PREAMBLE

The historic temple of KSHEER BHAWANI at Tullamulla village was built by Maharaja Partap Singh in the year 1912. Later Maharaja Hari Singh renovated it. Surrounded by streams, the place abound in Chinar trees in and around the temple complex within which is a Hexagonal Spring wherein Diety of Goddess Regheneya is decorated and housed in a small white marble temple.

The legend goes that Ravana worshipped Mother Regheneya as Goddess Shyama, who showered Her blessings on his Kingdom. The Goddess thus resided in SHRI LANKA. Later due to Ravans misdeeds, the Goddess cursed him and ordered Hanuman Ji to take her to SATISAR (KASHMIR) the place cut off from the outside by snow clad mountains. The Mother on her vehicle along with 300 Naags was installed at Shadipura. The Mother preferred milk, sugar and all vegetarian forms of offerings.

A Kashmiri Pandit Shri Krishen Joo by name saw a vision in which he was informed by an Angel that he should engage a boat to Shadipura and from there a Serpent would guide him to the pious Spring. He did as he was directed and led by a Serpent reached the Spring where the snake disappeared. It is said that from the Spring, he found a Shloka (verse) describing the Goddess.

The main Spring of Goddess Shri KSHEER BHAWANI JI is an irregular septagonal shape with Apex called PAAD (feet) to the east and the opposite side called SHAER (head). It has an island in the centre where mulberry tree grew. The Idols (murties) which are housed in the temple have been taken out from this very Spring. The water of the Spring changes its colour from time to time. The colours are usually found to be red, light green, lemon yellow, milky white, grey etc.. There is no definite time for its change of colour. A shade of black colour is supposed to be inauspicious. There are bubbles arising out of the water of the spring and forming different shapes and chakras (mystic symbols). The devotees are not supposed to take any non-vegetarian foods before visiting the Holy Shrine.

The Holy Spring was discovered on Ashad Saptami (seventh day of bright fortnight in the month of Ashad), the day on which the sun occupies its highest position in the heavens.

Ardh Ratri Shri Maha Ragheneya Sewa Sanstha is a body which has been in active service of the Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir for the last sixty years. It is a non-political body and shall remain as such in future also. It was initially headed by Swami Shri Chuni Lal Jee Maharaj an enlightened soul. After his Samadhi, it was guided by Swami Niranjan Nath Safaya Maharaj who latter, on Phalgun Ashtami, 87 declared in the mid-night of Ashtami-Navmi during Pooja in the open hall of Shri Ksheer Bhawani Shrine, Tullamulla that Shri A. D. Veshin who was a member of the Sanstha would guide the Sanstha henceforth. As was destined, Swami Niranjan Nath Safaya expired within one month after his declaration and Shri A. D. Veshin took the reins of the Sanstha as Pradhan till the year 2009. It was, therefore, evident that “Pradhan” the leading light of the Sanstha, was nominated by the last declaration of the outgoing Pradhan and not by any selection or election upto the year 2009. In the year 2009, for smooth functioning of the Sanstha and the Trust, the Constitution of the Sanstha was amended.

This Sanstha used to serve a hot cup of tea (Kehwa) to devotees of Mata Ragheneya Bhagwati after they had a dip in the pious, ice cold water of the rivurlet encircling the Shrine Complex at Tullamulla. Members of the Sanstha used to sit for prayers in the open hall of the Shrine in front of the pious “Amrit Kund” on Ashtami-Navmi nights. Every year one “Varshik Hawan” and one “Sampath” was celebrated by the Sanstha in which thousands of devotees used to participate and take blessings of the "Mother.

After unfortunate migration of the community from the Valley, some of the members who stayed at Jammu and were in constant touch with each other, felt a need and desire to revive the Pooja of Ashtami-Navmi nights. Shri Prithvi Nath Ji Raina father of Shri P. L. Raina an active member of the Sanstha who had constructed his house at Gangyal, willingly offered the place for Pooja and Hawan. This continued for 3 years after which it was felt by the members to have its own Pooja Sathal in Jammu. After much striving, a place in Bhawani Nagar, Janipora was selected for this purpose. Though the site was a mountainous terrain but some spiritually elevated souls had a vision of the presence of the Divine Force at this site which was later on substantiated by many a devotees also who had a vision of the Mother’s presence at this site in their dreams. The site was acquired from the landlord after negotiations and payment of Rs. 40,000/- as cost of the land. The Sanstha had only Rs. 14,000/- in hand which it had got transferred from Kashmir Bank Account, rest of money required for purchasing the land was made available by the members of the Sanstha by contributions/loans.

After purchase of the land the members of the Sanstha raised funds by contributions, donations and loans for construction and erection of the Peeth on the same pattern as at Tullamulla, Kashmir. “Bhoomi-Puja” was performed on 20th February, 1993 by his holiness Rughnath Kokiloo Jee and since then the construction work is going on. The Sanstha is registered as a Trust under the name and title “Ardh Ratri Maha Ragheneya Sewa Sanstha Trust”.