Jammu and Kashmir Temples

Kheer Bhawani Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

August 29, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 4 Comments Filed Under: Jammu and Kashmir Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples

Kheer Bhawani Temple in Srinagar is one of the most picturesque and popular temples in the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has been dedicated to the locally prevalent Goddess Kheer Bhawani (originally she was revered as just Bhawani).

The temple has been constructed on a sacred spring and this is one of the major attractions of the temple. The Kashmiri Hindus universally worship Goddess Kheer Bhawani and she is among the most respected Goddesses in the community.

The famous temple is located about 14 miles in the east of the Srinagar city and is near the village Tul Mul. It is protected by the Indian Army and the soldiers ensure the name of the temple is derived from the word kheer meaning rice pudding that is a popular prasadam offered.

Many people believe that there was a mulberry tree near the holy spot of the temple and in the local language, it is called tulmul. Hence, the place derived its name. The goddess has many names as it is a custom with most Hindu deities. She is called Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Bhagwati, Ragnya Devi and Rajni.

Kheer Bhawani History

According to stories, the Goddess Maharagya was extremely pleased with the devotion of the demon Ravana and she appeared before him. Ravana then got the image of the Goddess that he saw, installed in Sri Lanka. But the Goddess became displeased with the brutal and wicked life of Ravana and as a result, she was no more pleased to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, according to a popular legend, she instructed Lord Hanuman to get her image from there and this was installed here at the holy spot of Tul Mul.

Ragniya is one of the Rupa or incarnations of Goddess Durga and the one at Tul Mul is a Vaishnav Rupa. In the Kashmir, Ragniya is known as Tripura. In Sri Lanka, the Mother Goddess was popular as Shayama. Goddess Sita (the consort of Lord Rama) is also believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Ragniya. According to Ragniya Mahatmya, those who meditate on the PanchDashi Mantra during Navreh (New Year in Kashmir), the Mother Goddess Ragniya grants all their wishes.

Another legend states that the temple is the spot where Lord Rama had worshiped Ragnya Devi while he was in his exile. Lord Rama asked his devotee Lord Hanuman to shift the Goddess form, Lanka, after the exile period was over. Hence, Lord Hanuman brought the seat of the Goddess to Shadipora first and later she was shifted to the current site.

According to popular mythology, the night during which the Mother Goddess was brought from Sri Lanka to Kashmir has been termed as Ragniya Ratriand. This is a major festival among the Kashmiri Pandits. Many shrines have been dedicated to the goddess in Kashmir at Tiker, Manzgam (Noor-abad) Bheda, Bhuvaneshvar, Lo-qraer-pur, Rai-than, Mani-gam and Baed-pur but the one at Tul-Mul has been the most famous one and so this shrine is a focus of the pilgrims. 360 springs (nagas) are believed to have gathered at this spot.

The Ragniya form of the Goddess is Sattavie form which means the form of bliss and tranquility. Kheer Bhawani has been mentioned elaborately in the Kalhana’s Rajtarangini. The texts mention that the sacred spring of the Tula Mula region is situated in a marshy ground. This spring has been named as the Mata Ragini Kund (pond). The Brahmins of the Kashmir region worship this spring and the pilgrims from all comers of the country visit here to have the pious darshan of this place and of Maharagini as the form of Goddess Durga Bhagvati.

According to the text of Rajtarangini, Tula Mula, and the Maharagya spring both have been considered extremely sacred and the region’s Brahmins of Tula Mula are considered to have immense spiritual prowess. As stated by legends, during the Samvat 4041 of the Hindu lunar calendar, when the sacred Spring of Tula Mula in Kashmir was inundated under the sway of the floods, the holy place couldn’t be seen anywhere and couldn’t be traced. It was then that Yogi Krishna Pandit of Kashmir had a dream and the Goddess appeared to him to direct that she will be swimming in the form of a snake at some proper place and asked him to demarcate the holy spot with large poles in the marsh land. The holy spot was subsequently discovered at the same spot as directed by the Goddess.

