Shri Shri Jagatamba Maha Ragnya Asthapan is situated about 20 kilometers West of Srinagar in Badgam Distt. of Jammu & Kashmir state. It is situated on the bank of Shali Ganga which forms a garland around the huge shila of Jagatamba. It is believed that Jagatamba resides at Raithan in the form of a single huge huge shila (rock) covering about 1800 square feet area and has volume of about 27,000 cubic feet above the ground. The front of this revered shila is in the form of a huge door believed to be entrance to Swarg.1440303069-picsay
It has reference in literature and as the legend goes: Bhagwan Mahadev created Lanka for Jagatabma to live there. For the greh pravesh ceremony, Mahadev invited Ravana as brahmin for performing the greh pravesh puja. After Ravana performed the puja Mahdev asked Ravana to ask for any dakshina for this puja. Ravana realized this was a golden opportunity and demanded entire Lanka along with all the devis and devtas who had assembled there to attend the ceremony. Bhagwan Mahadev willingly fulfilled his demand. As the legend goes, when Bhagwan Rama attacked Lanka, Ravana was told that so long as Jagatamba is in his custody, no one on the earth can defeat him not even Lord Rama himself. So Ravana asked his eldest son Meghnath to take Jagatamba away from Lanka. since Meghnath’s wife Salochna belonged to Karnah, Kairan, J&K, he brought Her to this place and hence the name Ragnya Sathan, now called Raithan.hawan in raithan From Raithan Jagatamba moved to Kher Bhawani and it is believed that Ragnya Mata resides in Raithan throughout the year and visits Tulmul on special occasions. From the mountains The Ganga still flows at the feet of the Holy Shila. The Shila of Jagatamba is beautifully surrounded by holy Ganga which runs around the Shila as a garland around the neck of the Lordess. Few centuries ago it is believed there was a huge temple of Jagatamba at this shrine. About 25 years back when the holy spring (Nag) was discovered and construction work was going on at the site a large number of statues of Hindu gods and goddesses were recovered by the Archaeological Survey of India. The existence of huge decorated Devri stones within the premises of the shrine is witness to the existence of a huge ancient temple here. This Holy Nag still exists and we can see crystal clear water in the spring.
Raithan spring
Raithan spring
For centuries this shrine was a revered place for all the Hindus of this region. Devotees would assemble on most religious occasions and perform puja and havans. On the occasion of Zestha Astmi the annual Maha Yagnya was being performed and devotees from every part of the state would participate in large numbers. Last such Yagnya was performed in the year 1989 and since then for last 20 years this shrine has remained unattended yet as pure, pious and revered as ever. With the blessings of Jagatamba and by devoting some of our time and money this effort is intended to bring back the glory of this pious and revered shrine. Even the local non-hindu communities respect and regard this holy shrine as is even evident from the support we have been getting even now from them as ever.