Fails to be true whodunit thriller.....Page 4 ....Page 2 SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2016 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine Entrepreneurship opportunities In Jammu Rubon Saproo In Jammu shrine of Kheerbhawni has been built on mountainous terrain at Bhawani Nagar, Jammu after some Call of Mata spiritual souls and ardent devotees had a holy vision of the Dr S K Raina presence of the divine force at this sacred place. The holiness of the place can be well realised from the fact that one of the Tulmul or Kheer Bhawani temple, Some people are of the opinion that there was a mulberry tree near the holy spot devotees claimed to have dreamt Mata saying that she too is one of the most popular of Kheer Bhawani which, in Kashmiri language , is called Tul Mul. But Tul Mul is had come to Janipur after the migration of community. and holiest Hindu temples of Another, devotee claimed that a lion has been observed pay- . The shrine is dedicated also derived from the Sanskrit phrase- Atul-Mulya- that is of great value. ing obeisance on many occasions at the spot where "Bhoomi- to the worship of Bhawani, the " was performed for construction of the Kheerbhawani shrine. The sacredness of the shrine of Mata Bhawani can Divine Mother or Goddess of also be well realised by some other stories of the devotees. this Universe. Tulmul is situated The history of the Kheerbhawani shrine at Bhawani at a distance of around twenty Nagar-Janipur Jammu dated back just twenty 22 years when four kilometers from a small group of 12 devotees, who were in constant touch in the district Ganderbal, with each other after migration, longing to review the Pooja towards the north of the city. on the auspicious nights of Ashtami and Navmi. Initially, they performed Pooja and Hawan at the house of one of the During the Hindu era, Tulmul devotees at Gangyal. This practice of performing religious was a place of great learning. The activity continued for just three years and finally the decision holy spring in the middle of which was taken by the group to have its own Pooja-Sathal in the temple of Maharajni (Divine Jammu. The idea was not easy to give its practical shape due Goddess) is positioned, is located to financial constraints and other reasons. on the bank of a branch of the riv- But, the dedicated group of devotees began to search for er Sindh. The holy spring has a the land and donations and in the process reached the house septagonal shape with the apex of Smt. Prabawati Koul at Bhawani Nagar. During small halt called Paad(feet) situated to the at her house, a spiritual soul Mr Arjan Dev Veshin, who was east. The northern and southern accompanying the group, was suddenly wonder-struck to sides are longer than the western notice a piece of land at mount adjoining to the house and side, which is called Sher or head. yearning to construct the shrine here. His idea was opposed It is shaped like AUM() in the by the other members who maintained that the temple of Sarada script. Mention about Mata cannot be built at the steep place. However, everyone Kheer Bhawani Shrine is found in agreed to build a temple at this palce after a piousperson Mr famous historian 's (12th Shamboo Nath Koul supported the idea by saying that "Mata Century) Rajtarangini. Kalhana is residing on this mount." writes that the sacred spring of According to the devotee L D Koul, "the most important Tulmul is situated in a marshy and difficult task ahead of the Sanstha was to install the idol ground. The of Kashmir after construction of the shrine at Bhawani Nagar. We went worship this spring and pilgrims to Kashmir along with a professional photographer and took from every corner of the country about 80 snaps of Mata's idol so that a replica of the idol visit Kashmir to have the dar- could be prepared. But, when we returned back to Jammu, shan/sight of this place. The men- we were astonished to know that the whole film was empty. tion of this temple is also corrob- Again, we went to Tulmulla and this time made sketches of orated in Abu-i-Fazal's book Aini- the idol instead of snaps. But, on way to Jammu, our bus met Akbari in which is written that the with an accident and many of us got seriously injured. After area of Tulmul extended over the the incident, no one dares to touch those sketch pages. Later area of hundred Bighas of land, on, Hawan and special prayers were performed at Tulmulla which got sunk in the summer and then only it became possible for us to make the replica season and formed into a marsh. of the Kheerbhawani idol." The Bhawani idol housed in the Swami and Swami shrine of Mata at Jammu is the replica of the idol of Tulmulla Vivekananda also visited this and was engraved at a place 100 Kms away from Chennai. place