BIJBEHARA, INDIA, August 28, 2007: After a period of eighteen years, worship has commenced again at an ancient Siva temple. The news release explains, “The Pandits arrived at the temple located on a hillock at Thajwara, overlooking Srinagar-Jammu national highway, from Jammu and other parts of the country where they had migrated after eruption of militancy in the state in early 1990s. Popularly known as Pracheen Amarnath shrine, the temple houses a cave in which water pours from the top and it is viewed as a replica of the 3,880-meter-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the Himalayas. The Temple reverberated with religious songs since last evening as hundreds of devotees gathered to participate in a havan (special prayers).”
President of Jammu-based Devasthan Prabandak Committee Bijbehara V N Jotshi says, “This is the grace of Lord Shiva that we got a chance to offer prayers at the shrine, visit our birth place and meet our Muslim brothers. We are looking forward for the day when we will return to our roots here.” Jotshi further adds that the shrine has a great religious significance. Those who could not manage to track the arduous route to Amarnath cave used to visit the temple and offer prayers.