Shiva's holy mace taken to Shankaracharya temple
The Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji led by Mahant Deependra Giri was taken to the temple located at Gopadri hills for prayers as part of the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra. Giri, the custodian of the mace, said the Chhari Mubarak was taken from its abode at Dashnami Akhara near Lal Chowk here to the temple where a 'pujan' was held.
The sound of conch shells charged the atmosphere and 'pujan' was performed chanting vedic hymns, he said.
The sadhus, who accompanied the holy mace, participated in the pooja as collective prayers were also offered for peace and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir, Giri added.
He informed that Chhari Mubarak will also be taken to 'Sharika-Bhawani' temple, Hari Parbat here to pay obeisance to the goddess on Friday.
The rituals would be performed for Chhari-Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar temple Dashnami Akhara here on Sunday after which Chhari-Pujan will be performed at the akhara on the occasion of 'Nag-Panchami' on Tuesday, he said.
The Mahant will carry the holy mace to the holy cave shrine to perform pujan and have 'darshan' on the morning of 'Shravan-Purnima' on August 9 after night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarani.
The puja at the cave shrine will be followed by 'visarjan' in Lidder river at Pahalgam the next day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
From sacred tradition to shutdown: The history and end of Mumbai's Kabutarkhanas
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday initiated action against the Dadar Kabutarkhana, pulling large plastic sheets across the city's most iconic pigeon feeding spot, to comply with a Bombay High Court order following a ban on feeding pigeons at kabutarkhanas across the city. Feeding pigeons is a contentious topic in Mumbai and a practice that has been ongoing for centuries. Here's a look at the history of kabutarkhanas and pigeon feeding in the city and why it has become so controversial. Why are pigeons fed in Mumbai? In many Indian cultures, feeding pigeons is considered an act of piety and is believed to bring blessings from ancestors. Offering food to pigeons is said to satisfy the souls of deceased ancestors and relieve any ancestral affliction. This practice is considered especially effective on new moon days (Amavasya). There is also a belief in some cultures where pigeons are seen as messengers between earthly and the spiritual realms, feeding them helps open one's awareness to spiritual energies, fostering a greater connection with the divine. In Jainism, feeding pigeons is a form of jeev daya or compassion for living beings, one of the central tenets of Jain ethics. Many Jain families and temples organise regular pigeon feeding, often near temples or trust-run kabutarkhanas. The Dadar Kabutarkhana is one such feeding spot that was set up by a Jain temple. The large number of Gujarati and Jain merchants in erstwhile Bombay meant that kabutarkhanas could be found in major corners of the city. Their presence also contributed to the city's high pigeon population, a fact noted even in the early 20th century. 'They are attracted to Bombay by two things: plentiful house accommodation and the benevolence of pious Hindoo grain merchants,' wrote Edward Hamilton Aitken in his 1909 book The Common Birds of Bombay, elaborating on the reason for the city's large pigeon population. Early organised pigeon feeding took the form of parabadis , large, ornate birdhouses, often reaching seven meters higher, usually made of wood and elaborately carved and painted. These were roofed, house-like structures raised on platforms to keep them out of reach of cats and dogs. Grain was regularly placed on these platforms to feed the birds, usually pigeons. Larger versions of these were called kabutriyas or kabutarkhanas, ornate structures constructed with funds donated by the local community. Devout individuals would regularly leave grain and water in the kabutriya for the birds. Kabutarkhanas evolved as charitable spaces, where community members could donate grain and fulfill their religious duty, explaining the proximity of many of these structures to temples and other religious sites. Today, Mumbai has over 50 kabutarkhanas, primarily located in the city proper, with a few in the suburban areas. One of the oldest and most renowned is the Dadar Kabutarkhana, operated by the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. In 1944, the Bombay Municipality issued a letter to the Jain Temple in Dadar permitting the construction of a traffic island to allow bird feeding. This was in response to a letter from the Jain Temple requesting permission to set up an enclosure to protect pigeons that flocked near the temple and were at risk of being run over by cars. While pigeon feeding was widely accepted in erstwhile Bombay, concerns began to emerge in the mid-90s, with the proliferation of medical studies linking pigeon droppings to respiratory ailments. Subsequently, complaints regarding pigeon feeding gained traction in Mumbai, with citizens reporting respiratory issues related to the high concentration of pigeons. In 2013, a BMC engineer died after reportedly being thrown off his motorcycle when a pigeon struck him near the kabutarkhana at Grant Road on June 30. Following the incident, the local corporator removed grain-sellers from the street. Two days later, the then BMC Law Committee Chairman, Makrand Narvekar, proposed relocating kabutarkhanas to less crowded areas. However, the proposal never resulted in concrete action. Since 2014, several kabutarkhanas in the city have been removed, and individuals caught feeding pigeons have been fined by the BMC. The proliferation of the pigeon population What marked the end for Kabutarkhanas? On July 3, 2025, during a Maharashtra Legislative Council session, Minister Uday Samant (on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde) announced the immediate closure of 51 kabutarkhanas in Mumbai, citing respiratory health risks from pigeon droppings and feathers. Subsequent to this announcement the BMC commenced a citywide enforcement drive fining those found feeding pigeons and shutting down Kabutarkhanas in the city. On July 15, the Bombay High Court, while noting that the rights of humans and animals must be balanced, declined to pass an interim order permitting pigeon feeding twice a day. However, the Court directed that no heritage kabutarkhanas should be demolished until further orders. A division bench of Justices Girish S. Kulkarni and Arif S. Doctor was hearing a writ petition filed by animal rights activist Pallavi Sachin Patil, along with Sneha Deepak Visaria and Savita Mahajan, seeking to restrain the BMC from demolishing kabutarkhanas and to ensure that citizens were not prevented from feeding pigeons. On July 31, the Bombay High Court directed the BMC to lodge FIRs against individuals 'illegally' and in a 'defiant manner' feeding pigeons at Dadar (West) and other kabutarkhanas, despite the ban and the HC's refusal to grant interim relief in earlier hearings. On Saturday Mumbai's most iconic pigeon feeding spot was finally shut down and covered in thick sheets of grey tarpaulin.
