Kamal Guha at 11:35, 14 November 2023

2023-11-14T11:35:23Z

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{{short description|Hindu temple in Kashmir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=November 2020}}{{original research|date=November 2020}}{{tone|date=November 2020}}}}
{{Infobox temple
| image = File:DBSQN5qUQAAD zY.jpg
| caption = The Goddess in an Atmalinga form at Kheer Bhawani
| name = Kheer (Khir or Ksheer) Bhawani
| coordinates ={{coord|34|13|16|N|74|43|48|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| district =
| location = [[Tulmul]], [[Ganderbal district|Ganderbal]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Bhavani|Maharagnya Bhagwati]]
| inscriptions =
| creator =
}}
'''Kheer Bhawani''' or '''Ksheer Bhawani''' is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kheer [[Bhavani]] (Maharagnya Bhagwati) constructed over a sacred spring. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the [[Hindu]]s of [[Kashmir]], most of them who worship her as their protective patron deity (Kuladevi). The temple is situated at a distance of 14 miles east of [[Srinagar]],Jammu and Kashmir, India, near the village of [[Tulmul]]. The term ''kheer'' refers to rice pudding that is offered in the spring to propitiate the Goddess, which became part of the name of the temple. As is the custom with [[Hindu]] deities, she has many names: Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati, and so on. [[File:Tulmul.jpg|thumb|right|Devotee at the Temple]]

== Temple description ==
[[File:Divine Colours of the Divine Spring.jpg|thumb|right|Divine Colours of the Divine Spring]]

It is the most important temple for the [[Kashmiri Hindus]] in Kashmir, known as the [[Kashmiri Pandits]], most of them who consider. Around the temple is an area covered with smooth and beautiful stones. In it are large, old-growth [[Platanus orientalis|''chinar'']] trees beneath which the pilgrims sit or sleep on mats of grass. While most of the colours do not have any particular significance, the colour of the spring water changes occasionally. When black or darkish, it is believed to be an indication of inauspicious times for Kashmir. In 1886, Walter Lawrence, the-then [[British people|British]] settlement commissioner for land, during his visit to the spring, reported the water of the spring to have a violet tinge.

== History ==
Maharagya was pleased with the devotion of [[Ravana]] and appeared before him and Ravana got an image of the Goddess installed in [[Sri Lanka]]. However, the Goddess became displeased with the vicious and licentious life of Ravana and so didn't want to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, she is believed to have instructed Lord [[Hanuman]] to get the image from Sri Lanka and install it at the holy spot of Tulmul. Though Ragniya is a Rupa of Durga, this one is a Vaishnav Rupa in Kashmir. Ragniya is also known as Tripurasundari, while in (Sri) Lanka, the Mother Goddess was called Shayama. Sita too, is believed to have been an incarnation of Ragniya. Ragniya Mahatmya has it that those who meditate on Panch Dashi Mantra during Navreh, Mother Ragniya grants their wish.

It is said that the night during which Mother Goddess came from (Sri) Lanka to Kashmir was named Ragniya Ratri In Kashmir a number of shrines are dedicated to Mother Goddess at Tiker, Bhuvaneshvar, Manzgam (Noor-abad) Bheda, Lo-qraer-pur, Mani-gam, Rai-than and Baed-pur, but the Shrine at Tulmul is the most famous one and hence the focus of yatris. 360 springs (nagas) are said to have gathered there. Ragniya is a Sattavie form of Mother Goddess, i.e. the form of tranquility and bliss.

The mention of Kheer Bhawani is found in [[Kalhana]]'s [[Rajtarangini]]. Kalhana writes that the sacred spring of Tula Mula is situated in a marshy ground. The name of the spring is Mata Ragini ''Kund'' (pond).<ref>{{Cite web|title = Full text of "Rajatarangini of Kalhana - English - Jogesh Chunder Dutt Volumes 1 & 2"|url = https://archive.org/stream/RajataranginiOfKalhana-English-JogeshChunderDuttVolumes12/Rajatarangini-JogeshChunderDuttVol2_djvu.txt|website = archive.org|accessdate = 2015-07-20}}</ref>

Maharagini is the form of [[Durga]] Bhagvati. The Hindus of Kashmir worship this spring and pilgrims from every corner of the country visit to have the darshan of the place.

In [[Rajatarangini]], Tula Mula and the spring of Maharagnya has been considered very sacred and the Hindus of Tula Mula considered notable for their spiritual prowess. Thousands of years ago, many floods occurred in Kashmir and the sacred spring of Tula Mula was inundated under its sway and the holy place could nowhere be traced. At last, Kashmir's Yogi Krishna Pandit Taploo of Bohri Kadal, Srinagar had a dream in which the Goddess appeared to him and directed that she would swim in the form of a snake at the proper place and that he should stick large poles to demarcate the holy spot in the marsh land. Subsequently, when the water subsided there the holy spot was discovered. This event happened during the ''Samvat'' 4041 (Hindu lunar date).Sh. Krishen Joo taploo possessed some valuable manuscripts too like Bhrigu Samhita which was in late Eighties taken away from his family members and now its fate is not known.He even had a huge Shiv Ling which at present is at Bohri Kadal temple. An annual Hawan used to take place coinciding with the discovery of Holy pond of Ksheer Bhawani at his residence before forced migration of Kashmiri Pandits.

