"We are all sending Sharda Amba with lot of love to Her home, Her original home where she belongs. May she go there and restore peace and prosperity in Kashmir and may Kashmir get restored to its former glory of intellectual place. May that happen, we all pray that with lots of humility."
"We are all sending Sharda Amba with lot of love to Her home, Her original home where she belongs. May she go there and restore peace and prosperity in Kashmir and may Kashmir get restored to its former glory of intellectual place. May that happen, we all pray that with lots of humility."
With tears in her eyes, I witnessed a local saying these words while she bade farewell to Maa Sharda in Bengaluru. As a Kashmiri, I was filled with wonder and surprise while observing the deep devotion and energy of the people in Bengaluru towards Maa Sharda. Growing up, I always thought of Her as a local Goddess, revered by some as the Isht Devi of Kashmir. This led my curiousness to understand the connection of Maa Sharda with this region of the country. It was then that I stumbled upon the name Sringeri. This small hill town on the banks of the Tunga River in Chikmagalur, Karnataka holds a special significance in the history of Maa Sharda and Her connection to Karnatka. The Sringeri Peetham is home to one of the four Peethams established by Adi Shankaracharya and houses a murti(vigraha) of Maa Sharda made of sandalwood, which is believed to have been brought from Kashmir.
Shri Ravinder Pandita Ji, the Head and Founder of the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir, learned first through folklore & stories passed down from his forefathers and later through a conversation with Bharathi Tirtha Ji, the 36th Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, that the original sandalwood murti of Maa Sharda was brought from Kashmir to the South of Bharat by one of the Shankaracharyas. Pandita Ji was guided by one of the disciples of Bharathi Tirtha Ji, to visit this murti. He found the murti, which is now housed in a temple managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and also contains the Samadhi of a 12th century Shankaracharya. However, the murti is not worshipped due to it being khandit(unfit for worship).
The purpose of sharing this story was to highlight the rich cultural heritage that Kashmir holds and the importance of preserving it for future generations to cherish. The connection between Sringeri and Kashmir showcases the diversity and unity that exists in Bharat and the significance of our traditions and culture.
Not many people from the Kashmiri community, especially the younger generation, are aware of this history. But more importantly it is to bring light to a yatra that has begun from Sringeri to Teetwal, where a new temple dedicated to Maa Sharda has been built on the banks of the Kishanganga (also known as Neelum) river by the efforts of the members of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir. It is the arrival of a newly consecrated statue of Maa Sharda, made of five metals (Panchaloha), that is of significance. This event is being considered as the Divine's return to Kashmir and people are gathering in large numbers at the various stops of the yatra to recieve Her blessings. The Maa Sharda yatra began on January 24, 2023, coinciding with Guru Tritya, which was once the annual convocation day at Sharda Peeth. The journey started from Sringeri and will reach Teetwal on March 22, 2023, during Chaitra Maas Pritipada Navreh.
I express my gratitude to the members of the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir and Sringeri Sharda Peetham for making this yatra a reality. I hope that more people will come forward to support this journey and receive the blessings of Maa Sharda. I humbly bow to Her, as it is through Her will that this is happening. After a long time, she is finally returning to Her home.
Jai Sharda!!