The place had also uncovered the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs that were engraved with figures were discovered and many images were found. In the 1920s, Maharaja Pratap Singh, an ardent disciple of Goddess got the marble temple made in the middle of a spring that shines similar to a pearl in the midst of a shell.

Another mention of the temple is in the book Ain-i-Akbari where Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak had mentioned the area of the Tula Mula extending over a hundred bighas (units of land area) that used to sink in marshy lands during summers. The holy place was also visited by Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda. When Swami Vivekananda visited the temple, during his stay, he ritually worshiped Kheer Bhavani and he communicated with the Goddess.

The sacred spring situated here is uniquely septagonal and has been dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani. The spring flows from the west direction to the east. This holy spring mysteriously changes its color in various hues including red, pink, orange, and green, blue, white and this was noted by both Abul Fazal and Swami Vivekananda. The spring located at a distance of 27 kms from Srinagar, in Jammu & Kashmir of India, and is considered to be a form of the Goddess Mata Ragnya Devi.

Significance of the Kheer Bhawani Temple

Kheer Bhawani temple is highly important among the followers of the historical Vedic Religion in the Kashmir region and the followers are called Kashmiri Pandits. The area around the temple is covered with smooth and beautiful stones and large and old chinar trees that grow near the temple which is a popular place for the pilgrims to sit or sleep on the soft mats of grass. A major significance of the temple is due to the occasional change in the color of the spring water which when black or darkish is believed to indicate inauspicious times for the Kashmir region. This popular belief was reinforced at the time of the visit of Walter Lawrence, the-then British settlement commissioner for land in 1886. He visited the spring and reported the water of the spring having a violet tinge. A darkish or murky tinge was observed by the locals in the spring water just before the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and during the infamous 1989 insurgency in the valley.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Timings

Kheer Bhawani Temple is open from morning 6AM to 8PM every day.

Festivals Celebrated At the Kheer Bhawani Temple

The annual festival held at the temple is the Mela Kheer Bhawani which is the time when the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani gather here and fast on the eighth day of the full moon. The festival is held during the month of May/ June. The annual festival is a public holiday in the state of Kashmir. This is the time when, according to a popular belief, the Goddess changes the color of the water of the spring and this is due to the mysterious manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani.

This time of the festival on the eighth day of the full moon holds high significance for the devotees of the temple’s presiding deity Ragnya Devi. The temple serves as the main venue for the annual celebrations on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. A large number of Hindus gather at the temple and seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple also gains special visitors during the occasion of Shukla Paksh Ashtami. Many havans/yagys are performed by the holy men during the festival to please the goddess.

Poojas and Rituals at Kheer Bhawani Temple

The Kashmiri Pandits hold special reverence towards the temple and thus they perform many rituals at the temple to please the Goddess and to keep their region safe from any external danger. It is believed that there were 360 springs surrounding the main temple earlier that disappeared and the land became marshy and so the Kashmiri Brahmins for whom the Kheer Bhawani is the presiding deity perform special yagys here to protect the temple. A lot of people also visit here for a pilgrimage and chant mantras for their Goddess.

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

Kheer Bhawani Temple is located in the village Tul Mul at a distance of 1 hour, 14 miles in the east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is guarded by soldiers from all around and from a distance as many devotees visit here so while visiting the devotees first need to register near the entrance gate. Srinagar can be reached from all parts of the country through rail, road as well as airways.

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Srinagar and the Srinagar Airport is the major airport.

By Train: Srinagar does not have its own railway station but the nearest railway station is the Udhampur station. It is situated 130 kms away from Srinagar and the Ram Nagar station is located 138 kms away from the city

By Bus: Regular buses can be caught from Srinagar to all other major cities of the country and back. The major bus stand is at Srinagar.

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar has many 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star hotels as well as many luxurious resorts like Hotel Akbar, The Lalit Grand Palace and Vivanta Dal View by Taj. It is also house to many houseboats and many inns, cottages and private residences.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city poised with natural beauty and nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the Jhelum and has many diverse temples of great architectural grandeur. The city has beautiful gardens and lakes. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar are the Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bag and Jami Masjid.

