Special Worship of Lord Shiva’s Sacred Mace at Pahalgam for Amarnath Yatra
Special worship of the sacred mace of Lord Shiva, known as Chhadi Mubarak, was performed at Pahalgam, the traditional base camp of the Amarnath Yatra. Rituals such as ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah Pujan’, and ‘Dhawajarohan’ were conducted on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima).
The Holy Mace was taken by Mahant Dipendiri Giri, the custodian of the Holy Mace of Shri Amarnath Ji, along with a group of sadhus and devotees to Pahalgam in district Anantnag temple for special prayer. Mahant Dipendiri Giri said, “We performed pooja at the temple and prayed for peace and prosperity for the country. Local Kashmiri Pandit devotees also participated in this Pooja at Pahalgam and they prayed for peace and communal harmony in the country.”
This year, the Amarnath Yatra is taking place amid a significant increase in the number of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The yatra started on June 29 and will end on August 19, lasting 52 days. Devotees of Lord Shiva undertake this arduous annual pilgrimage to the holy cave located in the Kashmir Himalayas.
Doubts Revealed
Lord Shiva -: Lord Shiva is a major god in Hinduism, known as the destroyer and transformer. He is often depicted with a third eye and a trident.
Sacred Mace -: A sacred mace is a special stick or club that is considered holy. In this context, it is associated with Lord Shiva and is called Chhadi Mubarak.
Pahalgam -: Pahalgam is a town in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is the starting point for the Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to a holy cave.
Amarnath Yatra -: The Amarnath Yatra is a pilgrimage to a cave in the Himalayas where a natural ice formation, believed to be a symbol of Lord Shiva, is found.
Chhadi Mubarak -: Chhadi Mubarak is the name of the sacred mace of Lord Shiva. It is carried during the Amarnath Yatra.
Bhoomi-Pujan -: Bhoomi-Pujan is a Hindu ritual to worship the Earth before starting any important work or construction.
Navgrah Pujan -: Navgrah Pujan is a ritual to worship the nine planets in Hindu astrology to seek their blessings.
Dhawajarohan -: Dhawajarohan is the ritual of hoisting a flag, often done to mark the beginning of a religious event.
Ashad-Purnima -: Ashad-Purnima is a full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad, which usually falls in June or July.
Mahant Dipendiri Giri -: Mahant Dipendiri Giri is a religious leader and the custodian of the Holy Mace used in the Amarnath Yatra.
Terror attacks -: Terror attacks are violent acts meant to create fear, often for political reasons. In this context, it refers to attacks that have happened in the region.