Zeashtaeswari temple @ srinagar
After all its yatra time - we just have one afternoon and evening to complete the sight seeing at Srinagar.
From Shankaracharya Temple after finishing our packed lunch on the hill itself we drove down through the city and the lake promenade to reach a calm locality. The drive was very pleasant inside an AC vehicle. It was that hot in July
Our driver stopped in front of a Gate which proclaimed that we are at the entrance to Shri Zeashta Mataa temple. Crossing the grill gate we enter the compound and start climbing the small hillock which has about 60 steps to get to the entrance of the temple. Having used to seeing tall gopurams in south to announce to the world the existence of the temple. We were greeted with a small flight of stairs.
But what a calm and quiet atmosphere and great gardening with lovely flowers greets you as you enter the courtyard
The main murti of Zeashta Maa is in a small enclosure which is on a water kund. Directly in front is a large prayer hall which is well carpeted ftom which you can have darshan of the deity. You light your lamp and incense sticks here.
The main Murphy can be worshipped by going gthrough a small side entrance and the pundit there does the pooja and gives you the prasad.
Through the garden you walk and reach the Shiva temple nearby. Further up is another Maatiji temple and still climbing up you reach another shivling.
You become one with nature surrounded by the flowers trees and birds chirping around
The driver explained to us that it is a puranic temple and Maa Zeashta' s sisters are Kheer Bhavani and Vaishno Devi.
Here is the history courtesy Wikipedia and other sources
Zeshta's origin relates to an important event which took
place during the churning of great ocean kshirasagra. Devtas and Asuras both
desirous of attaining morality were yearning for getting the nectar from
Ksirasagara. At the same time they were conscious that this nectar would become
available to them only if Lord Shiva, who is holder and controller of
Ksirasagara, permitted them to churn it. So both the parties, with great
reverence, adored, the Lord. Pleased with their adoration and devotion, Lord
Shiva agreed with the condition that whatever substance came out there from
would be shared by both Devtas and Asuras equally. Unaware of the nature of the
substance that would come out after churning of the ocean, they gladly accepted
the condition.
Having
possessed Ksirasagara, no doubt, for a specific purpose of getting
nectar, both the parties were puzzled, as they had no idea about the
methodology that was to be used for its churning. So disappointed they again
approached Lord Shiva for bestowing them with divine power which would make
churning of the ocean possible. Lord Shiva, the bestower of boons, gave them
one more boon by revealing to approach:-
i)
Mandara Parvata, ( the biggest mountain that alone could be used as a churner
for ksirasagra).
ii)
Lord Narayana, for taking incarnation of Kurmadevta, a giant crocodile. He
alone can hold this great mountain on his back and
iii)
Vasukinagaa for offering his body to be used as a rope around Mandara Parvata,
that alone has the power to make the Parvata the churner of Ksirasagra.
Feeling
delighted and getting the help of Mandara parvata, Narayana and Vasukinaga, the
Devtas and Asuras started the process of churning. Although initially they got
fourteen gems of which one gem was in the form of Goddess Lakshmi but suddenly
it started evaporating poison in the form of Kalakuta or Halahala-- the
terrible poison having its lethal effect to destroy whole universe
instantaneously. The Devtas who were given the control over thirteen gems, too
were frightened about Kalakuta. Being of a very virulent character, the moment
it appeared after churning, it started engulfing everything and burning it up. It
was beyond their power to control it. They were desparate and adored Lord Shiva
to come to their rescue. The Lord, who is Trilokinatha, protector of the
Universe, was pleased and bestowed his Anugraha to his creation by consuming
the poison. But in order to protect Parvati (Lord Shiva's energy), he stored it
in his throat. That is the reason why Lord Shiva's throat is bluish in appearance.
The Devtas and Asuras were delighted and they again adored Lord Shiva by
addressing him as Nilkantha.
The
Devtas bestowed Goddess Lakshmi to Lord Visnu. This furiated the Asuras. In
their anger they snatched her from Lord Vishnu and kept her in captivity in a
cave called "Guptagara" (now Gupkar). This action of Asuras gave rise
to wrath of Lord Shiva and with his divine force he created Goddess Zeashta and
Vira Vaitala with powers to annihilate all the Asuras and free goddess Lakshmi
from their clutches. Upon accomplishment of the task, Lord Shiva by his grace
bestowed both of them with the power of protection and upliftment of mankind.
The abode of Mata Zeashtais at a stones throw from the place called
"Gupkar" in the Srinagar city. All the devotees worshipping Goddess
Zeashta are fully protected and receive Mother's grace uninterruptedly . It has
been a tradition to offer 'cooked yellowish rice" (in kashmiri
"tehar") on all thursdays during the month of Zyesth.
This
famous ancient shrine of Kashmir for worldly people is a place for attaining
Siddi, Riddhi and Buddhi in all fields.
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