‘Chhari-Mubarak’ taken to Sharika Bhawani

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, August 3

The “Chhari-Mubarak” (holy mace of lord Shiva) was taken to the Sharika Bhawani temple here today for prayers as part of the traditions related to the Amarnath yatra.

Mahant Deependra Giri led a group of sadhus to the temple at Hari Parvat to pay obeisance to the goddess on the occasion of “shravan shukla paksha pradipada”.

The mahant said Goddess Sharika-Bhawani, popularly known as “Tripursundari” amongst the mystics, is believed to be the “isht devi” or presiding deity of the Srinagar city, who manifested herself in a figure of “shila” or holy rock at Hari Parvat.

He said the sadhus, who participated in the puja, prayed for peace in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The mace is carried to various Valley-based temples to perform rituals before it finally arrives at the Amarnath cave on the day of Rakshabandhan on August 18, the concluding day of the yatra.

The yatra rituals related to “Charri-Mubarak” had begun at Pahalgam on July 19.

The mahant said the “Chhari-Mubarak”, one depicting lord Shiva and another goddess Parvati, will be kept at Shri Amareshwar Temple at Akhara Building, Budshah Chowk in Srinagar for darshan after rituals for “sthapana” are performed on August 5, until it leaves for the main course of the pilgrimage on August 13.