Tribune News Service
(Mamal) Pahalgam, May 4
This is a place where politicians need to come and take a few lessons
in secularism. After militancy forced Hindus to migrate from the
Kashmir valley in the 1990s, Muslims have been acting as "priests"
and "caretakers" of the ancient Mamalaka Temple on the outskirts of Pahalgam.
Not only has this 900-year-old Shiva temple with a two-foot
"shivaling" been preserved in its original form, Mohammad Abdullah
and Ghulam Hassan have ensured that all these years the temple did
not go without "parshad" or "aarti" even for a single day. Besides
the regular rituals, a daily prayer is held here in which the Muslim
priests pray for the return of the Hindus, who had migrated.
Built on the right bank of the Lidder river by Raja Jai Suria
(1128-1155 AD), the 8 sq ft temple was a popular destination for
everyone on a pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine. Till 1990, the
temple, a property of the Jammu and Kashmir State Archaeology,
Archives and Museum Department and a protected monument, had Pandit
Radha Krishan, who hailed from Ganeshpora, responsible for its maintenance.
But with militancy rising in the 1990s, Pandit Radha Krishan was made
to leave along with other Hindus of the area, abandoning the temple.
Initially, Abdul Bhatt, who was close to Pandit Radha Krishan, looked
after the temple for many years. Bhatt was transferred from the area
about five years ago and ever since Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam
Hassan, both employees of the government, were entrusted the task of
maintaining the building and its surrounding. However, not satisfied
by merely keeping the temple clean, the two have ensured that the
temple remains fully functional despite threats from the militants.
The temple continues to be preserved in its original form in its
eight-by-eight premises. It houses the entire family of Lord Shiva
comprising Ganesha, Mata Parvati and Hanuman carved in stone.
Besides, the temple has a natural spring that fills the holy pond.
According to Abdullah, during the last two-three years, the number of
Hindu devotees to the temple has increased slightly. These include
some visiting Hindu families that left the area as well as tourists,
who know about the place.
Talking to The Tribune, he said, "We have guarded this place for the
Hindus. It is their "amanat". But now the situation has improved. We
want that a Hindu priest should take over this holy place. Being
Muslims, we tried to do whatever best we could to keep the temple
functional, but it should ideally be run by a Hindu priest".
Further Abdullah and Hassan say their daily prayer includes a special
mention to the Hindus when they say, "Lord, the heaven on earth is
here in the valley. Please facilitate the return of our Hindu
brothers from the hell outside".
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
(Mamal) Pahalgam, May 4
This is a place where politicians need to come and take a few lessons
in secularism. After militancy forced Hindus to migrate from the
Kashmir valley in the 1990s, Muslims have been acting as "priests"
and "caretakers" of the ancient Mamalaka Temple on the outskirts of Pahalgam.
Not only has this 900-year-old Shiva temple with a two-foot
"shivaling" been preserved in its original form, Mohammad Abdullah
and Ghulam Hassan have ensured that all these years the temple did
not go without "parshad" or "aarti" even for a single day. Besides
the regular rituals, a daily prayer is held here in which the Muslim
priests pray for the return of the Hindus, who had migrated.
Built on the right bank of the Lidder river by Raja Jai Suria
(1128-1155 AD), the 8 sq ft temple was a popular destination for
everyone on a pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine. Till 1990, the
temple, a property of the Jammu and Kashmir State Archaeology,
Archives and Museum Department and a protected monument, had Pandit
Radha Krishan, who hailed from Ganeshpora, responsible for its maintenance.
But with militancy rising in the 1990s, Pandit Radha Krishan was made
to leave along with other Hindus of the area, abandoning the temple.
Initially, Abdul Bhatt, who was close to Pandit Radha Krishan, looked
after the temple for many years. Bhatt was transferred from the area
about five years ago and ever since Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam
Hassan, both employees of the government, were entrusted the task of
maintaining the building and its surrounding. However, not satisfied
by merely keeping the temple clean, the two have ensured that the
temple remains fully functional despite threats from the militants.
The temple continues to be preserved in its original form in its
eight-by-eight premises. It houses the entire family of Lord Shiva
comprising Ganesha, Mata Parvati and Hanuman carved in stone.
Besides, the temple has a natural spring that fills the holy pond.
According to Abdullah, during the last two-three years, the number of
Hindu devotees to the temple has increased slightly. These include
some visiting Hindu families that left the area as well as tourists,
who know about the place.
Talking to The Tribune, he said, "We have guarded this place for the
Hindus. It is their "amanat". But now the situation has improved. We
want that a Hindu priest should take over this holy place. Being
Muslims, we tried to do whatever best we could to keep the temple
functional, but it should ideally be run by a Hindu priest".
Further Abdullah and Hassan say their daily prayer includes a special
mention to the Hindus when they say, "Lord, the heaven on earth is
here in the valley. Please facilitate the return of our Hindu
brothers from the hell outside".
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