[[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak]] in his book [[Aini-Akbari]] mentions the area of Tula Mula extending over a region of hundred ''bighas'' (unit of land area) of land, which used to sink in the marshy lands during the summer season.

[[Swami Rama Tirtha]] and [[Swami Vivekananda]] also visited here to have the ''darshan'' of the place.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Swami Vivekananda in Kashmir - Scoop News Jammu Kashmir|url = http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=34852|website = www.scoopnews.in|accessdate = 2015-07-20}}</ref>

In the past, with incessant offering of milk and sugar candy in the spring by pilgrims, a thick layer of offerings had accumulated at its base. When it was cleared, the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs engraved with figures were discovered. Here many images were also found but nobody rebuilt the temple till the ''Samvat'' 1969 (Hindu lunar date) when Maharaja Pratap Singh who was the disciple of the Goddess, got a temple of marble made in the midst of the spring which shines like a pearl in a shell. The marble temple was completed in 1920s.
Some people are of the opinion that there was a mulberry tree near holy spot of Kheer Bhawani which, in local language, is called ''tul mul''. But ''tul mul'' is also derived from the Sanskrit word ''atulya mulya'' meaning great value. It is believed that Ravana, after his worship of the Goddess, offered her ''kheer'' (rice pudding), which she accepted and since then it is called Kheer Bhawani.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Kashmir: Tul Mul|url = http://ikashmir.net/tulamula/4.html|website = ikashmir.net|accessdate = 2015-07-20}}</ref>

==Contextual folklore==
Pandit Prasad Joo Parimoo, a [[Kashmiri Pandit|Kashmiri pandit]], is believed to have been a ''grahasta'' (house-holder) saint of tall order and as such his peers would call him [[Jada Bharata]], who was a legendary saint of [[Puranas]] times. He used to live in Sekidafer area of [[Srinagar]] in [[Kashmir]]. He was married but didn't have any children so he is said to have finally adopted a son named Madhav Joo. He would regularly meditate at this holy spring and during one such occasion, while being in a meditative trance (''[[samadhi]]''), he is said to have had a vision of the deity of Mata Kheer Bhawani, who reprimanded him for his hasty decision of going for an adoption when she was herself desirous of taking birth in his family as his daughter. Nonetheless, she is said to have blessed him with the boon and eventually Pandit Prasad Joo Parimoo's wife did give birth to a daughter, who was named Haar Maal. Approximate year of her birth would be 1870-1880 (see notes). In the course of time, Smt Haar Maal married Pandit Narayan Joo Bhan and gave birth to a son in 1898 who later came to be called [[Bhagwan Gopinath]] during his lifetime.<ref>{{Citation
| last1 = Dhar
| first1 = T N.
| title = Saints and Sages of Kashmir
| place = New Delhi
| publisher = APH Publishing Corporation
| page = 310,Chapter-28
| year = 2004
| isbn = 81-7648-576-4 }}</ref>

==Swami Vivekananda's Experience==
[[Swami Vivekananda]] visited Kashmir. During this stay, while ritually worshiping Khir Bhavani, he had the thought: he was astonished by the colour change at that time and cited it as a miracle .

==Sacred spring==
A unique septagonal spring dedicated to Goddess Kheir Bhawani flows from west(''sheer'' or head section) to the east(''padh'' or feet). The holy spring is known to change its colour with various hues of red, pink, orange, green, blue, white, etc. which was noted by [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abul Fazal]] and [[Swami Vivekananda]]. A black shade of the spring water is believed to be inauspicious.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.koausa.org/Crown/marvels.html|title = Home | Kashmiri Overseas Association, Inc}}</ref>

{{Hinduism}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Kheer Bhawani-2.jpg|Kheer Bhawani temple
File:Kheer Bhawani.jpg|Kheer Bhawani temple-A closer look
File:Kheer Bhawani-3.jpg|Kheer Bhawani temple
File:Kheer Bhawani-4.jpg|Flowers in the holy spring
File:Kheer Bhawani-5.jpg|Kheer Bhawani temple-At Night
</gallery>

== References ==

Three Shrines of Khir Bhawani - Tul-Mul, Mani Gam and Raithan
from Kosher Encyclopaedia-Vol. 1 & 2 Cultural Academy

Original piece written by Pt. Moti Lal Saqi
Translatied by Dr. R.L. Bhat
<references />

==Notes==
The timelines (i.e. 1870–1880) regarding Mata Kheer Bhawani's birth needs further research for the sake of accuracy. Currently it has been extrapolated approximately using the birth year of [[Bhagwan Gopinath]].

==External links==
*[https://www.thedivineindia.com/kheer-bhawani-mandir/6636 Kheer Bhawani Temple - The Divine India]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spjdHyz_Gaw A Video Presentation on Kheer Bhawani Temple]
*[http://kashmirparadise.blogspot.com/2009/05/mata-kheer-bhawani-ragnya-in-tullmulla.html Mata Kheer Bhawani Ragnya in Tullmulla Kashmir]

{{Hindu temples in Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Hindu culture and epics}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ganderbal district]]

Kheer Bhawani - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 11:35, 14 November 2023