SHADIPORA OR THE PRAYAG OF KASHMIR
"The wise say that by bathing in the confluence of
Sindhu and vitasta especially on the full moon day of the month of Prausthapada
, one obtains the merit of the performance of Ashavmedha ."
(Neelamat Purana verse 1384 )
As Jhelum moves
downwards to join lake Wular , it meets three
important streams . The first One is known as LIDDER which joins
VITASTA near khannabal , next comes VESHOV which joins VITASTA (
Jhelum ) near Bijbihara
. This confluence is known as SANGAM in Kashmir . The
third confluence occurs at Shadipora where SINDH stream joins Vitasta (
Jhelum ) and this confluence is known as known PRAYAG . kashmiri
Pandits attach more
importance to the Confluence at SHADIPORA where SINDH stream joins VITASTA .
Kindly do not confuse the Mighty INDUS with Sindh Stream Both are different .
One being a mighty river originating from Kailash Mansarovar and going to
Pakistan via Ladakh while the other being a small stream originating from inner
Himalayas somewhere near Drass and joining VITASTA at Sahdipopra near SUMBAL .
Shadipora is about 21 Kms from Srinagar city. It is approached through Srinagar -Baramulla Road . At NARBAL one has
to take the right turn and go about 10 kms via the BANDIPORA road to reach this
village . To reach the exact confluence point boats are readily available at
Shadipora Ghats on vitasta.
Kashmiri Pandits believe that VITASTA at Shadipora is full of holy water
brought from all the mountains , lakes
and springs of Kashmir including Naraan Naag , Gangabal , Kounsernag
and Shesh Nag. I need to
elaborate a little..
The origin of VESHOV is KOUNSERNAAG lake in Pir Panjal Range
. Kounsernag is also considered the abode of SHIVA . VESHOV passes through Aharabal , Shopian , Khudwani
and Arwani area before it joins VITASTA at
Bijbihara . Then LIDDER brings
water of SHESHNAAG from Pahalghaam side and it joins VITASTA at khannabal . The SINDH stream again brings
water from Panjtarini from the holy Amar
Nath cave and then adds to it the water from the holy shrine of Kheer Bhawani
brought by Tulamula Nallah. TULAMULA
Nallah joins the SINDH stream a little above the SHADIPORA .
The water of KANAK VAHINI ( as mentioned in Neelmat Purana
and Rajtarangini of kalhana ) or the present day KREINK NADI which flows to the south of the temple complex
of Naran Naag is formed by two tributaries flowing out from two lakes below
Harmukh . These lakes are known as NUNDKOL ( Referred to as lake Kalodka in Neelmat Purana
and Rajtarangini ) and GANGBAL (
Referred to as Uttarmanasa in Neelmat Purana and Rajtarangini .Kalhana mentions
Harmukutganga or Harmukha or Nandikheshtra or Nandisa repeatedly in Taranga I canto 36,113,148 and
Taranga II canto 169 and 170 ).KREINK NADI joins
SINDH stream near KANGAN in
Kashmir . Finally Sindh stream also merges with VITASTA at Shadipora .
Once you understand this blending of Holy
waters of all the lakes and springs of Kashmir at SHADIPORA you also realize
the sanctity and importance of this
TIRTHA. Kashmiri Pandits call it PRAYAG. They used to consign the ASHES of their dearest and loved ones to the Holy Waters of PRAYAG at Shadipora
.
Kashmiri Pandits consider the Sindh stream as sacred GANGA and Vitasta to be another name of river YAMUNA. This belief is also supported by verses 305-306 -307 appearing in NEELMATA PURANA. i quote the verses.
" Bound by affection , Tapana's daughter , the goddess GANGA , due to great respect and devotion for the sage , augumented with her own part the VITASTA , the best of the rivers , the destroyer of all sins . The sindhu should be regraded as GANGA and the Vitasta should be regarded as the Yamuna .The place where the confluence of these two , should be regarded as equal to PRAYAGA.. "
Kashmiri Pandits consider the Sindh stream as sacred GANGA and Vitasta to be another name of river YAMUNA. This belief is also supported by verses 305-306 -307 appearing in NEELMATA PURANA. i quote the verses.
