Srinagar/Jammu,July 29(Scoop News) -Annual festival and yatra of Pracheen cave of Lord Shiva at Thajiwara (Bijbehara), Anantnag will be held on 2nd August 2012 on the eve of Shravan-Puranmashi.
According to the President Devasthan Prabandak Committee, Bijbehara Prof. M. L. Malla, thousands of Kashmiri Pandit devotees from different parts the country as well as abroad are expected to participate in this annual yatra.
Committee had already finalized arrangements for annual pilgrimage of the Prachin Amarnath cave in Tahjiwara which will take place on Sawan Purnima falling on August 2.
A delegation of three members led by Raj Nath Tickoo, vice president of the Managing Committee had deputed to complete the arrangements at shrine complex Thajiwara.
The Committee had already approached District Development Commissioner Anantnag for smooth and successful conduct of the yatra and the district administration has assured the Committee complete cooperation. The pilgrims from Jammu will leave for Thajiwara on July 31 and Pooja Archana will start on first August and continue till August 2.
It may be recalled that the Thajiwara yatra is inseparable part of holy cave of Swami Amarnath pilgrimage and has similar religious importance.
The Prachin cave of Lord Shiva at Thajiwara is located on the slope of a plateau about 4 kilometres in the east of Bijbehara Town. Bijbehara –Phalgham road traverses along the premises of the sacred shrine.
Prachin Cave of Lord Shiva at Thajiwara (Bijbehara) is also known as “PRACHIN CAVE OF SWAMI AMARNATHJI”. It is one of the most prominent places of pilgrimage in the valley of Kashmir and Vijeshwar Kheshtra. According to Thajiwara Mahatam, Vijeshwar Mahatam and other religious manuscripts written and compiled by saints, scholars, Dharam Gurus of yore in Vijeshwar Kheshtra, this sacred cave is the cause of the creation of Holy cave of Amarnath. This cave has been the centre of attraction for devotees since times immemorial. As per the religious scriptures mentioned above the holy cave of Thajiwara has the same religious sanctity and importance as that of holy cave of Amarnath. According to these scriptures mother Goddesss observed strict penance at Thajiwara Cave to please Lord Shiva for revealing to Her the Eternal truth of this “BRAHMAND” i.e. the unlimited universe. Pleased by Her Tapasya Lord Shiva granted Her wish and selected extremely secluded place in the Himalayas to reveal eternal secret of the creation of this limitless universe to Mother Goddess Parvati.The day when Amar Katha was revealed was Shravan Purnimashi. This revelation by Lord Shiva is called “AMARKATHA” and the cave were it was revealed is known as Holy cave of Amarnath. After the revelation of the eternal secret of the universe lord Shanker came to be known as Lord Amarnath and ice-lingham appeared as His symbol in the holy cave Hence, the Cave of Thajiwara is an inseparable part of Amarnath pilgrimage.
Annual yatra at holy cave at Thajiwara coincides with that of the last day of annual pilgrimage of the holy cave of Swami Amarnath on “SRAWAN PURNIMASHI”. It is the reason the devotees have been paying obeisance at Thajiwara Cave since ancient times. The shrine premises is spread over an area of about 50 Kanals of land which includes slopes and the top of the plateau besides the lower portion of the plateau along the Bijbehara-Phalgham road.
According to Thajiwara Mahatam, one who is not in a position to pay obeisance at Amarnath Cave because of Physical disability or any other reason, can have Darshan of Lord Shankar at Thajiwara cave. Such a devotee is bestowed with the same spiritual benefits as in the cave of Swami Amarnath. The water that trickles down from the roof of the cave on sacred Shivlingam flows from the cave into two smaller caves and a pond outside the main cave. The same water is led through a small channel towards bathing ponds. This small channel is called Amar Ganga. Besides it Amar Bhabooti is another feature of Thajiwara cave. Devotees from all parts of the valley and the tourists on way to Phalgham used to pay obeisance at this place of pilgrimage round the year before 1990. A festival was celebrated at the cave premises on every “SHRAWAN PURNIMASHI”.
Thousand of devotees thronged this place on this occasion. The annual Yatra and festival were resumed after a gap of 18 year in year 2007. From the year 1990 to 2007 the temple adjacent to the Holy cave, Yatri Niwas, bath rooms and whole infrastructure suffered a great damage including the cave itself. Now the cave temple has been rebuilt by Devasthan Prabandhak committee an elected body of the Hindus of Tehsil Bijbehara. Efforts are being made to restore the glory of this place of pilgrimage, but the lack of financial resources and complete cooperation from the community members have resulted in the delay in rebuilding the whole infrastructure at Thajiwara.
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