Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 2: To keep the age old traditions alive, the Chhari-Mubarak- the holy mace of Swami Amarnath Ji was taken to historic Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar today for prayers on the occasion of ‘Haryali-Amavasya’ (Shravan Amavasya).
Led by its sole custodian Mahant Deependra Giri and accompanied by Sadhus and devotees, the holy mace was taken from its abode at Dashnami Akhara in Budshah Chowk area of the city and it offered special prayers at Shankaracharya temple.
As the holy mace left its abode at Dashnami Akhara the sound of conch shells reverberated the atmosphere. The pooja was performed by chanting of Vedic hymns by the Sadhus and other devotees and special prayers were performed on the occasion for the peace and prosperity of the State as well as country.
A spokesman of the ‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji in year 2004, said the Trust will make all the necessary arrangements like yester years for Sadhus and general public coming from across the country to join Chhari-Mubarak of Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra of their food, accommodation and transportation during the pilgrimage.
He said Chhari-Mubarak (Holy Mace) one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati will be kept in Shri Amareshwar Temple at Akhara Building Budshah Chowk Srinagar for ‘Darshan’ after rituals for ‘Sthapana’ are performed on August 5. This will be followed by traditional Chhari Poojan on August 7, he added.
The holy mace will also be taken to historical Durga Nag Temple on August 6 for pooja.
The holy mace will begin its journey from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar to the 13000 feet high cave shrine of Amarnath Ji situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on August 13 with a two night halt at Pahalgam i.e on August 13 and 14.
In the morning of August 15, it will leave for Chandanwari transit camp and after a night halt there, it will leave for Sheshnag next day morning. The holy mace which will reach Sheshnag transit camp on August 16 will have a night halt there and next day it will leave for Panchtarni, the last transit camp to holy cave. It will leave for holy cave from Panchtarni on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan falling on August 18.
After performing traditional day long pooja of Ice Lingam in cave shrine marking the culmination of 48 day long Amarnath yatra, the holy mace will start the return journey in the evening on the same day.
Meanwhile, on the 32nd day of the Swami Amarnath Ji yatra, 675 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave today. With this, the total number of pilgrims performing darshan of Ice Lingam at cave shrine has touched 2,15,690.
According to an official spokesman, 503 pilgrims left from Chandanwari transit camp to holy cave today. Out of them, 491 left from Nunwan base camp.
He said 121 pilgrims returned after darshan to Nunwan base camp and 267 yatris are staying for night halt at the base camp.
He said 430 pilgrims, who were stranded at Nunwan for last three days, were evacuated to Jammu late last night.
The spokesman said 501 pilgrims left from Baltal to holy cave today while 405 reached at Baltal early this morning from Jammu.
The spokesman said 204 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning in eight vehicles under tight security arrangements. These pilgrims reached the two base camps, late tonight where from they will leave for holy cave early in the morning.
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