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Bhaderwah: The Neglected Heritage

  • Swaran Bawli (golden spring)

  • Situated at the bottom of Aashapati peak of Kailash moun-tain range on Western side of Bhaderwah town, a spring bowl made up of gold has religious importance for people of Bhaderwah. On the first Sharadh following Navratras in the month of October/November people take a dip in the icy cold water of the spring, which is covered by a thick layer of snow to purify them from sins. Legend goes that there existed a golden spring whence  an old lady of Padha family would fetch water every day for drinking as well as cooking purpose. One day she fell ill and in her place her daughter-in-law went to fetch the water. When the young lady reached the spring she was surprised to see that it was made of huge golden bricks. So that nobody could see this golden spring bowl she covered it by her white dupatta (head sheet)  and went to inform her brothers about the precious spring. But by the time they returned, the white head sheet had already turned into a thick layer of ice. They tried to dig the bowl, but in vein and returned home tired and exhausted. It is said that since then the bowl remains buried under snow which does not melt even during hot summer days when there is no trace of snow found in and around Ashapati hill.

    An English man had also tried to dig the bowl with the help of a large contingent of labour, but the task could not be accomplished because serpents one after another started coming out from under the snow sheet and before the greedy man could understand as to what was happening a gigantic land slide occurred turning the bowl place into a big heap of debris. Since then nobody ever tried to go for the misadventure and the secret of the golden bowl remains buried for ever.

     

  • Shantan Dehra

  • On the Western side of Satangal Power House an acient temple of Shantan Nag is situated on a hillock. Being surrounded by thick devdar trees, the place offers fascinating scene. Though the small temple is bereft of any idols there are some ancient shivlingams present in the small ground around the temple. Recently, an ancient idol of Lord Surya has been found in the temple yard that speaks volumes about thepast glory of the temple.

    Shantan Nag who is considered as one of many brothers of Vasuki Nag is supposed to be a powerful deity.

    If he saves his worshippers from evil, he also punishes those showing disgrace to him. Sant Ram was one of the poojaris of Shantan Nag. He used to  perform  pooja of the Naag deity regularly. But when he became old his sons took the pooja casually every one of the family perished. Today  their house and land have been occupied by some one else.

    There is yet another example that shows how powerful Shantan Nag has been. In the vicinity of Shantan Dehra, there lives a Muslim family which flourished and prospered in a phonetic manner as long as it paid obesince to the Nag in their own way.  But the hundred year old unity of this family of 80/90 souls fell like a sand wall when its younger generation stopped respecting the holy deity. Today the family  stands shattered and fragm-ented in dozens of small families quarreling and fighting with each other.

    People though visit Dehra as and when they want his blessings, yet the main function is held on Herai jater that falls in the month of July/August every year when the priest amidst chanting of religious slogans destroys the heap of burning charcoal in wajad called grehni. In the same condition he makes a forecast about the coming events that generally turns true.

  • Seetla Mata Temple, Rehoshra

  • Perched on a hillock  called Rehoshra on the Eastern side of Chinta valley  is the ancient Seetla Mata temple. Till recently, an old time dharamshala also existed here, but when militancy broke militants loaded with communal frenzy burnt the ancient structures without destroying the faith of people in Mata though. A grand temple is on anvil, which will soon come up with money collected from the followers of the Mata. Poojaris who belong to nearby village Sunarthao have been performing worship of the Mata since time immemorial though during harsh winters the pooja has to be abandoned when the hill is covered by heavy snow.  There is an ancient idol of Goddess Seetla in the temple. People both local as well belonging to adjoining Chamba and Kathua throng in large numbers to pay obeisance to the Mata throughout the year, but the main function is held on 8th Navratra falling in September/October every year when hundreds of lambs are sacrificed and their mutton  distributed, cooked and eaten as prashad.

    On the nearby Jantroon Dhar  about a couple of miles away from Rihoshra is a pond of crystal clear water. It is situated at the highest portion of the hill where chances of water coming from around are bleak. Still the pond remains full of water throughout the year. Surprisingly, there is a thick sheet of grass spread over the surface of the pond and holes have been made in the grass sheet through which devotees hang themselves to have a dip of holy water. It is believed that fairies bathe in the pond and to hide themselves from human eyes they have woven the grass sheet over the surface of the pond. People in large numbers from the surrounding villages reach for taking a dip in the holy water on full moon day of Sawan( July-August) every year.

  •  Subar Nag Temple

  • The ancient temple of Subar Nag on the sprawling Subar pasture opens for Darshans on first of Baisakh(April 13) every year. The location of the temple is such that Bhaderwah town though miles away can be seen from here. The temple houses an ancient idol of Subar Nag. Like the idol the temple of Subar Nag was also an ancient one which fell victim to the frenzy of militants and was burnt during mid nineties when militancy was at its peak. Now an RCC structure at the place of the ancient temple has come up here.

    Thousands of devotees from surroun-ding areas including Chinta, Bhalra, Barasua, Chirala and Bhlara throng thr holy place  and celiberate Baisakhi every year.  Another festival is held in the temple on the annual  Jater of Chinta that falls in Bhadon( July). This day before dawn, people in large numbers  reach Subar Temple carrying  wooden  Mashals  in their hands. These Mashals are put one on another in the form of a camp fire that soon turns into a big heap of glowing coal, which is destroyed by the priests bare foot amidst chanting of religious slogans. During the process the pujaris make fore cast, which generally comes true. It is also believed that the newly wed young man whose Mashal reaches the compound of the temple first gets a male baby from his  wife due to the blessings of the deity Nag.

             

  • Thubu Nag Temple

  • Thubu Nag is yet another deity that is famous for blessing his devotees with a male baby. Its temple is  situated on a hill a little above the Bhaderwah- Jai Road  that separates Bhaderwah from Chinta valley. Both the vallies can be seen from here.  In the wee hours of the morning following Malchey second annual jater of Chinta valley falling in the autumn every year a large procession starting from Karai reaches Thubu Temple and performs pooja there.

     

  • Nagni Mata Temple

  • On the right side of Bhaderwh-Jai pedestrian is situated the temple of Nagni Mata, which is considered as sister of Thubu Nag. People in large numbers in the form of procession converge at Nagni Mata Temple every year on first Baisakh for paying obeisance to their deity Goddess. On this occasion langer are organized and meat of the lambs that are sacrificed in honour of the Mata is served as prasad.

     

  • Alalbani Temple

  • This is yet another ancient temple in Bhaderwah locality. This temple which is situated on a hill top is the only temple where ancient musical instruments made of  Copper are played upon to please the deity even today. The main  festival is held on Janamashtmi. The deity housed in the ancient temple is  known for great spiritual powers. Some years ago some one ventured to capture a portion of the temple land. When all efforts, legal or otherwise failed, people of the area prayed before the deity to punish the trespassers. It is said that since then no healthy child has born in the defaulter family.

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