News18
29-07-2025
- News18
Chhari Pujan performed on Lord Shivas holy mace on Nag Panchami
Srinagar, Jul 29 (PTI) The 'Chhari-Pujan' of Lord Shiva's holy mace was performed on Tuesday at the Amareshwar temple in the Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara here on the occasion of Nag Panchami, officials said. Amid chants of Vedic hymns, Mahant Deependra Giri, the mace's custodian,� led a group of sadhus in performing the puja, they said. Giri now will carry the mace to the Amarnath cave shrine for a puja and darshan on the morning of Shravan Purnima on August 9, the officials added. The yatra will have night halts in Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni before reaching the holy cave. More than 3.93 lakh pilgrims have performed the Amarnath Yatra since the pilgrimage began on July 3. PTI MIJ OZ OZ OZ First Published: July 30, 2025, 00:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Time of India
Govt permit brings cobras back to Battis Shirala after 23 years; activists report violations at Nagpanchami event
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolhapur: Live snake displays returned to Battis Shirala on the occasion of Nagpanchami after a gap of nearly 23 years as govt employed an "educational purposes" workaround to a 2014 Supreme Court ban on capture, display and worship of the reptiles. In this Sangli district town, located 50km from here, 21 men handled live Indian cobras (Naja naja) on Tuesday after obtaining special permits. The permits, issued by Srinivasa Rao, the chief wildlife warden and principal chief conservator of forests, Nagpur, on Monday (July 28), allowed the capture of the cobras solely for educational purposes aimed at promoting traditional knowledge on snake conservation. The permits are given to 21 residents of Battis Shirala to capture the snakes over five days starting July 27, under Section 12 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and Maharashtra Wildlife Protection Rules, 2014. Each permit holder has paid Rs 1,427 to the forest department and is required to release the snakes back into their natural habitat without any mortality. However, despite the ministry of environment, forests and climate change's explicit stipulation that "no commercial or entertainment of any kind shall be permitted," animal rights activists reported some violations at the event. Sangli-based animal rights activist Koustubh Pol, who witnessed the Nagpanchami celebrations in Battis Shirala on Tuesday, criticised the event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why are some Chinese youth calling themselves 'rat people', and what issues does it surface? CNA Read More Undo "Strangely, the permission was given on the eve of Nagpanchami, and yet almost a hundred Nag mandals had cobras on the morning of the festival. If all this is for an educational purpose, then why was the permit given only for Battis Shirala village? This looks pre-planned for political benefits. Though permission was given for 21 snakes, almost 100 Nag mandals took part in the celebrations with live cobras." Rahul Shinde, an ophiologist based in Solapur, argued that the display of snakes during the festival violated the Supreme Court order. "The permits were issued in haste. Those who are really into snake conservation efforts are punished for handling the snakes. At the same time, such permissions are granted. This is not okay. Did the authorities check whether the snakes are fed well and looked after before granting the permission? The snakes get stressed when they are surrounded by humans; they are cold-blooded animals and cannot withstand the high body temperature of humans. Also, ground vibrations due to the high-decibel sounds make snakes susceptible to strokes. They may ultimately die," he said. The TOI team visiting Battis Shirala also observed snakes being removed from pots and crowds dancing to high-decibel music. Informational posters were displayed only when snakes were taken out of the pots. Officials had expected the snakes to be showcased on platforms with informative boards in the background, with only the permit holders handling the snakes and providing oral information to the public. Jaysing Mahadik, forest ranger of the Shirala forest range, said, "The 21 mandals were given specific places to display one snake each and make people aware of the importance of the snake. The permission was given to do away with the misconceptions, which lead to the killing of snakes. We will gather all details on if the permit rules were violated after all teams sit together and will subsequently proceed with the action prescribed. " Bajrang Tukaram Kadam, a 35-year-old member of the Shri Ganesh Nagraj Mandal, adhered to the directives by explaining the ecological importance of snakes to visitors. "Snakes do not drink milk. They are friends of farmers. There are very few species that are venomous; however, due to fear and superstition, people tend to kill all snakes. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem," he said. Battis Shirala had not displayed live cobras for 23 years before this year's event. The town is renowned for its long-standing tradition of worshipping live cobras during Nagpanchami. According to Siddharth Patil, a young resident, the community ensures that no snakes are harmed during the capture and worship process. "My father told me that experienced people associated with nag mandals used to go out after the Bendur festival, around two weeks before Nagpanchami, to catch the snakes. No snake was harmed. The snakes were nurtured, and after worship, they were released into their habitat. We consider the snake a god, and no one wants to harm snakes in any way," he said. Local residents, including women from the town's population of 35,000, consider cobras their brothers. Sadhana Naik, a resident, expressed gratitude towards govt for facilitating the worship, saying, "For us, the snakes are brothers. We thank govt for finding a way out to help us worship our brother." In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that capturing, displaying, or worshipping live snakes was not protected as a fundamental religious right and violated wildlife protection laws. Cobra and other venomous snakes such as Russell's viper, spectacled cobra, and monocled cobra are listed as Schedule I part C animal in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to ensure their conservation.
