M S Nazki
BY M S Nazki
Poonch has been gifted with breathtaking scenic beauty and religious places. The religious places of Poonch are identity of brotherhood, religious tolerance; love and affection for all communities. The people of this district have always maintained the age-old tradition of communal harmony and brotherhood. It is a place one must visit to take pilgrimage tourism and to enjoy the unparallel natural beauty. Poonch can be developed as a potential pilgrimage tourist destination for local as well as national and international tourists. One of the emerging pilgrimage tourist destinations in Poonch is the historic and holy temple of Budha Amarnath Ji. From the last few years the inflow of devotees is increasing in each subsequent year, therefore it is expected that this ancient shrine in future will attract devotees like Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra.
Buddha Amarnath Ji also known as “Chattani Baba” is an ancient and unique temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva and is located in an area well known as ‘Rajpura’ Mandi nearly 25 kilometers north east of the Poonch town. It is considered as one of the most important religious visits for Hindus. It is a popular belief among the Hindu community that without visiting Budha Amarnath shrine, their Amarnath Yatra cannot be completed. In the holy temple, the devotees have a dip in a spring that flows at a position directly lower than the temple with regard to purification and then have Darshan. The original temple of Buddha Amaranth Ji is made of a big stone and the temple has four doors i.e. to the North, East, West and South, which defines that the shrine is open for all four castes. Lord Shiva manifests himself by means of “Chakmak” white stone in contrast to other Shiv temples where Shiv is worshipped in the form of Lingam. Besides that, there are other idols placed by local people in the temple.
There are numerous legends associated with the Shrine. A story is that Lord Shiva, accompanied by Goddess Parvati on his trip to Amaranth from Kailash made a halt at Budha Amarnath Ji, Raipura Mandi and the other story is connected with Rishi Pulasta, the grandfather of the Ravana. It is said that he had a darshan of Lord Shiva at Buddha Amarnath Ji. Also the legends go as Chandrika Rani of Loran who was a true devotee of Lord Shiva would unfailingly go for her annual pilgrimage to Amaranth beyond Srinagar. One year when she could not undertake the pilgrimage on account of feudal wars in the region, she grew desponded and sad. She was so dejected that she gave up food and water and kept praying to the Lord. Then, Lord Shiva appeared before the Rani in the form of an old Sadhu and told her that Mahadeva has accepted her devotion and shifter below the Loran Mountain on the banks of a stream. The Rani collected a large gathering and set out in search of Amaranth ji. The Sadhu led the devotees to a projection of the Chakmak Rock in the form of a Shiva Linga. The shrine was constructed by the grateful Rani and other devotees at that spot and came to be called Budha Amaranth after the Sadhu. It is also believed that Budha Amaranth “chattani” is older than the Amaranth ji of Srinagar.
Every year a ten-day Yatra to the shrine is organized in the most splendid and grand manner that ends on the event of Purnmashi, which is the day of RakshaBandhan. The chhari yatra for the first time was started by Raja Moti Singh of Poonch. During the Yatra days entire region drools in a festive mood while joyously celebrating the festival.This year the Yatra will start from Jammu on 28th July. The Yatra initially starts from Vaid Mandir Ambphalla, Jammu (J&K) and it traditionally follows the route from Jammu to Rajouri and then to Poonch; and place of venue at Mandi. During the Yatra Langers and stalls are installed by different organizations en-route the Yatra. When the Yatra reach Poonch, the yatries halt at Poonch for the night stay where the arrangements for the yatries are made in Dashnami Akhara. The Managing committee, district administration along with Poonch police makes all the adequate arrangements for the stay of yatries and also manages boarding lodging, Langers , medical and other facilities for the yatries. On reaching Poonch yatries are received by members of organizing committee, district administration, Poonch police and locals from all walks of life. This Yatra is a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood as a large number of Muslims and Sikhs also turn up every year to receive devotees at Poonch. Yatra leaves for the Budha Amarnath Mandir for performing Darshan of the Baba Budha Amaranth ‘Chattani’ next day. On the occasion of RakshaBandhan, Buddha Amarnath JiMela is held at the temple. Two days before the RakshaBandhan a ‘Chhariyatra’ leaves from Dashnami Akhara Poonch town to the shrine. The holy Mace (Chhari Mubarak) for Shri Baba Buddha Amarnath Ji Temple is usually flagged off at Poonch after a huge public Satsang in which thousands of people participate for paying respect to Lord Shiva. In the morning, the pooja of the chhari Mubarak starts with a havan, chanting of mantras and satsang in Dashnami Akhara Poonch.
A guard of honour is also offered to Chhari Mubarak at the front gate of Dashnami Akhara and the holy Mace and Mahantji are carried on a palki through devotees. Passing from various places nearly 25 kms it reaches mandi temple of the Buddha Amarnath Ji in the evening. En-route to the Budha Amarnath Ji Mandir, the actual procession halts at the ‘Chandak’. The procession is received by local people, police &other security personnel’s, district administration, leaders of the all political parties, mandir committee etc. It marks the end of the actual Yatra and the Chhari Mubarak is taken to the main shrine ceremoniously followed by the Aarti of Lord Shiva. Historical Buddha Amarnath Temple has lot of significance and government should take initiatives for promoting this pilgrimage tourist destination and the development of the pilgrimage would boost economy of the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
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Author
The Kashmir Dialogues
