comments were made regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state Home Minister Narottam Mishra.

Sehore-resident Pradeep Mishra – who focusses on Lord Shiva and made headlines earlier – said that the four political leaders are ‘Sanatanis’ but Mahadev is locked up for decades. A video of the godman’s remarks went viral.

“If Shankar is in captivity during the tenure of a personage whose name is Shivraj then the latter’s rule is useless. The country attained freedom but the god is yet to be liberated. The shrine’s lock should be broken open and the deity freed. Mr Chouhan has the requisite strength. Let him prove his name,” Pt Mishra was heard saying.

The place of worship is under the ASI’s jurisdiction and was locked after Independence but opens for a space of merely 12 hours a year every Mahashivratri – arguably India’s sole Bhairav temple having such a unique arrangement since 1974. Every year, locals urge the government and the administration to allow daily rituals there.

It is said that during Udayaditya’s period, queens prayed at the shrine, which has two lings.

Bhopal, Raisen and Sehore districts adjoin one another. (UNI)