Revival of Hindu Shrines In Kashmir

02 Pridiman Bali   Cul-Martand 20090831  

It is not the first time KPs have been thrown out of their native place (Kashmir Valley) but in the past also as per our history, several such occasions have occurred during the reigns of Sultan Sikandar, Mugal Emperor Aurangzeb and a Pathans. The KPs were compelled either to embrace Islam or to fled away from Kashmir. However during the regime of Sultan Zain-ul-Abdidin Hinduism in Kashmir was revived. Pakistan tried to grab Kashmir and attacked/killed countless non - Muslims in Baramulla, Poonch - Rajouri, Muzaffarabad. Most of the KPs fled from their native place. It was only the Indian Army which saved Kashmir and non - Muslims there. The terrorism actually started in the valley from 1986 when anti - Indian elements with the support of Pakistan attacked KPs and looted / gutted their houses at Wanpoh a village of Anantnag District. Then from early 1990 militancy spread throughout intellectuals. the valley and selective killings of lawyers, Doctors, Officer officials and other innocent persons of the community were killed and their houses looted/gutted by the terrorists with the full support of Pak rulers.

Swami Ji a great religious personality of the community, presently running Geeta Satsang Ashram at Muthi Phase - II, Jammu, visited recently Kashmir Valley with the mission to revive Hindu shrines / temples there. During his tour to the Valley he visited Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Sopore, etc. His main objectives are

• to read Holy Geeta;
• to help poor & needy people; to give Sanskars to young ones.
• to preserve old heritage, customs, traditions & brotherhood of the community:
• to give education to all children of the society.
• to curtail social evils.

As per Swami Kumar Ji there are only 1533 families having a population of 7533 souls in 271 villages.

The district wise breakup is like this:

In the valley he visited various temples and shrines to take on spot stocks of these places. According to him 522 temples/ shrines have been damaged during these 21 years and 21 temples/ shrines have been occupied by security forces. Swami Ji performed pooja/archana at every temple/shrine where he visited. The district wise break up of these places which he visited is as under:

DISTRICT ANANTNAG:

Verinag, Gusanigund, Lookbhawan, Shiva Bhagwati, Akingam, Uma Devi, Nag Dandi Ashram, Gautam Nag, Martand Temple, Bumzoo Gupha, Pap-haran Nag, Nagbal -Anantnag, Thojwara - Bijbehara, etc.

DISTRICT KULGAM:

Kulwagishwari - Kulgam, Tripore Sundri - Divsar, Ganishibal Chawalgam, Pamby Kakram Mindis

DISTRICT SHOPIAN:

Batpora Temple, Kapal Mochan Tirth (Rambi Ara), Shiv Mandir - Hall, Ragniya Bhagwati Temple Manzgam, where Hawan was also performed in the premises of the temple.

DISTRICT SRINAGAR:

Hanuman Mandir, Amirakadal, Ganpatyar Temple, Bhagwan Gopinath Ji Ashram - Kharyar,  Swami Laxman Ji Ashram - Nishat, Zeethyar Gupkar Road, Hari Parbat including Pokhribal etc.

DISTRICT GANDERBAL:

Kheer Bhawni Shrine Tulmulla

DISTRICT BARAMULLA:

Shailputri Asthapan Devibal. There he also visited Reshi Pir Temple at Sopore and also had drashan of famous "Mastana" Ahad Sahib.

Swami Ji also met various Kashmiri Pandit families at their residences in the valley and exchanged views with them. He had several Satsangs during the interaction with them. Besides he distributed holy book "Geeta Ji" among these families.

Swami ji also revealed that there were some miracles at certain place. The locals welcomed the visit of Swami Ji at all places. At ChattarGul Temple Swami Ji offered some milk and flowers in the sacred spring Maa Bhagwati. Soon this was done shape of Omkar was seen in the spring by all who were present in the shrine. At Nawgam shrine a large group of children were playing cricket there, on reaching there Swami Ji persuaded them that this is a sacred place and should be respected instead of playing games there, the children took it otherwise but soon an unknown person appeared in the premises of the shrine and in no time all the children fled away from there. At Umanagri Swami Offered "Tahar" which was put at the top of the destroyed temple. Soon this was done beautiful white bird appeared and took all "Tahar".

Swami Ji presumed that KPs have roots in the Valley. He stressed to revive all the temples/ shrines of the valley.

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Courtesy: Pridiman Bali  and The Martand- The Official organ of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference: 16th November, 2009