to have the darshan of the The stone used in the idol has been brought from place. With the pouring of milk Kanchipurunam. and throwing of sugar candy in the At last the "Bhoomi-Puja" for the revered shrine was per- spring by the pilgrims, a thick and midst of the spring which shines found elsewhere, is that the water blackish color was prominent in and gather at this holy shrine. This formed on 20th February, 1993 by Rughnath Kokiloo Jee solid layer was formed at its bot- like a pearl in a shell. of the Spring changes its colour the year 1947 when the Pakistani year the annual festival falls on and soon the one room construction was started. Instantly, tom. When it was cleared, the Some people are of the opinion from time to time. It takes on var- raiders attacked the peaceful val- 12th June 2016. The offerings to Shri Kund was dug out and Shri Bindu was temporarily ruins of an old temple and shrine that there was a mulberry tree ious hues like red, pink, orange, ley and also in 1990 when mass the Goddess in the form of milk, erected, both on the pattern of Tulmulla. Since then, the con- slabs engraved with figures were near the holy spot of Kheer green, blue and has often light exodus of Kashmiri Pandits took candy, flowers etc. are usually struction work of the shrine complex is going on. Over the years the shrine has gained prominence in Jammu and discovered. Here many images Bhawani which, in Kashmiri lan- green, red, rosy and milky-white place. provided by the local Muslims to were also found but nobody guage , is called Tul Mul. But Tul shades throughout the year. Abul An Annual Festival of Goddess people were seen daily visiting the shrine to take the the devotees which, undoubtedly, blessing. However, large gathering of devotees particularly rebuilt the temple till the 1907 Mul is also derived from the San- Fazal in 16th century and Swami Kheer-Bhawani is celebrated denotes and highlights the feeling Kashmiri Pandits assembled here during an annual festival when Maharaja Pratap Singh who skrit phrase- Atul-Mulya- that is Vivekananda in the year 1894 every year on the eighth day of the of religious harmony in the strife- of "Jeshth-Ashtami," to pay obeisance at the lotus feet of was the disciple and worshipped of great value. This means that all have testified this fact. Any shade full moon in the month of May/ torn valley of Kashmir. Mata. Devotees usually feel tears in their eyes or even inside this goddess, got a marvelous other pilgrim centers are of lesser of black colour is supposed to be June. The devotees of the Goddess (The author is senior fellow, Ministry of their mind when they pray to the goddess in devotion and temple of marble made in the value than this one. The signifi- inauspicious for the inhabitants Mata Kheer Bhawani observe fast cance of this shrine not to be of the valley.It is said that this Culture Government of ) contemplation.

Dr Mandeep Singh Azad and Dr Manmeet Motan after the birth of Guru Gobind singh. He was a Rajput cul- Before reading about300 Banda Singh yearstivator. By the time he was just turned 20, hisof astonishing Martyrdom mind was set on its task. He had a reputation of being a Bahadur, just ask yourself that have great hunter. Once he hunted a pregnant deer. The dying you ever heard before this name. After animal gave birth to two kids who died in front of his eyes. Lachhman was shocked to the core of his heart and thus reading him, think that whose fault is became a . He became a disciple of many but none this that you are unaware about the could provide him peace of mind. Later, he inclined to tantric and acquired some riddhis and siddhis name of the Man whose greatness is (miracle powers). Thus, he became quite popular among much bigger than Napoleon of France, simpletons, near the area around his ashram on the bank of river Godavari. Though, none benefitted from his pow- Hannibal first Caesar of Rome, Alfred ers, he used them to humiliate religious leaders and oth- of England and any other European er saints who ever happened to visit his ashram. Whenev- er, any such saint visited, he would overturn the cot using conqueror. How big would be that father his powers. Guru Gobind Singh after leaving Punjab trav- whose sons liver is put in his mouth elled towards South India along with some Sikhs, visited during torture and he remains their Lachhman Das’s ashram and sat on his cot in his absence. Accepting defeat, Lachhman Das Bairagi fell at the feet of sitting in peace and only taking god’s Guru Gobind Singh and sought forgiveness and said, “O, name .Such a great man cannot be a Guru Ji, I am your Banda. Show me the right path.” Guru Gobind Singh taught him the basic principles normal human being he surely might of Sikhsim and baptised him. Lachhman