Jammu, Dec 21: Shri Vitaal Bhairav (Vitaal Shayaem) Jayanti was celebrated with religious fervour at Sri Sri Chakereshwari Jagat Amba Sharika Sanstha, Hari Parbat, Doke, Paloura Jammu by Shri Vitaal Bhairav Sewa Samiti, Panditpora, Motiyar, Rainawari, Srinagar.
Shri Vitaal Bhairav (Vitaal Shayaem) Jayanti is celebrated on Posh Krishna Paksh Shashti every year.
Vitaal Bhairava is one the eight powerful guardians of Kashmir who guards the Rainawari area as per the Kashmir Shaiv Tantrik system. His miraculous powers to heal and safeguard the people under his domain are well documented.
After the religious cleansing and genocide of the Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir Valley in 1980-1990, the Kashmiri Pandits from Rainawari have maintained the continuous tradition of celebrating Vitaal Jayanti twice a year with complete tantric rituals.
Pertinently, the holy shrine and age-old mulberry tree considered to be the abode of Shri Vitaal Bhairava at Vitaal Sahib temple, Rainawari was desecrated by miscreants and the kanals of temple land was encroached by land sharks which was later retrieved after the prolonged agitation by the Kashmir Pandit community.
Speaking on the occasion, Piarey Lal Kachroo, president, Shri Vitaal Bhairava Sewa Samiti, B.L Jalali, president, Rainawari KP Action Committee (RKPAC) and Dr Mahesh Kaul, president, Jogeshwari Mandir Trust (JMT) appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir UT administration to help the temple committees to retrieve, restore and renovate vandalised, encroached and desecrated temples in Rainawari and the temple properties at Gopi Terath, Brian, Nishat so that the confidence of the community is built and first step towards empowering the community and reversing the genocide is taken.
On this occasion, a Tantrik portrait of Shri Vitaal Bhairava was unveiled. It is based on vigraha (swaroopa) describing the Kashmir Shaivite scriptures. The portrait has been dedicated by Dr Mahesh Kaul to Shri Vitaal Bhairava Sewa Samiti on behalf of Rainawari KP Action Committee (RKPAC) for wider dissemination and worship of the devotees. This unique painting has been painted by renowned tantric painter of Assam Mitaali Dhar.
Large number of devotees participated in the Bhajan, kirtan and traditional yellow rice was distributed among the devotees.
