It is time to kick back ...... Page-44 SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine Fighting against Hepatitis..Page-44 MACHAIL YATRA G.L. Khajuria Naral, Sugliangadi, Bathree, Mulgo, Shagaani, Kokan- dran, Rotae, Palalee, Betha and a big village Ligree hav- and Kashmir as a whole is a land of temples, ing hamlets viz, Doordo, Stangarhi, Thatak, Shahalee, sacred shrines and of course a treasure trove of pilgrim- totee, Pondale, Tunkhel, etc. The village Ligree is having ages of varied hues which occupy almost every nook and a population around 1000 or so. At Machail, a small vil- corner of the State. lage, rather hamlet is located at the sacred shrine of Mata There is no denying the fact that 'Chandi Mata' who is Chandi and the devotees throng in queues for hours popularly known as Machail Wali Mata occupies a promi- together to have a holy darshan of Mataji, to pay obei- nent place among the devotees. sance and obtain blessings. The Chandi Mata is mostly confined to Himalayan During the trek, one comes face to face with nature in region. In Jammu itself she has manifested at Mahalaxmi its true colours. Mandir at Pacca Danga and at Bhadarwah where from One experience the silence of lush green meadows, her Holy Mace (Charri) starts in the month of August every year. the music of gurguling streams and that of trees It is situated around 306kms away from when a whiff of air makes them sway here Jammu, (Jammu-Batote) (120kms) ACCORDING and there. One only needs a sensibility Batote- (121 kms) Kishtwar- to experience this. TO THE ANCIENT The ambience around makes Atholi- Gulabgarh-65kms) by road SOURCES, MAA APPEARED and thence onfoot to Machail one spiritually surcharged. One Mata which is barely 30kms. IN THE FORM OF PINDI, THE forgets the daily routine life, and Though the terrain is too tough remains soaked in spirituality. SAME AS IT IS IN VAISHNO DEVI. The jorney allows us to differ- to trek but with the grace of SHE CAME HERE FROM THE MINDAL Almighty Mata Chandi, one entiate between bad and feels joyous in association BHATTAS, A SMALL VILLAGE IN good. with enchanting pilgrims HIMACHAL PRADESH TO BLESS THE The yatra also allows us to know how faith brings peo- echoing Jai Mata Jai Chandi PEOPLE OF . THE YATRA WAS Mata. The entire trek remians ple of different denomina- dotted with yatries of all hues INITIALLY STARTED BY THAKUR tions closer to each other. The in colorful attire.The main KULBIR SINGH OF artificial barriers created on caste or region basis vanish stopovers en route are : Gulab- WHO WAS SERVING IN J&K garh, Layondee, S Kunderpul, here. The yatris who throng here Chishoti, Hamori and Machail. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND from different parts of the country The entire area is surrounded by WAS POSTED IN have just one thing in mind -to get lush green, meadows and flanked by blessings of the Mata, and nothing deodar, kail, fir, spruce, oaks, shrubs and MACHAIL. else. It is also an opportunity to know the herbs. lifestyle of people living in farflung areas According to the ancient sources, Maa appeared where there are no basic amenities of life available. in the form of Pindi, the same as it is in Vaishno Devi. She The Chandi Dham Machail has both Shiv and Shakti. came here from the Mindal Bhattas, a small village in On the one hand, the Goddess Chandi (Shakti) is bless- Himachal Pradesh to bless the people of Paddar. The ing her devotees at Machail village while on the other hand yatra was initially started by Thakur Kulbir Singh of there's a Shiva Lingam on the opposite high mountain Bhaderwah who was serving in J&K Police department where the pilgrims visit to pay obeisance on the pious and was posted in Machail. occasion of the Shakti yatra. The mountain is called Shiv The mention of Machail yatra would be incomplete Pahad. The devotees describe it as a unique union of Shi- without the mention of "Trishul Bhaint" yatra. va and Shakti at Machail. The "Trishul Bhaint" yatra leaves from Doda city to The Chhari as such culminates at the shrine Shakti Chinote Bhaderwah. It is preceded by a Jagran at Rad- where a Maha Yagya is held. heysham Temple at Doda city. Then the yatra leaves for Machail yatra attracts a vast number of pilgrims. Now Bhaderwah. After reaching Chinote, the yatra is received with the increasing focus on Bhadarwah as a pilgrim and and welcomed by the local people at Chinote. tourist spot the civic amenities for this religious spot need The unique holy mace of the Goddess leads the pil- to be undertaken on a war footing.The toilet blocks, road grims and provides them with strength and inspiration. upgradation, plantation, rain shelters, retaining walls at Amidst natural ambience, the people trek the mountain- steep points have to incorporated in the development plan ous route chanting "Jai Maa Chandi", "jai maa chandi". for Machail Mata Shrine. Then increasing number of peo- The holymance is welcomed enroute by thousands of ple will visit it to get spiritual peace. It will give boost to devotees at various villages. These inaccessible hamlets local economy which is hard pressed at present, apart include Matti, Seondi, Hamiddran, Massu, Mao, Garh, from boosting tourism the clarion call of the