" Bound by affection , Tapana's daughter , the goddess GANGA , due to great respect and devotion for the sage , augumented with her own part the VITASTA , the best of the rivers , the destroyer of all sins . The sindhu should be regraded as GANGA and the Vitasta should be regarded as the Yamuna .The place where the confluence of these two , should be regarded as equal to PRAYAGA.. "
There is a Chinar Tree that stands on a small island exactly
at the Confluence spot,. It is surrounded by water on all sides. This is known
as PRAYAG CHINAR . One has to come to this CHINAR TREE in a Boat and go up some
steps to have a commanding view of the CONFLUENCE . A SHIVA lingam kept under
the shade of this CHINAR TREE since ages is also worshipped ..This chinar Tree
is considered Mystical and sacred by kashmiri Pandits . Even if the river is in
flood , the Tree never sinks . It is said that with any rise in water level
around it, the Chinar Tree, mysteriously rises in height . Kashmiris call this
spot as PRAYAAGICH BOONIE .
About this Chinar Tree and the Confluence , Dr Shashi Shekhar
Toshkhani adds ..
“ Kashmiri Pandits believe it to be a magical tree which
"neither becomes taller, nor shorter, nor bigger" --
"Prayaagachy boony na thadaan, na loktaan, na badaan" as the Kashmiri
proverb says. The Pandits believe that the tree has remained of the same size
for centuries. .The Chinar tree of Prayaag stands on a small island --
"just big enough to pitch your tent on" in the midst of the
confluence. .As Aurel Stein has pointed out, the Nilamata Purana identifies the
Sindhu River with the Ganga and the Vitasta with the Yamuna. That is why the
confluence has been given the name Prayaag : "Ganga Sindus tu vijneya
Vitasta Yamuna Tatha."
Across the river there is a Bhairava temple in the area called NARAYAN BAGH.
Across the river there is a Bhairava temple in the area called NARAYAN BAGH.
While moving in this area in a boat , I could feel having placed myself to the caring openness of river VITASTA. The feeling is similar to the boat ride of PRAYAG at ALLAHABAD. I was pensive and thoughtful in this ride as my memory rolled back 30 years. I vividly remember drenching myself in heavy rains while consigning the ashes of my Dear father to the holy waters of this confluence . Can one forget this place ?
DASHHAR AT SHADIPORA ( Added in June 2016 )
According to Hindu Mythology, DASHHAR at Shadipora takes place when there is a Celestial configuration of 10 planets . This particular combination takes place after every 75 years .Last DASHHAR was observed at this place in 1941 and the next fell due in June 2016.
In June 2016, about 10 thousand Pilgrims participated in the DASHHAR held at Shadipora.. The pilgrims who happened to be mostly kashmiri Pandits , had come from various corners of the country .This happened to be the first Dashhar of 21st century. Ganderbal District administration had made arrangements for safety and smooth conduct of this Holy Festival. .To oversee the arrangements , a Dashhar Festival Committee was constituted.This committee was headed by well known astrologer cum religious leader Pandit omkar Nath Shastri duly assisted by prominent persons drawn from Kashmiri Pandit community.
In 1941 , Maharaja Hari Singh the then ruler of the undivided state of Jammu And Kashmir personally attended the Festivities at Shadipora . Elaborate arrangements were also made by Maharaja's Government for Pilgrims. As per Records about 1 lakh Pilgrims visited Shadipora for DASHHAR of 1941.
This DASHHAR at Shadipora is something like Maha Kumbh at Prayaag Allahabad . Pilgrims from entire state would participate in the DASHHAR at Shadipora . They would take a dip in water at Holy confluence of Sindhu and Vitasta apart from performing SHRAADA of their nears and dears who were no more in this world.
(Some Photographs of DASHAAR 2016 are uploaded below. For these photographs , i remain Indebted to Dr Advaitvadini Koul and Sri Utpal koul from Rainawari who clicked these photographs and participated in the June 2016 DASHHAR at Shadipora ... )
(Autar Mota )
PS
Apart from DASHHAR 2026 photographs , other photographs uploaded by me show exact confluence point , Shadipora Ghats , Narayan Bagh , The lingam at Prayag Chinar , and the Confluence views of VITASTA and SINDH clicked by me in June 2009 .
From top, 7th and 8th picture are the pictures of exact point of confluence of Vitasta and Sindh .9th picture is of Shadipora Ghats . 3rd picture is the NARAYAN BAGH TEMPLE. The boat view is from Prayag Chinar . The Lingam is at Prayag Chinar . From Top , Two views of Prayag Chinar can also be seen in picture 1 and 6 uploaded by me.
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Jaya
Sibu writes in Hindi and Kashmiri. She is the recipient of Bhagwan
Gopinath Research Fellowship. Some of her Kashmiri poems have been
translated by Amrita Pritam in Hindi. Her publication includes 'Mantrik
Bhajan Dipika' in Kashmiri verse based on the Kashmiri Beej Mantras of
the Shaktivad tradition. 'Bhagwan Gopinath evam Dharmik Chintan' in
Hindi is under publication. She is a regular contributor to various
Hindi and Kashmiri magazines and piublications.