Kheer BHavani temple , Kashmir

Kheer  BHavani  temple , Kashmir

The Bhavani  temple  of Milk  Payasam

 

Compiled  by

P.R.Ramachander

 

(The  Kashmir, which  housed  the Saravajna peeda  ,The Kashmir which had the  great works of Bodhayana which our  saint Ramanuja referred,  The Kashmir  the land of Abhinava Guptha  the philosopher, kalhana the historian  , gunadya  the great story teller , Lallaeswari   the giant  of folk spirituality , the  land of saffron(kesar) , the land which grew musk deer which gave kasthuri ,  the   land of great apples  , the land  of  Kashmir  Shaivism  has became a land  which drove  away the people   who built her.

   I do not know  much of Kashmir   but I had a great  person of Kashmir  (DR.S.K.Tiku) as my friend. He was my collegue  and I learnt  lot about  Kashmir  from him. A few  years  back a Kashmiri  bride  joined our family.

 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4GgANYYys4&list=PLsS171OA3mLfDFaT0RjKndWQPXxVkQ-sx&index=20   )

   This great  temple  is situated    in a village  Tula Mula   , which is about  20 km from Srinagar . Kashmir. Kheer  is a hindi word for our pal Payasam (ie preparation of  milk and rice)  . The temple is in the middle   of a water spring.  She is also called  Maharajni( queen empress)  and is a Kula Devi(clan Goddess ) of most  of the Kashmiri hindus.

 

The spring is surrounded vast area covered with pretty stones   and chinar trees.  The devotees offer  kheer to the goddess in the sacred spring around  the temple  and sit , relax and sleep  below the huge chinar   trees

 

    It is believed  that   the statue of the Goddess  was given to Ravana who built a   temple for her in Sri Lanka. He addressed  her   as Goddess Shyama , Unable  to  bear with his beastly habits  , The goddess  requested Lord Hanuman   to take her   to Tula Mula (mulberry tree) in Kashmir and consecrate her there..The day   she was brought to Kashmir is termed as  “Rajniya  Rathri”(the night of the queen) and is celebrated as a festival.

 

The annual festival is held of the ashtami    after Pournami in monthe of May-June. Large number devoees gather there  and it is believed  that the Goddess  changes  the colour of the spring. Devotees believe that if it is turned black, some great  s disaster will  happen

 

  Mention about the   temple has been made   in Rajatharangini of Kalhana, in Aini Akbari by Abul Fazal

 

It is believed  that Bhavani Bhujanagam    was written by   Adhi Sankara  in praise  of this goddess

 

Devotees generally   recite the  prayer in the temple

 

Namaste Sharada Devi Kashmira Pura Vasini

 twameham pratrhaye nityam vidya daanam cha dehime

 

Salutations   to Goddess  Arada who  lives  in the   city of Kashmir,

WE   daily   pray you, please   grant  us  knowledge   and wealth

 

The temple is daily open from  6 Am to 8 PM  every day

 

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

 

Kheer Bhawani Temple is located in the village Tul Mul at a distance of 1 hour, 14 miles in the east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is guarded by soldiers from all around and from a distance as many devotees visit here so while visiting the devotees first need to register near the entrance gate. Srinagar can be reached from all parts of the country through rail, road as well as airways.

 

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Srinagar and the Srinagar Airport is the major airport.

 

By Train: Srinagar does not have its own railway station but the nearest railway station is the Udhampur station. It is situated 130 kms away from Srinagar and the Ram Nagar station is located 138 kms away from the city

 

By Bus: Regular buses can be caught from Srinagar to all other major cities of the country and back. The major bus stand is at Srinagar.