JAMMU, Aug 13: Before proceeding for the last leg of annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, the holy Mace was taken to ancient Sharika Bhawani temple by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji, Mahant Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji to perform Puja Archna in a traditional way.
The holy Mace was accompanied by a number of Sadhus and devotees who were chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ enroute. At Sharika Bhawani temple which is the presiding deity of Srinagar city, religious rituals were performed by Mahant Ji and Sadhus to maintain the age old tradition linked to annual Amarnath Ji Yatra. The holy mace one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parwati later returned to its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
The holy mace was taken to historic Shankracharya temple yesterday.
As per the age-old tradition, rituals namely ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah Pujan’ and ‘Dhawajarohan’ connected with traditional commencement of annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji were performed at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima) on July 29, this year. Mahant Ji said the Chhari-Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar will be performed on August 15. Traditional holy Chhari-Pujan will be performed at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on August 17 on the auspicious occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’.
Next day it will proceed towards Pahalgam from Panchtarni and after a night halt at Pahalgam the immersion ceremonies will be held at the bank of river Lidder on August 30 followed by serving of the traditional Prashad to Sadhus and other devotees. The holy mace will return to its abode Dashnami Akhara Srinagar in the evening on the same day. With this the annual 57 day long Amarnath Ji Yatra which started on July 3 will culminate.
Embarking on the main course of pilgrimage on August 22, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji will carry the holy mace to cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji to perform Pujan and have ‘Darshan’ on auspicious occasion of ‘Shravan-Purnima’ falling on August 28 after having night halts at Pahalgam on 22nd & 23rd, Chandanwari on 24th, Sheshnag on 25th and two nights at Panchtarani on 26th & 27th of August, respectively.
Mahant Deependra Giri Ji has urged the UT Government to make all the necessary arrangements to preserve the age-old traditions and ensure the movement of Chhari-Mubarak as per the schedule and take all the preventive measures for the safety and security of the Sadhus and pilgrims accompanying the holy mace. Mahant Deependra Giri Ji has also advised Sadhus and members of civil society to get themselves registered who intend to join Chhari-Mubarak and specified that only registered Sadhus/pilgrims with valid Yatra permit will be allowed to accompany Chhari-Mubarak during the pilgrimage. Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust, Srinagar has made all the arrangements like yester years for Sadhus coming from across the country for annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath Ji for their food and comfortable stay at Akhara Building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar.
The holy mace which will reach the cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3888 metres in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir district of Anantnag in the wee hours of August 28 after day long prayers will return to Panchtarni in the same evening
