Govt sanctions Rs 4.91 cr for its development
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 12: Once a hub of religio-cultural activities, famous shrine of Vicharnag in Nowshera Srinagar of Central Kashmir is being brought back to its glory.
The UT Government led by Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha has brought this famous religious shrine under ambitious programme of restoration/conservation and development of famous shrines in Kashmir. The Government has earmarked about Rs five crore for the development and conservation of this ancient shrine which has suffered a heavy damage due to over three decade long turmoil in Kashmir.
The shrine was hub of religio-social activities of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley from times immemorial.
The Vichar Nag Temple in Srinagar has a rich history. It was a center of cultural and spiritual activities and a place of discussion by Kashmiri Brahmins.
The shrine was a seat of discussion hence its name was Vichar which means discussion. It was in this temple that Kashmiri Brahmins used to discuss Panchang over here every year before its publication. It is said that Jagat Guru Shankaracharya also visited this temple for discussion.
According to the religious scholars in the vicinity of the Vichar Nag there are many springs and the water of some of the springs has a clinical value which is used for treatment of some skin diseases.
The Kashmiri Brahmins used to discuss Panchang over here. On Chaitra Amavasiya, the last day of Kashmiri Calendar, a festival was celebrated at this place. On this day devotees take a bath in the holy spring and thereafter Puja was performed in the Shiva temple known as Vichar Saheb. The Shrine besides springs houses two ancient Shiva temples. It was believed that the fourth Buddhist Council was held at Vichar Nag. It was also a transit spot for pilgrims of Kheer Bhawani , Tullamulla in earlier times.
It may be recalled that on April 9 this year Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj (VKS) which organised a function at the shrine in connection with celebration of Navreh the new year day of Kashmiri Pandits in which Haryana Governor , Bandaru Dattatreya was the chief guest. Highly impressed by improvement of the ground situation in the Valley, the Haryana Governor assured the VKS representatives and community members on the occasion that he will take up the issue of renovation and restoration of this ancient shrine with Lt Governor, J&K ,Manoj Sinha and Home Minister, Amit Shah.
The VKS team led by Kiran Wattal its convener, Vice Chancellor, Skill University Raj Nehru, Ramesh Chander Bhardwaj , Vice Chancellor Maharishi Valmiki Sanskrit University were present on the occasion.
Later the Governor Haryana took up the issue with LG and Home Minister and in its communiqué the Lt Governor J&K , Manoj Sinha intimated to Haryana Governor early this week that the project restoration / conservation and development of Vichar Nag temple at Nowshera Srinagar has been approved at the cost of Rs 491.34 lac.
Kiran Wattal on behalf of VKS and KP community has complimented the Haryana Governor and LG J&K Manoj Sinha for taking keen interest in restoration of this ancient Hindu shrine in Kashmir.
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