Following are some major temples in Srinagar:

Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar: Adi Shankaracharya had visited this temple and hence it derived its name. The Temple is a soaring imposing structure and highly visited.
Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat: This is a temple laced with many mystical theories from the ancient Hindu mythology. The temple’s presiding deity is Sharika Devi who is also the major deity of the Srinagar city.
Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labor. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12^th century and is blessed with great architecture and as a result holds great importance among the locals.
Jwala Mukhi Temple, Khru: The picturesquely placed temple is atop a hillock and is a popular draw for the tourists.
Rameshwaram Shiva Temple, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar: The popular Shiva temple has religious significance and has associations with Hinduism, but also Sikhism.
Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam: The popular Shiva temple is one that has exceptional popularity amongst the faithful devotees and the devotees throng the temple in spite of its ruined condition.

The Kheer Bhawani Temple of Srinagar has been a temple of special importance among the Kashmiri Brahmins and so does the city of Srinagar that is visited by many tourists. A temple is a place with immense natural beauty and thus is worth a visit.

Amarnath Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

September 15, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 1 Comment Filed Under: Jammu and Kashmir Temples Tagged With: Shiva Temples

Amarnath Temple Cave is located at an altitude of 3888 meters (12760 feet) in the Himalayan mountain range known as the Chandanwari Hills. The shrine receives more than 4 lakh pilgrims in a 45-day visiting period during the month of Shravan and the Shravani Mela.

For Amarnath Yatra, the cave itself is surrounded by snowy peaks on all sides. The total height of the cave is 130 feet. A snowy stalagmite forms the shape of the Shiva Linga which is worshipped with great reverence. Besides the main Linga, three other formations representing smaller Lingas are worshiped as Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati and Bhairava.

Amarnath Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Amarnath (Lord Shiva)
Location	Chandanwari Hills, Himalayas
Entry Fee	Free
Tours	Amarnath Tour
Timings	6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Best Time to Visit	July to August
Festivals Celebrated	Shravan

Amarnath Temple – Video

History of Amarnath Temple

What is the history of the Amarnath Temple

⭐ What is the background of the Amarnath Temple Cave?

The Amarnath Temple Cave is believed to have been in existence since the age of the Gods and Goddesses. The cave has been mentioned in the Bringesh Samhita and the Nilamata Purana. A 6th century Sanskrit work depicting the life of Kashmiris also mentions a holy cave where Lord Shiva is worshipped as an ice Linga. The Amarnath Mahatmaya provides extensive details of the pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine. It also enlists all the holy sites en route and their significance. The Amarnath Mahatmaya is believed to explain the importance of Amarnath in details and takes its facts from the ancient Adi-Purana.

⭐ What is the legend of the Amarnath Temple Cave?

The legend associated with the cave is fascinating and intriguing. According to scriptures, the cave is believed to have been chosen by Lord Shiva himself for enlighting Goddess Parvati about immortality and how to achieve it. There is a story behind this that has been passed on for generations.

As per the story, Goddess Parvati wanted to know the reason Lord Shiva wore the Mund Mala. Mund Mala is the necklace of skulls that Lord wears around his neck. To this, the Lord replied that he added one skull to the necklace whenever she died and resurrected. Goddess Parvati became curious and asked him why is that he is immortal while she has to go through the cycles of birth and death. To satisfy her curiosity, Lord Shiva told her to listen to the Amar Katha, the story of immortality.

However, to tell her the secret, he decided that the selected place should be isolated and that no living thing must be able to overhear it. After searching for such a suitable place, he arrived at the Amarnath Cave. On the way, he let go of all living things associated with him such as Nandi, the snakes, his son Ganesha, the Five elements and the moon God so that none could overhear the secret.

Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati entered the cave. Lord Shiva sat on a deerskin and concentrated hard to make sure that no mortal was nearby to hear the tale. He created a Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to eliminate all the living things around the cave. As soon as that was accomplished, he started narrating the tale. Unknowingly to both of them, a pigeon egg was hidden and alive beneath the bedding Lord Shiva used to sit and tell the story. A pair of pigeons eventually hatched out if it and became immortal since they had listened to that story. It is believed that this pair of pigeons can still be seen around the cave by the visiting pilgrims.

⭐ When was the Amarnath Temple Cave discovered?

The discovery of the shrine is contested by two versions. As per ancient epics, the valley of Kashmir was underwater for a long time. Sage Kashyapa drained the water from the valley by creating several rivers and their distributaries. Sage Bhrigu visited Kashmir on one of his spiritual journeys and stumbled upon the Holy Cave. It is believed that he was the first person apart from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati themselves, to visit the holy cave. As the news of the Linga spread, pilgrims began to arrive at the shrine to pay their respect to their beloved God and Goddess.

Another more recent story says that the cave was actually discovered 700 years ago by a shepherd named Buta Malik. As per his version, once, while roaming through the mountains, he met a Saint and was given a bag of coal to carry home. When he reached home and opened the bag, he found gold instead of coal. He was overjoyed and trekked back to thank the Saint. However, when he reached the spot, he could not find the Saint but in its place found the holy cave with the Linga. He ran back and announced his discovery to the villagers. Word of the cave spread fast and eventually, the spot became a pilgrimage undertaken by a large number of people every year.

Another popular legend associated with the cave is that of Sage Bringesh. The disciples of Sage Bringesh decided to take a pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave. On the way, they were attacked by demons. They could not complete the journey and requested the assistance of Sage Bringesh. The Sage performed penance to Lord Shiva for his assistance. Appeased, Lord Shiva gifted him the Chhari Mubarak to be carried by him for safety.

Significance of Amarnath Temple

As per the ancient Sage Bringesh, the importance of the holy cave is such that, anyone who visits the shrine attains moksha or enlightenment.

According to religious beliefs, the Lingam made of snow grows with the rising phase of the moon and diminishes in size during the diminishing phase of the moon during the Summer or the Shravan month. However, this fact is not scientifically proven.

The areas surrounding the Pahalgam base camp are extremely significant from the mythological point of view. It is a belief that Lord Shiva left Nandi at Pahalgam (Bail Gaon), let go of his snakes at Lake Sheshnag, released the moon from his hair at Chandanwari, left his son Lord Ganesh at Mahaguna Mountains (also known as Mahaganesh Mountain), and left the five elements of Earth at Panjtarni. It is believed that he performed the Tandav dance at the site as a symbol of renouncing the earthly world.

It is believed by ardent devotees that this cave is the spot where Lord Shiva grants the boon of immortality to the other Gods.

Timings for Amarnath Temple

The Amarnath Temple cave remains open to the public from July to August (Vyas Purnima to Shravan Purnima) only.

Here are the timings of the Amarnath Temple:

Rituals	From	To
Darshan	6:00 AM	6:00 PM
Pony Ride/ Trek	6:00 AM	3:00 PM

Devotees have to reach Panchkarni before 3:00 PM to take pony ride/ trek. If they reach after 3:00 PM, then they are not allowed to go to the temple on that day. They have to stay overnight in a camp in Panchtarni and then go for a temple darshan in the morning.

All yatris have to register at the Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Offices located at major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jammu, and Srinagar.

It is highly recommended that one gets themselves a complete medical checkup before proceeding for the Yatra. The trek involves walking for 42 km at a high altitude.

