‘’Vakartund Maha Kayai suri Koti Sama Prabha, Nir Vignam Kuromay Davi Sarva Karishu Sarvadha.’’ The Kashmiri Pandits of village Hanad Chawalgam Kulgam have constructed a magnificent temple dedicated to elephant God Ganesh at Nanak Vihar Lower Mutti. The construction of the Ganesh temple which is the replica of the Ganesh Shrine of Hanad Chawalgam started in the year 2009 and was competed in year 2011. A marvelous idol of Lord Maha Ganesh was installed in the temple. The Ganesh temple was constructed under the auspices’ of Maha Ganesh Chartible foundations which is a registered body and the donations to the trust are exempted from the income tax under section 80 of the income tax Act. It was in fact the charitable foundation which conceived the idea of constructing the Ganesh temple and the idea was given the practical shape with the donations and moral support of the KP community living in Jammu and even from the KP’s living in other cities of India, the donations for constructing the temple flowed and the temple was constructed. In whole Jammu there is hardly a temple solely dedicated to Ganesh. In Jammu the city of temples there are so many Shivalias-Shiv temples and there is no temple exclusively dedicated to Mahaganesh. Therefore the Ganesh temple of Lower Muthi has great significance and people are attracted to this temple.
The magnificent Idol of Lord Ganesh was installed in the temple in the year 2010.Today there is a big complex at the premises of the Ganesh temple which consists of a big Dharmshalla of two stories known as Mata Gwari Bhawan. There are all utensils which are needed for cooking food and vegetables and same are provided to those who perform functions like sacred thread, mandhiraat ,Deavegoon etc. Besides bedding is also provided to devotees and those who perform functions there and there are also arrangements for Gas cylinders and gas stoves which are available for those performing various functions there. It is pertinent to mention here that it is not only the KP baradri of village H.C. Gam who contributed money for the purpose of the construction of the temple complex but KP’s from all over Kashmir residing in Jammu and other places of India generously contributed for the noble cause. A havan-Yagya is performed yearly on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chuterdashi which is called in Kashmiri parlance as Gan Chuddha. The havan commences on the evening of Fourteenth day of the second bright fortnight of the Hindu Calendar called Vishak Shukal Paksh chutter Dashi and concludes on Buddha Purnimashi which falls on April-May of the Georgian calendar. This year as usual Hawan was performed on 4th and 5th of May with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm and hundreds of devotees participated in sacred fire-Hawan and took Prasad and blessings from the Lord Ganesh. On Punimashi Prashad in the form of rice, Dhal, Dhamaloo and Kheer was distributed among the people. Devotees from far and wide and the locals of Muthi visit the temple in large numbers and pay obeisance to Lord Ganesh and partake the Naveed. Wet wallnut called "Kalish Doon" is also distributed to the devotees. The Havan is performed in the hot summer season in the month of May and so the devotees are served cold water, cucumber, water melon and cold drinks by the members of the Charitable foundations. Devotees visit this temple to get their wishes fulfilled and so manukamana of the devotees are realized. A pucca cemented Agnishalla has also been constructed where annual Yagya and sacred thread ceremonies are performed. From some years people perform Yegnopavit ceremonies, Havans, Devgoon, Mahindirat and other small functions in the temple complex at the very cheap rates or at nominal charges.
On the auspicious occasion of the yearly havan Bajan Kirtan called mandli gives charm and grace to the religious function of Havan and the devotees are in fact mesmerized by the sweet voice of the one Bushan Lal Sharnagat and the devotees attentively and interestingly enjoy his melodious voice. The Ganesh temple at Lower Muthi has the distinction of being the only temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh as there are no execulsively Ganesh temples in Jammu and therefore people in large numbers visit the temple on Tuesdays and Saturdays .A priest has been engaged by the organizers of the Charitable trust and Aarti is performed every day at morning and evening and local people also participate in the daily pooja .The Chratible trust has some years back brought a sapling of Elm tree called in Kashmiri as Brenn from village H.C Gam and planted the tree in the premises of the temple and today it has grown in a big tree. The Lord Ganesh temple and the Brunn tree reminds the people of the famous of the famous Ganesh Asthapan of chowalgam. Now close to the Ganesh temple a Shiv temple is under construction where people can offer flowers, water and milk. .However in this Ganesh temple water and milk is not offered to Lord Ganesh and only flowers are offered to Ganesh who is called Vegen hartar—the removal of obstacles as Ganesh frees the people and devotees from troubles and obstacles. Ganesh is called as Adi Dav which means that Ganesh has the distinction of being first propitiated .In all good works, Havans and marriage ceremonies Maha Ganesh is first propitiated. In Havans Ganesh Swahakar is performed first of all. The charitable foundation is providing financial aid to the needy and poor people as a gupt Dhan. It also secretly provides monetary assistance to the poor people for performing marriage and sacred thread ceremonies. The aims and objectives of the Ganesh foundation are very noble as it also thought of providing free tuitions to the students who are in need. So it has philanthropic aims also as its objective is service to the society preferably to the needy and poor. The charitable foundation has also published Puja book which is the book of daily puja and in this book Leelas/religious songs of many poets are also included. The foundation has some years back prepared the telephone directory of the KP baradari of H.C. Gam. Few months ago the foundation has formed the group of Hindu baradari of Zilla Kulgam and it is the good move of the foundation. To conclude let us support the charitable foundation and donate generously for the philanthropic cause and get the blessings of Lord Mahaganesh. May Lord Ganesh remove all obstacles in way of return of the Kashmiri Pandits to their native land and birth place with honor and dignity.
(Writer:- Vivek Koul & O.N Koul)
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