Mvn.ind at 16:15, 11 October 2025

2025-10-11T16:15:17Z

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{{short description|Hindu temple in Kashmir, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox temple
| image = File:DBSQN5qUQAAD zY.jpg
| caption = The Goddess in an ''atmalinga'' form (see [[Linga]]) at Kheer Bhawani
| name = Kheer Bhawani
| coordinates ={{coord|34|13|16|N|74|43|48|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| district =
| location = Tulmulla, [[Ganderbal district|Ganderbal]]
| elevation_m =1592
| deity = [[Bhavani|Ragnya Devi]]
| inscriptions =
| creator =
|native_name = Khir, Ksheer, Kshir Bhawani, Ragnya Devi temple, Tulmul temple
|festival = Mela Kheer Bhawani, Jyeshtha Ashtami
|map_type =Jammu and Kashmir#India
|map_relief =}}
{{Hinduism}}

'''Kheer Bhawani,''' '''Ksheer Bhawani''' or the '''Ragnya Devi temple'''{{Efn|Also spelt as Khir Bhawani, Kshir Bhawani. Also referred to as the '''Tula Mula shrine''' or '''mandir''',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dhar |first=Poshkar Nath |title=Famous Shrines of Hindus in Jammu & Kashmir |publisher=Poshkar Nath Dhar |year=2019 |location=Jammu and Kashmir |pages=Page 3, 4, 5 |language=English}}</ref><ref name=":News1" /> the '''Ragnya Devi temple'''.<ref name=":News2">{{Cite web|last=Majid|first=Zulfikar|date=2021-06-18|title=Annual 'Kheer Bhawani Mela' observed in Kashmir amid Covid-19|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/annual-kheer-bhawani-mela-observed-in-kashmir-amid-covid-19-998853.html|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> and '''Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple''' (where [[Mataji|''mata'']] is an honorific).<ref name=":News1">{{Cite web|date=2018-06-20|title=Zyeth Atham 2018: Why Jyeshtha Ashtami is important for Kashmiri Pandits|url=https://zeenews.india.com/spirituality/zyeth-atham-2018-why-jyeshtha-ashtami-is-important-for-kashmiri-pandits-2118263.html|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref> The spring has been referred to as a ''Kund'' which translates to pond or [[temple tank]].}} is a [[Hindu temple]] situated at a distance of {{Convert|25|km|mi}} north-east of [[Srinagar]], Jammu and Kashmir, India, in the village of Tulmulla {{Efn|Also spelt '''Tul Mul''',<ref name=":6" /> '''Tulmula''',<ref name=":News1" /> '''Tulamulla''',<ref name=":News2" /> '''Tulmulla''',<ref name=":News2" /> '''Tulla Mulla''',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jameel|first=Yusuf|date=2018-06-21|title=Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits converge at Kheer Bhawani|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/210618/thousands-of-kashmiri-pandits-converge-at-kheer-bhawani.html|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref> Tullamula, and Tullamulla. 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.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Wakhlu|first=Somnath|date=30 December 2021|others=Text reproduced from: ''The Rich Heritage of Jammu and Kashmir Studies in Art, Architecture, History and Culture of the Region'' By Prof. Somnath Wakhlu|title=Kashmir: Tul Mul. The Holy Shrine of Kheer Bhawani.|url=http://ikashmir.net/tulamula/4.html|publisher=|via=Kashmir Pandit Network (ikashmir.net)|isbn=9788121205702|accessdate=2015-07-20}}</ref> }} in [[Ganderbal]]. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kheer [[Bhavani]] constructed over a sacred spring.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Chauhan|first=Abha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=izQ1EAAAQBAJ|title=Understanding Culture and Society in India: A Study of Sufis, Saints and Deities in Jammu Region|date=2021|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-981-16-1598-6|pages=xxv}}</ref> As is the custom with [[Hindu deities]], the goddess has many names including ''Ragnya'' or ''Rajna'',{{Efn|Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragini, Ragniya, Ragnya Bhagwati, Maharagya, Maharagnya Bhagwati where '[[devi]]', '[[mataji|mata]]', maha, and '[[bhagwati]]' are honorifics}} along with variations in honorifics such as [[Devi]], [[Mataji|Mata]] or [[Bhagavati]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Pandita|first=Sanjay|date=18 June 2021|title=Tul Mula: Abode of Goddess Mata Ragyina|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/tul-mula-abode-of-goddess-mata-ragyina|access-date=2022-01-08|website=Greater Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Dhar|first=Triloki Nath|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uW40xyZE7sIC&dq=Kheer+Bhawani&pg=PA176|title=Kashmiri Pandit Community: A Profile|date=2006-01-01|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-8324-177-9|pages=102}}</ref> The term ''[[kheer]]'' refers to a milk and rice pudding that is offered to propitiate the goddess. Kheer Bhawani is sometimes translated as 'Milk Goddess'. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the [[Kashmiri Hindus|Hindu Kashmiris]], most of them who worship her as their protective patron deity [[Kuladevata|Kuladevi]].it is Also consider kuldevi of CKP (Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu)<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Lawrence|first=Walter Roper|title=The Valley of Kashmir|year=1895|pages=296, 297}}</ref>

