Srinagar, Mar 22: The prayers reverberated at the ‘Maa Sharda Devi’ Temple along the line of control in the Tweetwal area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday after 75 years.
Sharda temple located on the Kishan Ganga at the frontier town was abandoned since independence and was in complete ruins; however, after the hectic efforts of the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (SSCK), who worked tirelessly for renovation of the temple.
The installation of the deity’s murti and the construction of the temple in Teetwal have been widely welcomed by the local Muslims.
The temple was inaugurated virtually by the union home minister, Amit Shah, who on the occasion said that the opening of the Maa Sharda is the beginning of a new era.
According to Shah, the opening of Maa Sharda’s freshly built temple for worshippers on the occasion of the New Year is a fortunate omen for her followers throughout India. He asserted that the opening of Maa Sharda’s temple marked the start of a new era.
He said that this temple’s building and construction were carried out under the supervision of Sharda Peeth in accordance with legendary writings.
He claimed that “the restoration of Maa Sharda’s temple in Kupwara is a vital and significant step towards the identification of Sharda civilization and the advancement of Sharda script.”
Shah stated that Sharda Peeth used to be the epicenter of knowledge for the Indian subcontinent, with intellectuals from all over the nation traveling here to find sacred texts and spiritual wisdom. He explained, “The Sharda script is the indigenous script of our Kashmir, named after Maa Sharda.”
Sharda Peeth, like Kartarpur Corridor, has served as a historical hub of India’s religious, cultural, and educational legacy, according to the union home minister and minister of cooperation. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government would proceed with opening Sharda Peeth to devotees, he said.
He continued that this was only possible as peace had prevailed in Kashmir after the efforts of PM Narendra Modi, and the valley was returning to its old traditions.
He claimed that the new beginning would aid in restoring the glory of the location, and with Maa Sharda’s blessing, it would remain a site of worship and continue to raise India’s consciousness for all time.
Among scores of devotees and scholars who have gathered at Teetwal to be part of the historic religious function on Wednesday, there are about 100 priests from the Shingeri Mutt in Karnataka.
