Forgotten Temples of Kashmir Photo series Part-3

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Forgotten Temples of Kashmir Photo series Part-3 An effort to preserve and record Hindu cultural and religios heritage of Kashmir THAJIWARA - CHOTA AMARNATH Exclusive images and report from a remote village in Kashmir provided for Shehjar by Chander M. Bhat

“Shiva, the third god of the Hindu Trinity, is generally worshipped in the anconic form of the linga. Literally, Shiva means auspiciousness and linga means an emblem. Hence Shiva Linga means and emblem of auspiciousness.” [A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, Volume 3 by Swami Harshananda] hajiwara village is situated at about three km from Bijhehara enroute Pahalgam. There were four Kashmiri Pandit Families with surname ‘Dhars’. Three families have migrated to the different parts of India when militancy erupted in the valley in the year 1989. At present one Sh. Roshan Lal Dhar who is a radio mechanic by profession is residing in this village with his mother. One more village namely Batgund Laribal was one km away from this village. This village was dominated by Kashmiri Pandits with 32 families. It was 11th October 2009, I visited the temple, Sh. Jagan Nath Bhat of village Logripura [Pahalgam] accompanied me. We reached Thajiwara at about 1030 hours. Shiva Temple of Thajiwara is situated atop a small hill lock on the left side of the road dates its history back to Kayshup period. One has to climb a steep to reach the main temple. 32 kanal of land are attached with this temple. The steps leading to the temple count 48. There are two natural caves in the complex of this temple. A small spring oozing its fresh and cold water in one of the caves forms the main sanctum sanitarium with three feet Shiva Lingam submerged in water. Pearl like water drops oozing from the roof of the cave are falling on Shiva Lingam. This cave is facing towards east. Wild grass has grown on the face of the cave and I was told that this grass remains green throughout the year. Another cave though deep in size of the first cave forms the reservoir of the sacred water coming out of first cave. This water was then taken by pipes to the main spring at the bottom of the hill lock for the holy dip of the pilgrims. The land of saplings “Thajiwara” attracts people for darshan of Lord Shiva on Sharvan Purnima. This pilgrimage centre came into being after Lord Shiva on his way to the Holy Cave of Amarnath stay for Ghulam Qadir, present Chowkidar of temple a while at this sight where the main shrine is located. Shri Roshan Lal Dhar, whose house is situated at the bottom of the hill lock, told me that the shrine was desecrated on 20.09.1990 and all the dharamshalas were set on fire including the main temple. However the Shiva Lingam was not touched as it was submerged in water in a cave. This temple was re-opened on Tuesday 30.08.2007 for the first time after 18 years of turmoil. Thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits especially from village Thajiwara and Batgund (Larigal) arrived here from Jammu and offered prayers at the holy cave temple. This temple was renovated by the State Govt. with a semi circular tin sheet as a roof, open from all sides. The surrounding area which was once full with natural habitat is now looking deserted. Besides the main temple there were four dharamshalas, one Shivaliya, one rest room and four bathrooms bath rooms but the religious zealots raised them down and left no remains of real legacy.

Shiva temple near a spring but alas the shiv lingam is missing and sprined has dried up.

Steps leading to the Shrine

Main Cave

View of another cave

View of another spring

Close view of the dharamshalas

Temple Complex view from the the top

Close up of the Shiv Lingam

View of the guted dharamshalas

Newly Built temple by the State Government

Author alongwith the Chowkidar in front of the cave

*Born on 20th March, 1960 in Murran a village in North Kashmir, Chander M. Bhat is presently working as an Assistant Supdt. Posts, in Department of Posts, Govt. of India. His articles regarding Posts and of non-political nature stand widely published in various papers and magazines of the country. A booklet 'How to Collect Stamps" published by the Department of Posts, has earned him genuine accolades. He worked on the project of tracing the roots of his co-villagers and of the village Murran, resulting into the culmination of a widely acclaimed book "Murran -My Village". Man with depth, Chander M. Bhat has also another book, "Ocean by Drops" (collection of poems) in his vase having colorful poems. His book "Ancient History of Jammu and Kashmir", confirms his researching capability. Various research papers like "The Splendor that is Amarnath" and "Vitasta" The Sacred River of Kashmir" are valuable additions to his works that has proved very fruitful and guiding force in the exile period of Kashmiri Pandits community of which the author is also a member. Presently the author is working on "OOL - THE NEST" a six volume project on all the 595 (each volume of about 2500 pages)Kashmiri Pandit villages of Kashmir..                              POSTED BY............................VIPUL KOUL                                                                              VIPUL KOUL