Poojas & Rituals at Amarnath Temple

Pratham Pooja: The Pratham Pooja means the “First Pooja”. This pooja is performed at the holy cave on the day the Yatra is declared open. The members of the J&K Government, as well as the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, attend the pooja without fail. Several Vedic mantras, as well as Shlokas, are chanted in praise of Lord Shiva, following which the Prasad is distributed among the devotees. The pooja ceremony involves Bhoomi Pooja, Navagraha Pooja, Chhari Pooja and lastly the Dhwajarohan indicating the beginning of the yatra. The pooja is held on the day of Vyas-Purnima (July).
Chhari Mubarak: The auspicious event marks the end of the Amarnath Yatra. The Chhari refers to the holy mace of Lord Shiva that he gifted to the Sage Bringesh. The Chhari Mubarak is taken to the shrine on the day of Shravan Purnima, also celebrated as the Raksha Bandhan. After the Pratham Pooja, he Chhari is then returned to the Dashnami Akhara where it is kept for darshan. Special Poojas are performed for Naga Panchami. Then the mace is carried to the holy Amarnath Shrine by the traditional route.

When is the best time to visit Amarnath Temple

Dress Code for Amarnath Temple

⭐ What to wear to the temple and why?

The Holy Cave is located at an elevation of 12,000 feet. The weather conditions are erratic as it may rain or snow anytime during the journey. The temperature may fall as low as -5 degree Celsius.

Hence, it is recommended that one should be dressed in heavy woollen clothes. Additional jackets, monkey caps, mufflers, ear-covering gear, thermal wear, and woollen socks. It is also advised to wear proper sports shoes for the trek.

Saree is very uncomfortable to wear for the women pilgrims during the journey and should be avoided, if possible.

⭐ What are the additional items ones should carry?

Raincoat, umbrellas, blankets, torches with spare batteries, flasks, and portable small tents or beds are highly recommended for the journey.

Routes to Amarnath Temple

The devotees have to trek a distance of 42 km on foot from the scenic town of Pahalgam. For a person in healthy condition, the trek will take 4 – 5 days to complete. There are two approaches to the holy cave – the longer but traditional route from Srinagar (42 km) or the shorter new steep route (16 km) from a town called Baltal.

By Air:

The nearest airport is the Srinagar International Airport that is well connected to cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Leh, Chennai, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Amritsar. The airport connects the city of Jeddah with a flight operated by Air India.
Helicopter services are operated from Srinagar by private operators till Panjtarni, 6 km from the cave.

By Train:

The nearest railway station to Pahalgam is Jammu Tawi, from where the trek begins. Jammu is well connected to almost all the major cities in India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Hyderabad, and Allahabad.

By Road:

The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular buses to Pahalgam and Baital from Jammu and Srinagar.

Stay near Amarnath Temple

Every year, Amarnath Yatra is organized by the J&K State Government in collusion with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. The Government is responsible for providing necessary facilities like food supplies, power, telecommunication, water, tents, and ponies. Apart from the Government, there are several non-profit organizations set up pandals along the journey to serve the visiting devotees at free of cost.

These services are provided at the base camps along the trek like Sheshnag, Panchtarni etc.

Eating near Amarnath Temple

Government aided and NGO aided tents are set up at strategic points throughout the trek route. They offer simple vegetarian food to the devotees. It is strictly advised to carry snacks like chocolates, toffees, biscuits, dry fruits, and medicines for altitude sickness.

Temples near Amarnath Temple

Amarnath Temple Mount Kailash Mansarovar

Mamleshwar Temple: The ancient and mythologically important temple lies just 1 km from the main Pahalgam centre. The temple dates back to the 5th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the legend, this is the place where Goddess Parvati instructs Ganesha to stand guard at the temple entrance and not allow anyone inside.
Sri Shankaracharya Temple: The famous and ancient temple dedicated to Sri Shankaracharya is located on a hilltop in Srinagar, 88 km from Amarnath base Pahalgam. The temple is also known as Jyesteshwara Temple. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva. The original shrine is believed to date back to 200 BC. The present structure has been constructed somewhere during the 9th century. The temple is also a sacred site for the Persians, Buddhists, and Jews.
Martand Sun Temple: The enchanting and ghostly ruins of the once great and beautiful temple dedicated to the Sun God Surya is not to be missed. The temple is located just 40 km from Pahalgam. The foundation of the temple dates back to the 4th century but the temple is believed to have been built in the 8th century by the Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty. The antechamber of the temple contains ruined sculptures and images of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Ganga, Yamuna, and Surya.

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