STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: ‘Chhari-Mubarak’, the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva, was on Tuesday taken to historic Shankaracharya Temple on a hillock here and offered prayers as per the age-old customs related to annual Amarnath yatra.
Carried by its custodian Mahant Deependra Giri and accompanied by a group of sadhus and devotees, the holy mace was taken out from its abode at Dashnami Akhara in Budshah Chowk area of the city and offered special prayers at Shankaracharya temple on the occasion of Haryali-Amavasya (Shravan Amavasya).
A spokesman of the ‘True Trust’, founded by Giri in 2004, said collective prayers were also offered for peace and prosperity of the Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesman said the Chhari-Mubarak will be taken to ‘Sharika-Bhawani’ Temple at Hari Parbat in downtown Srinagar to pay obeisance to the goddess tomorrow.
The Chhari-Mubarak, one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati, would be kept at its abode for ‘darshan’ after rituals for ‘Sthapana’ are performed on August 5. It will be followed by traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ on August 7, he said.
The ‘holy mace’ will begin its journey from Srinagar to the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas on August 13 with night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani along the traditional 46-km Pahalgam-cave route.
On August 18, the Chhari Mubarak would be offered day long prayers at the cave shrine on the occasion of ‘Raksha-Bandhan’ and ‘Sharavan Purnima’, marking the conclusion of the official 48-day yatra.
The annual yatra commenced from the twin routes of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and 12-km shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district on July 2 and so far over 2.15 lakh Yatris had paid obeisance at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-Shivlingam.
The spokesman said the Trust would make all the necessary arrangements for those coming from across the country to join ‘Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra’ for their food, accommodation and transportation during the pilgrimage. Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 204 pilgrims left Jammu for the twin base camps of Amarnath cave shrine amidst tight security.
The batch comprising 116 men, 41 women and 47 sadhus left in eight vehicles from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir on Tuesday morning, a police officer said.
On Tuesday, 657 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine. Till date, 2,15,690 pilgrims have visited the shrine since the annual pilgrimage started from Jammu on July 1.
The Yatra will conclude on August 18.
