Khir Bhawani Temple PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Kashmir: The Places of Worship Page Intentionally Left Blank ii KASHMIR NEWS NETWORK (KNN)). PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Kashmir: The Places of Worship KKaasshhmmiirr:: TThhee PPllaacceess ooff WWoorrsshhiipp First Edition, August 2002 KASHMIR NEWS NETWORK (KNN)) iii PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Kashmir: The Places of Worship Contents page Contents......................................................................................................................................v 1 Introduction......................................................................................................................1-2 2 Some Marvels of Kashmir................................................................................................2-3 2.1 The Holy Spring At Tullamulla ( Kheir Bhawani )....................................................2-3 2.2 The Cave At Beerwa................................................................................................2-4 2.3 Shankerun Pal or Boulder of Lord Shiva...................................................................2-5 2.4 Budbrari Or Beda Devi Spring..................................................................................2-5 2.5 The Chinar of Prayag................................................................................................2-6 2.6 Kah-Kah-Pal.............................................................................................................2-6 2.7 Takshak Nag............................................................................................................2-7 2.8 Lal Trag at Pampore.................................................................................................2-7 2.9 Harmukh..................................................................................................................2-8 3 Pilgrim Spots of Kashmir.................................................................................................3-9 3.1 GANESHA..............................................................................................................3-9 3.2 SANKARA OR SIVA..............................................................................................3-9 3.3 SANKARACHARYA TEMPLE............................................................................3-10 3.4 THE VISHNU PADA............................................................................................3-10 3.5 THE DEVI ( DIVINE MOTHER ).........................................................................3-10 3.6 KSHEER BHAWANI............................................................................................3-10 3.7 SUN TEMPLE AT MARTAND.............................................................................3-11 3.8 OTHER SHRINES.................................................................................................3-11 3.9 DISTRICT ANANRNAG.......................................................................................3-11 3.10 PROPER ANANTNAG..........................................................................................3-11 3.11 DISTRICT BARAMULLA....................................................................................3-12 3.12 DISTRICT SRINAGAR.........................................................................................3-13 3.13 JAMMU.................................................................................................................3-14 4 The Forgotten Tirtha of Bheda Devi...............................................................................4-15 5 Kaptesvara Tirtha...........................................................................................................5-18 5.1 ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS............................................................................5-18 5.2 LEGEND OF KING MUTUSKUND.....................................................................5-18 5.3 TIRTH YATRA.....................................................................................................5-19 5.4 SOCIO-HISTORICITY..........................................................................................5-19 5.5 NILMAT STORY..................................................................................................5-19 6 Sarada Temple in Kashmir.............................................................................................6-21 7 Sharadha Tirtha..............................................................................................................7-25 7.1 THE SHARADHA SCRIPT...................................................................................7-25 7.2 MORE ON THE SHARADA TEMPLE.................................................................7-25 8 Shree Sharika Peetham of Kashmir.................................................................................8-27 8.1 The Meaning of Shri Chakra...................................................................................8-27 8.2 The Surroundings of Hari Parbat............................................................................8-28 8.3 The Bhawani Sahasra Nama...................................................................................8-28 8.4 Other Works on this Subject...................................................................................8-29 9 Bujbror - An Ancient Religious Place.............................................................................9-30 KASHMIR NEWS NETWORK (KNN)) v PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Kashmir: The Places of Worship 10 Creating Symbols of Hope........................................................................................10-33 11 Sodaratiratha............................................................................................................11-35 11.1 Sodaranag.............................................................................................................11-35 11.2 Siva Bhutesha Worship.........................................................................................11-36 11.3 Jyestharudra Cult..................................................................................................11-36 11.4 Patronage.............................................................................................................11-37 11.5 Post Script............................................................................................................11-39 12 Amarnath Cave........................................................................................................12-40 12.1 Pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave...............................................................................12-40 12.2 The Mysterious Cave of Amarnath.......................................................................12-43 13 Khir Bhawani Spring................................................................................................13-53 13.1 The Anchar Lake..................................................................................................13-54 13.2 Vetsar Nag...........................................................................................................13-55 13.3 Ganderbal.............................................................................................................13-55 13.4 Historical Reference.............................................................................................13-55 13.5 Khirbhawani.........................................................................................................13-56 13.6 Spring...................................................................................................................13-57 13.7 Natural Phenomenon............................................................................................13-58 13.8 Chakra or Yantra of Rajni Devi (Tulamulla).........................................................13-58 13.9 Puja of the Devi or Worship of Goddess Rajnidevi...............................................13-59 13.10 The Cleansing of Khirbhawani Spring..............................................................13-61 13.11 Improvement of the Shrine...............................................................................13-61 14 Three Shrines of Khir Bhawani................................................................................14-63 15 Shankracharya..........................................................................................................15-65 16 Rishipeer..................................................................................................................16-68 17 Chakrishwar.............................................................................................................17-70 18 Ganpatyar Temple....................................................................................................18-71 19 Somyar Temple........................................................................................................19-72 20 Raghunath Temple...................................................................................................20-73 21 Sheetalnath Temple..................................................................................................21-74 22 Temple inside Hari Parbat Fort.................................................................................22-75