Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 25: Sadhus in large numbers have started pouring here from different parts of the country to participate in 43 day -long Shri Amarnath Ji yatra which will start after a gap of two years due to COVID lockdown on June 29 this year from here.
As no yatra was held for two consecutive years including 2020 and 2021 due to COVID pandemic while the yatra was cancelled half way in 2019 due to abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A, hundreds of Sadhus including female monks have reached the City of Temples in advance during this week to embark on holy pilgrimage to the cave shrine situated in snow bound Himalayas in Anantnag district of South Kashmir at an altitude of 3880 meters.
Over 300 Sadhus are putting up at Ram Mandir Purani Mandi while scores of them are camping at Geeta Bhawan Parade besides, some are also stationed up in different temples in the city waiting eagerly for June 29, the first day when the yatra will start from here to holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji.
Undeterred by militants’ threats the Sadhus are in upbeat mood saying that they (militants) and separatists’ threat is no issue for them as they have surrendered everything to Lord Shiva and they don’t care for any one. “We have left on the name of Bholenath and he is our saviour and no one on this earth without his wish can harm us,” said Mahant Praful Kant putting up at Geeta Bhawan Jammu.
The 43 day -long yatra will start from here on June 29 to have first darshan of Ice lingam called Barfani Baba at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji on June 30 from the twin tracks including traditional 48 km long Pahalgam -Chandanwari track in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and 14 kilometre long Baltal route in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir.
Unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place right from Lakhanpur to holy cave by the authorities as a pre-emptive step to avert any untoward incident and for the security and safety of pilgrims as Government as well as Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) is expecting influx of over seven lakh pilgrims this year to beat the all previous records. The full security and other arrangements are in place for the convenience of the pilgrims up to the cave shrine.
The Sadhus who are staying in temple complex of Ram Mandir at Purani Mandi and Geeta Bhawan Hall are chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev”. As they (Sadhus) have renounced the worldly life so they said the militants’ threat is no issue for them.
“We believe in Sanatan Dharma and our religion. We love humanity and live and die for Bhole Nath rest we are not bothered for anybody who so ever he may be”, Tulsi Dass, a Sadhu from Maharastra said.”
Accompanied by a group of 10 Sadhus, he said Sanatan Dharma is the oldest religion on this universe which teaches Sanaskars (moral values). It teaches love and respect for all and hatred to none. This has been a corner stone of ancient Indian civilization and this is the reason that all ancient civilizations perished but Hindu civilization which is also one of the ancient civilizations of this universe still survives, he added.
He said “we have nothing to do with politics as it divides people and for us all human beings are one creation of Lord Shiva., This entire Universe is Bhole Nath’s manifestation and he who loves Lord Shiva can’t hate his creation, so all should love and respect each other,” he added.
Ramesh Giri, another Sadhu from Gorkhpur, UP at Purani Mandi temple said he and his other group members have reached here four days back for the darshan of Bholenath and they do not feel any threat. “Who can harm us when Bhole Baba is there to protect us. I have visited eight times to holy cave till date but could not make it during last two years due to lockdown. I never felt any threat as militancy was on peak during earlier too,” he added.
He said Sadhus are not afraid of any threat. They renounced worldly life since their childhood in search of penance and peace. “We even don’t care whether we will get something to eat or not, We take meals if any one offers it to us and even don’t care if we don’t get anything to eat for days together”, he added.
Mahant Rameshwar Dass of Purani Mandi temple said that all arrangements have been made for the Sadhus in the temple. The hall and rooms have been opened to provide shelter to them. The free langar has been arranged and Sadhus putting up at Geeta Bhawan or other temples are also being provided free Langar at Purani Mandi Ashram.
He said the registration of Sadhus will also be started at Purani Mandi and they have not to go anywhere for registration. There are adequate security arrangements for the Sadhus in the temple as well as Geeta Bhawan. Their medical check up etc will be performed in the temple premises only and the Sadhus having no Aadhar Card will also be entitled to registration, he added.
Mahant Ji said the Sadhus will leave for the holy pilgrimage from Purani Mandi temple and Geeta Bhawan and board the buses from Parade to the base camp of Nunwan Pahalgam. He said mostly Sadhus prefer traditional route of Pahalgam to have darshan at Sheshnag and Panchtarni as has been a practice from times immemorial.
The free Langer for Sadhus at Geeta Bhawan where about scores of monks are camping will be started from June 28, said VHP activist Rajesh Bhasin. He said till then Sadhus putting up at Geeta Bhawan are being fed from langars of Purani Mandi temple and Ranbireshwar temple.
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