Shiv Lingam Reinstalled at Rainawari

Kashmir has been the seat of spiritual and religious excellence meant to elevate the human spirit towards the Divine consciousness. The place consciousness of Kashmir and its aesthetics has been rooted in the unity of the human with the Divine and this gave birth to the unique religious tradition known as Shaiva Trika Tantra Parampara. It is also known as Kashmir Shaiv Darshan that upholds the Divinity of human form in totality. The thirty six elements that define the cardinal principles of this tradition accept the phenomenal world and the material existence as reality. The argument being that if Para Bhairava Shiva is the creator of all existence then how can his creation be an illusion? This has guided the great Shaiva philosophers and tantric practitioners of this tradition to enrich not only Kashmir but entire India and the world. From Utpaldeva to Maha Maheshwaracharya Abhinavagupta and then from Maha Maheshwaracharya Swami Ram Ji Maharaj of Swami Ram Shaiv Trika Ashram, Fateh Kadal this tradition achieved new heights. Then chief disciples of Swami Ram Ji-Swami Mahatab Kak, Swami Vidhyadhar Ji, Swami Govind Kaul ji groomed another shining star Ishwar Swaroop Swami Lakshman Ji Maharaj to spread the light of Kashmir’s internalisation of the Shiva’s Prakash and His Vimarshni Shakti. It is in this tradition that Jogishwari Mandir, popularly known as Lokut Mandir in local parlance located at Ghat Jogi Lanker, Rainawari, Srinagar, Kashmir emerged as the centre of this tradition among its devotees. It is located on the banks of the Rainawari canal. This temple housed an antique Saptik Shiva Lingam that is missing from the complex. As the temple was closed due to ethno-religious conflict and thus it has been subjected to neglect after the religious cleansing and displacement of Kashmiri Pandits of Rainawari. The complex has a Yatri Niwas that catered to the needs of the pilgrims who arrived in Srinagar for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra from ancient times. Besides it has a shopping complex meant to sustain the temple. But due to continuous neglect and vandalisation resulting from the forcible occupation of rooms and shops, the Jogishwari Mandir complex is in need of immediate restoration and repairs. Jogishwari Mandir Trust, the traditional custodian of the temple and owner of the complex, has been making tireless efforts to restore the Jogishwari Temple. It is pertinent to mention that Rainawari Kashmiri Pandit Action Committee(RKPAC) is the apex body of the Rainawari Kashmiri Pandits that looks after and manages the temples of Rainawari after displacement. Most of the local temples committees representing the temples of Rainawari are its members and units. Jogishwari Mandir Trust (JMT) is an official unit of RKPAC. In order to restore the Jogishwari Mandir and its Yatri Niwas besides the shopping complex to pristine glory the joint team of RKPAC and JMT recently met the Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and apprised him of the condition of the temple. The Chief Secretary has directed the Principal Secretary Culture to expedite the renovation and repair of the temple and its complex. Jogishwari temple has a property located at Brein, Nishat. It consists of kanals of land ,temples and a Holy Spring known as Gopi Tirath. This ancient complex of Gopi Tirath has been the cynosure of the land sharks and the trust has alleged that encroachment is going on and thus asked the administration to help demarcate the land of the Gopi Tirath. Meanwhile, RKPAC has succeeded in retrieving the ancient Shiv Lingam of Bodh Mandir located at Kralyar, near the Vishwa Bharti School. This Shiva Lingam was thrown into the Rainawari canal by the miscreants and later recovered by the police. It has been in the police custody for years. It was only after the prolonged legal struggle that RKPAC under the leadership of B.L. Jalali was able to get the Shiv Lingam back. And now it has been reinstalled at the Lokut Mandir( Jogishwari Mandir).Its Pran Pratishtha will be done today with proper Shaivite rituals.JMT and RKPAC have closely collaborated to reinstall the Shiva Lingam at Jogishwari Mandir(Lokut Mandir).It send a message that Restoration of the religious heritage and place consciousness of Kashmir it of paramount importance to maintain the civilizational aesthetics of Kashmir.The Jammu and Kashmir Government must come forward to restore and renovate Jogishwari Mandir (Lokut Mandir) and secure the Gopi Tirath at Brein Nishat.