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The eighth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha and the
full moon day of Shravana are both very auspicious days for the Kashmiri Pandits, the former is
dedicated to the Goddess Maharajna and the latter to Lord Shiva. On the Jyeshtha Ashtami
devotees assemble at the shrine of Tula Mula. After taking a dip in the waters of the Sindhu, they
enter the precincts of the shrine. The marble temple is situated in an L-shaped spring, the waters of
which change colour, believed to be the change of the dress by the Mother Goddess. The whole area
is full of huge Chinar trees and the stream skirts the area allowing the house boats to anchor there.
After individual pooja and a collective Aarati, there are night long Bhajans and Kirtan. The refrain of
the Aarati is Gaurim-ambam amburuha-akshim-ahameedey - I bow to my beautiful mother whose
eyes resemble a lotus.' There are Dharmashalas for overnight stay and Yajnashalas for sacrificial
fire. Although this shrine is visited by the devotees every month on the eighth day of the bright
fortnight, Jyeshtha Ashtami is a special festival for Maharajna, the Consort of Shiva.
On Shravana purnima, while the entire country celebrates 'Raksha Bandhan' in Kashmir we have the
world famous pilgrimage to Swami Amarnath cave for the glimpse of the Ice-Lingam, which waxes
and wanes along with the growth and decline of the moon. On this day the Kashmiri Pandits collect
the holy clay from the Shankaracharya hill, mix mercury with it and make the required number of
'Partheshwaras' for a private pooja. They keep fast on this day and immerse the Partheshwara in
the river waters in the evening. Pasting is an essential aspect of the spirituality of a Pandit.
Amavasya, Purnima, Ekadashi, Ashtami are the monthly fasts and, besides, there are occasional
ones like Chandan Shashti, Bhimsen Ekadashi, Kali Ashtami, Shiva Chaturdashi, Kumara Shashti
and the like. The anniversary day of the parents as also of the sages like Alakheshwari and Rishi
Peer are also observed as fast days.
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