The sacred spring here has its own attached belief. An eponymously named [[Melā|''mela'']] is held annually here.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Raina|first=Irfan|date=18 June 2021|title=Mela Kheer Bhawani today|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/mela-kheer-bhawani-today-3|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Greater Kashmir|language=en}}</ref> It is one of the largest gatherings of Hindus in the region following the [[Amarnath Temple|Amarnath pilgrimage]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hussain|first=Ashiq|date=2020-05-30|title=After Kashmiri Pandits heartwarming wishes on Eid, Muslims reciprocate on Kheer Bhawani|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-kashmiri-pandits-heartwarming-wishes-on-eid-muslims-reciprocate-on-kheer-bhawani/story-GWgd085kLVXHYS4hrSFdSJ.html|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Maharaja [[Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir|Pratap Singh]] of Jammu and Kashmir and Maharaja [[Hari Singh]] contributed to building and renovating the temple.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Kheer Bhawani Temple in Kashmir|url=https://www.jktdc.co.in/kheer-bhawani-temple.aspx|access-date=2022-01-09|website=www.jktdc.co.in|publisher=[[Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation]]|quote=Maharaja Pratap Singh built this temple in 1912, which was later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh.}}</ref><ref name=":6" />

There are other temples to Kheer Bhawani in the region, such as Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple at Tikker, Kupwara.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wani|first=Ashraf|date=18 December 2021|title=Temple of Mata Kheer Bhawani renovated by Army on Minority Rights Day in J&K's Kupwara|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/temple-of-mata-kheer-bhawani-renovated-by-army-on-minority-rights-day-in-j-k-s-kupwara-1889388-2021-12-18|access-date=2021-12-30|website=India Today}}</ref>
[[File:Tulmul.jpg|thumb|right|Devotee at the Temple]]

== Temple description ==
The temple is one of the most important temples for [[Kashmiri Hindus]] in Kashmir. The resident deity, Kheer Bhawani, is a favourite in this region. A heptagonal spring at the temple is situated around the goddess. The holy spring is known to change its colour with various hues of red, pink, orange, green, blue, and white. A black shade of the spring water is believed to be inauspicious. It was reported that the spring's colour turned black during the time of [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus|Kashmiri Pandit Exodus]]<ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=Saqi|first=Pt. Moti Lal|title=Tul-Mul|date=June 2001|url=https://www.kashmirherald.com/peopleandplaces/religiousplaces/tulmul-prn.html|encyclopedia=Three Shrines of Khir Bhawani - Tul-Mul, Mani Gam and Raithan from Kosher Encyclopaedia-Vol. 1 & 2 Cultural Academy|volume=1|issue=1|publisher=Kashmir Herald|translator-last=Bhat|translator-first=R.L.}}</ref> and even the month prior to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref>{{Citation |title=COVID-19 pandemic |date=2025-02-19 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en}}</ref> the spring's colour was observed to be black. Most of the colours do not have any particular significance. In 1886, [[Walter Roper Lawrence|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.<ref name=":2"/> [[Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir|Maharaja Ranbir Singh]] was the first to construct a [[Dharamshala (type of building)|dharmashala]] here. The current form of the spring, temple pond, and temple were built under [[Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir|Maharaja Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir]] in the 1910s.<ref name=":7"/><ref name=":6" /> Maharaja [[Hari Singh]] further renovated the temple.<ref name=":7"/> The temple area has old-growth [[Platanus orientalis|''chinar'']] trees beneath which the pilgrims sit or sleep on mats of grass.

== Kheer Bhawani ''mela'' ==
The Kheer Bhawani [[Melā|mela]] or festival sees the annual congregation of Kashmiri Hindus, and other pilgrims and tourists. The mela is during ''Jyeshtha [[Ashtami]]'', also spelt as 'Zyeshta Astami'.The mela was threatened during terrorism and Hindu exodus of 1990. It was restored with dedicated efforts of Indian Army contingent placed at Ganderbal.Now contingent of 115 BN CRPF is deployed at temple complex for so many years.This place is one of the few exception where Hindu priests never left the Mandir despite serious terrorist threats.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashiq|first=Peerzada|date=2021-06-18|title=Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Valley's Kheer Bhawani temple festival|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmiri-pandits-celebrate-valleys-kheer-bhawani-temple-festival/article34851855.ece|url-access=subscription|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":News2">{{Cite web|last=Majid|first=Zulfikar|date=2021-06-18|title=Annual 'Kheer Bhawani Mela' observed in Kashmir amid Covid-19|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/annual-kheer-bhawani-mela-observed-in-kashmir-amid-covid-19-998853.html|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=18 June 2021|editor-last=Chatterjee|editor-first=Debjani|title=PM Modi Wishes People On Jyeshtha Ashtami|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-wishes-people-on-jyeshtha-ashtami-2467235|access-date=2022-01-09|website=NDTV}}</ref>

== History ==
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. Thousands of years ago, floods inundated the spring and temple. Kashmir's Yogi Krishna Pandit Taploo of Bohri Kadal, Srinagar had a dream in which the Goddess appeared to him and directed him to the location of the holy spring.<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><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-08-17|title=Nirvan Divas of Pt Krishan Joo Taploo observed|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/nirvan-divas-pt-krishan-joo-taploo-observed/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Daily Excelsior}}</ref> It is also mentioned in the [[Bhrigu Samhita]].<ref name=":5" />

[[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.<ref name=":6" />{{Failed verification|date=January 2022}}

==See also==
*[[Shankaragaurishvara Temple]]
*[[Martand Sun Temple]]
*[[utpala dynasty]]
*[[Awantipora]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
*[https://www.freepressjournal.in/photo-gallery/in-pics-amid-covid-19-hundreds-of-devotees-gather-for-annual-kheer-bhawani-mela-in-kashmir Photographs of the mela]
*[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]
*[https://kashmirparadise.blogspot.com/2009/05/mata-kheer-bhawani-ragnya-in-tullmulla.html Mata Kheer Bhawani Ragnya in Tullmulla Kashmir]

{{Hindu Culture and Epics}}
{{Hindu Temples in Jammu and Kashmir}}

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

Kheer Bhawani Temple - Revision history

Mvn.ind at 16:15, 11 October 2025