|
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
| The
state is a popular pilgrimage destination with major pilgrimage
centers at Amarnath, Charar-e-sharif, Hazratbal mosque,
Khanqah-e-moulah, Kheer Bhawani, the Shankaracharya temple and the
Gompas in Ladakh.There are a number of places of worship in the
Srinagar area, the most frequented and popular Hindu place of worship,
is Mata Vaishno Devi, which is located at a height of 5, 300 feet
above the sea level. |
|
Mata Vaishno Devi
|
| The abode of the
Goddess Vaishno Devi is in the Moutains of Trikuta Hills, in the Jammu and
Kashmir State of Northern India. The Goddess resides in a beautiful cave in the
form of 3 'Pindis' namely, “Maha Kali”, “Maha Laxmi” and “Maha Sarawati”. The
Goddess Durga is said to have killed the demon Bhairon here. Vaishno Devi is
61-km north of Jammu and 14-km from Katra. The cave is at an elevation of 1,700m
(5,100ft) and is 30m (93 ft) long and just 1.5m (5ft) high. |
 |
|
(Click
here For More Detail)
|
 |
|
Amarnath
|
| There
is famous Rigvedic Verse that says "Ekam Sat "
that is "There is one Being ,the sages call Him by
many names." The God (Parmeshwar) has three
deities who carry on the world .This is Known as Holy
Trinity. Brahma- the creator, Vishnu - the perpetuator of
life and Shiva (Mahesh ) -the purifier and perpetuator of
good and destroyer of evil. Rig Veda refer Shiva as Rudra
as in its following verse . "We Worship
Tryambaka (Rudra) , Who spread Fragrance and Increases
Nourishment , May He release me ,like the cucumber from
its stem , From Mortal Life , But not From Immorality .
"(Rig Veda Mandal VII Sukta 59 and Mantra 12) |
 |
|
(Click
here For More Detail)
|
|
|
Shankaracharya Temple
|
| It
is located at 1100 ft. above surface level of the main city on
the Shankaracharya hill. The Shiva temple, as Kalhana
believes, was constructed by Raja Gopadatya in 371 B.C. and,
as such, is the oldest shrine in Kashmir, though it is not
certain if the temple exists in the same form as it had been
built more than two thousands years ago. The first repair of
the temple is believed to have been undertaken during the
reign of Lalitaditya in the eighth century A.D.
According to the historian Shrivara, Zain-ul-Abideen conducted |
 |
|
second repairs of
the temple after it had been damaged in an earthquake. The
third time repair was undertaken during the Governorship of
Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din when the temple is believed to have been
named as Shankaracharya. Dogra ruler, Maharaja Gulab Singh,
constructed stone stairs upto the temple. In 1925, the temple
was electrified. The temple, besides a prominent Hindu
religious place, is of great archaeological importance. The
temple commands a magnificient panoramic view of the Srinagar
City.
|
|
|
Hazratbal Shrine
|
| The
most important muslim shrine of Kashmir, that commands the
reverence of the people beyond measure,is undoubetedly the
Hazratbal Shrine, which is situated on the left bank of the
famous Dal Lake in Srinagar This unmatched reverence is
anchored in the love and respect for the Prophet. Mohammad
(peace be upon him), whose Moi-e-Muqqadus, (the sacred hair)
is preserves here. The shrine is known by many names including
Hazratbal,
Assar-e-Sharief, Madinat-us-Sani, Dargah Sharief & Dargah. |
 |
|
The
history of the shrine goes back to the early seventeenth
century when the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's Subedar, Sadiq
Khan, laid out a garden here & constructed a palacial
building, Ishrat Mahal or Pleasure House in 1623. However, the
Emperor, during his visit in 1634, ordered the building to be
converted into a prayer House with some additions &
alterations. During the time of Aurangzeb, when MOI-e-Muqqadus
arrived in Kashmir in 1699, it was first kept in the shrine of
Naqashbad Sahib in the heart of the city. Since the place was
found to be insufficient in view of the unprecedented rush of
people who thronged the place to have a glimpse of the
Moi-e-Muqqades, it was decided to shift the it to Hazratbal,
then known as Sadiqabad. The construction of the present
marble structure was started by the Muslim Auqaf Trust headed
by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1968 and completed in 1979. The
Moi-e-Muqqadas is displayed on Various occassions related with
the life of Prophet & his four holy companions.
|
|
Hazratbal lies in Srinagar
District and the nearest Airport is approx. 25 Kms away in
Badgam Distt. This Airport is connected with major cities of
India. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu which is 300 Kms away
and from there National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir
valley with India. Every sort of transport to suit every
budget from Buses to Taxis ply on this Highway. It Takes
around 10 to 12 hours to cross this mountaineous road which
crosses some beautiful spots and the famous Jawahar Tunnel
linking Kashmir Valley with India. Regular transport is
available from various points in the Srinagar city with
nominal charges. Route from Dal Lake can also be undertaken. |
|
|
Charar-e-sharief
|
| The
pilgrimage destination of Charar-e-sharief has one of the most
sacred Muslim shrines, which is popularly known as the Hazrat
Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali. This Muslim pilgrimage is dedicated
to the memory of the Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani,
who was the patron saint of the Muslims in Kashmir. During the
Sheikh's lifetime, he witnessed a cultural and religious
transformation of those around him, from Hinduism to Islam. A
number of historical events prompted the Sheikh to produce
some valuable works of philosophy, in verses and poetry. |
|
|
Khangah-e-Moula
|
| The shrine of Shah-e-Hamdan
or Khanqah e Moulla is one of the oldest muslim
shrines in Kashmir situ ated on the banks of river
Jehlum in the old city. The shrine was originally
constructed by Sultan Sikander (1389-1413 AD)
in the memory of muslim preacher Mir Syed Ali
Hamdani who had visited Kashmir and stayed there
for meditation and preaching. In 1480 the shrine
was gutted in a devastating fire and the then
ruler Sultan Hassan Shah reconstructed the shrine
on old edifice at a larger area. The shrine was
later demolished and reconstruted in two storyed
form in 1493 AD. In 1731 AD the shrine again was
destroyed in fire and was reconstruted by Abul
Barkat Khan. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
