The holy mace was carried in a ceremonial procession from its abode at Dashnami Akhara near Lal Chowk by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak.
Mahant Deependra Giri performing Puja at Srinagar's Shankracharya Temple.
As part of the annual Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra, the saffron-robed Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva, was taken to Srinagar’s historic Shankaracharya Temple atop Gopadri Hills on Thursday for special prayers marking the occasion of Haryali Amavasya (Shravan Amavasya), in accordance with centuries-old tradition.
The holy mace was carried in a ceremonial procession from its abode at Dashnami Akhara near Lal Chowk by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak.
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The temple reverberated with the sound of conch shells and Vedic hymns during the 90-minute-long pujan, attended by sadhus and saints including Mahant Amrit Dass ji of Chander Chinar Mandir and Mahant Kameshwar Dass ji of Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir, both in Srinagar.
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Collective prayers were offered for peace and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir and across the country.
Speaking to media persons, Mahant Giri highlighted the spiritual significance of the Shankaracharya Temple, which historians believe was originally built by King Sandiman between 2629–2564 BCE. The temple, earlier known as Jyeshteshwara or Jyoteshwara, gained its present name after a visit by Adi Shankaracharya.
On Friday, July 25, the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Sharika-Bhawani Temple at Hari Parbat in Srinagar to pay obeisance to the goddess.
On Sunday, rituals for Chhari-Sthapana will be performed at the Shri Amareshwar Temple (Dashnami Akhara), followed by Chhari-Pujan on Nag Panchami, Tuesday, July 29. The final leg of the journey will begin thereafter, with night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarani, culminating in pujan and darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine on Shravan Purnima (August 9).
The rituals will conclude with the traditional visarjan (immersion) in the Lidder River at Pahalgam the next day.
Meanwhile, in a heartening display of global spiritual harmony, nine foreign devotees from six countries, including the United States and Germany, participated in the Amarnath Yatra via the Baltal route on Thursday, underscoring the international reverence for the sacred pilgrimage.
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