was given the be some pure divine soul. name ‘Banda Singh’. He transformed from a proud baira- gi to a humble and brave Sikh of Guru. Banda Singh is Baba Banda Singh bahadur famous sikh general was known to have abolished or halted the Zamindari sys- such a great warrior. The executioner tried everything to tem in the time he was active and gave the farmers pro- break Baba Ji but nothing broke him. Banda Singh was prietorship of their own land. It seems that all classes of given a short sword and ordered to kill his own son Ajai government officers were addicted to extortion and cor- Singh. As he sat unperturbed, the cxecutioner moved for- ruption and the whole system of regulatory and order was ward and plunged his sword into the little child cutting subverted. Guru sent Banda Singh on a mission to Pun- the body into two. Then pieces of flesh were cut from the jab to punish the guilty and cruel rulers of the time. He body and thrown in Banda’s face. His liver was removed was also provided with five brave Sikhs as advisors and and thrust into Banda Singh’s mouth. The father sat necessary weapons. Banda Singh was soon joined by thou- through all this without any signs of emotion. His powers sands of Sikhs in his crusade against the wicked rulers. of endurance were to be tested still further. Within a short span of time, Sikhs under Banda Singh’s eral Banda Singh Bahadur was arrested along with seven broke the yoke of 700 years rule of the invading forces The executioner then stepped forward and thrust the leadership put an end to life of many tyrant rulers, includ- hundred Sikh soldiers and brought to Delhi, after eight from the Arab countries. Their myth of power was broken point of his dagger into Banda’s right eye, pulling out the ing Nawab Wazir Khan, the main culprit behind death of months. Inside the fortress, Sikhs survived on leaves, by him. The sacrifices of Banda Singh and his men did not eyeball. He then pulled out the other eyeball. Banda sat younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji . Banda Singh cap- trees, and even bark of trees.With the martyrdom of Ban- discourage the Sikhs but prepared them for the worst through all this as still as a rock. His face gave no twitch tured large part of Punjab and established Sikh rule there. da, Khalsa leadership was taken up by new warriors like future fights. Passing through very difficult times for the of pain.”The cruel devil then took his sword and slashed He also minted coins in the name of Guru Nanak Dev and Baba Deep Singh, Nawab Kapur Singh, Chhajja Singh, next 40 years, the Sikhs ruled at Lahore under the lead- off Banda’s left foot, then both his arms. But Banda’s fea- Guru Gobind Singh. In the meantime, Faruksiyar became Bhuma Singh, Hari Singh Dhillon, Jassa Singh Ram- ership of Nawab Kapoor Singh and then by Jassa Singh tures were still calm as if he was at peace with his Creator. Delhi’s emperor. Angered by defeat at the hands of Ban- garhia, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Budh Singh, Naudh Singh Ahluwalia in 1756. Later on they ruled all over Punjab in Finally they tore off his flesh with red-hot pincers, and da Singh and Sikh forces, he sent a large force from Del- and Charhat Singh Sukerchakia and others. Within nine- the form of 12 Sikh Misels (groups) under different names. there being nothing else left in their book of tortures, they hi and mobilized from elsewhere in Punjab to defeat and ty years, Mahraja Ranjit Singh had established Sikh king- This ultimately led to establish Khalsa Raj under Mahara- cut his body up into a hundred pieces, and were satisfied. capture Banda Singh. dom. ja Ranjit Singh in 1799 AD. On the eve of 300 years mar- (These details of the torture are given in full, by the fol- Sikhs were surrounded by large number of Mughal No doubt, Banda Singh was immortalised forever in tyrdom of Baba Banda Bahadur, a Shaheedi Yatra start- lowing writers: Mohammed Harisi, Khafi Khan, Thorn- forces in the fortress of Gurdas Nagal. They fought valiant- the history of Sikhs, he is also known and much celebrat- ed on May 31, 2016 from Dera Baba Banda Bahadur Reasi ton, Elphinstone, Daneshwar and others). ly under Banda Singh’s command. They fought valiantly ed in Bengal after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and reached Shahidiasthan Mehroli Delhi on June Banda’s original name was Lachhman Dev. He was but due to depleting ration, they ultimately became too wrote a poem titled ‘Bandi Bir’. 9.Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s 10th successor Baba Jatin- born in October-November 1670, Rajouri (J&K) four years weak to fight with the enemies. Ultimately, the brave gen- Banda Singh Bahadur ruled only for 6 to 7 years. This der Singh Sodhi lead the Yatra.