day. Sanctum sanctorum of Chandi Mata SWAMI BUDHA AMARNATH PILGRIMAGE KD Maini ON THE OCCASION OF RAKSHA BANDAN, THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS Swami Budha is situated in between the main belt of Pir Panchal range at Rajpura Mandi which is 23 kilometers on the north east of FROM POONCH, RAJOURI, JAMMU AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY Poonch city. This sacred place is located on the confluence of two gushing streams namely Nallah Gagri and Pulsta Nadi. This place is surrounded by HAVE DARSHAN OF CHARRI MUBARAKH AND THE HOLY SHRINE snow bound lofty peaks, thick belt of fir forests (in the eastern side), lush green pastures and crystal clear streams and nallahs. The climate of this attractive and charming spot is very pleasant and cool. At present Swami Budha Amar- nath temple is connected with a motorable road and it is 244 kilometers from Jammu. The original temple has been carved out of one big stone. There are four doors in the temple on the northern, southern, eastern and western sides which indicates that the doors of this shrine are open for all the four varnas. There is a natural Shivlinga of white stone (Chakmak) inside the temple. A number of ancient idols collected from nearby villages have also been installed in the premises of the temple where there were four holy springs in the past. At present the water of three springs has been diverted to fourth one which is on the southern side of the temple. The water of these springs is consid- ered holy from religious point of view. The pilgrims first take bath in this spring and then enter the temple for prayers. Thousands of pilgrims with great devotion come to this place from various parts of the country every year. The main religious function is held on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan which is known as Mela Swami Budha Amar- nath Festival. Three days before the Mela, a religious congregation is held at Dashnami Akhara Poonch for Havan and Pooja of Chari Mubarakh. The procession of Chari Mubarakh starts from Akhara in between the chant- ing of bhajans and religious slogans. A guard of honour from Police contin- gents is paid to Chari Mubarakh at the gate of the Akhara. The Swami Ji is carried in a palki by the devotees, along with the sacred mace. Thousands of devotees and hundreds of Sadhus accompany the procession which leads towards Swami Budha Amarnath on foot. The main halt is at Chandak, (the name of the Chandaka Devi) where lunch is served to the yartis. While on the way from Poonch to Mandi, a number of stalls remain erected for welcom- ing the Charri Mubarakh and yatries. At Chandak, light drinks are served by a prominent Muslim of Chandak to yatries. The procession reaches Rajpura on the same day in the afternoon where it is received by the local people, sad- hus and workers of the Trust after guard of honour by the BSF contingent at the gate of Swami Budha Amarnath. The Charri Mubarakh is taken to the main shrine in between the traditional rituals followed by the Aarti of Lord Shiva. On the occasion of Raksha Bandan, thousands of pilgrims from Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and other parts of the country have darshan of Charri Mubarakh and holy shrine. After performing the religious rituals, the devo- tees come out of the shrine with great joy and satisfaction. Then the langer starts in which people of all sections sit together in a row and have their lunch. The District Administration along with the Managing Committee makes all adequate arrangements for the comfortable stay of yatries. By this way, this religious function takes the shape of public festival in which people of all section take part. This holy place has great religious importance. It is said that at this very place Lord Shiva had started narrating Amar Katha to Parvati Ji which end- The temple of Swami Budha Amarnath ed at Swami Amarnath located near Pahalgam Kashmir. This temple is con- sidered older than the Swami Amarnath Ji of Kashmir. This is why the shrine long time. He was devotee of Lord Shiva. There are number of references in erected a lingum there. Since the Pulsata was a great Rishi, a sculptor and is known as Swami Budha Amarnath. It is believed that one must visit this Neel Mat Puran about Pulsata Rishi. As per these references, Pulsat was very popular among the habitants of this area, therefore, after his death the sacred place before performing the yatra of Amarnath Kashmir. also an artist and sculptor. He erected number of images of God. people converted this small temple into a shrine. Later on this shrine took the A number of legends are famous in and around Poonch city regarding the The legend goes that Pulsata meditated with such a devotion at Rajpura name of Swami Budha Amarnath. Even now a number of idols of ancient time eruption of this ancient temple. As per one legend, Mahatma Pulsta (the grand- Mandi that Lord Shiva gave him Darshan at this very place. In the memory are available in this area. It is possible that these idols may have been installed father of Kind Ravana of Sri Lanka) meditated at this very place for a pretty of Darshana of Lord Shiva, Rishi Pulsata constructed the temple of Shiva and by Pulsat Rishi.