The Kheer Bhawāni Temple of Kashmir is dedicated to Goddess Shree Rājarājeshwari. The Temple is Situated 25 kms from Srinagar, and 5 kms from Ganderbal. The name Rājarājeshwari means 'Supreme Ruler' or 'Universal Ruler'. It is believed that Goddess Shree Rājarājeshwari resides there in the form of a Divine Serpent. She is also also known as Shree Ksheera Bhawāni Devi or Mata Kheer Bhawāni Jee. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this Temple as 'Bhooteshwara'. The name Bhooteshwara means 'the Lord of five elements'. The five elements according to Hinduism are land, sky, air, water and fire.
The Idol of the Goddess and Lord Shiva are placed in a beautiful marble Temple in the midst of a Holy Spring whose water change it's colours into rosy red, turquoise green, pale lemon, sky blue, milky white or pure white from time to time. When any calamity has to befall on the people of the Kashmir, the spring at Kheer Bhawāni Temple changes its colour to black.
Legend has it that, pleased with the worship by King Ravana of Sri Lanka the Goddess appeared before him. He built a Temple for her. She was later displeased by King Ravana's vicious ways. When Lord Ram defeated King Ravana Goddess showed her desire to establish a new Temple for her in Kashyapabhoomi, that is, Kashmir. It is further believed that she came along with 360 Nāgās.
Jyeshtha Ashtami is the most popular festival of this Temple. Jyeshta Ashtami falls on the eight day of Shukla Paksha(the span of waxing moon) in the month of Jyeshta according to Hindu Vedic calendar. To celebrate this birthday festival of Goddess, people from adjoining hill areas assemble in large number at the shrine and offer prayers and worships at lotus feet of Goddess. Milk Kheer, a dish made by boiling rice in milk, is prepared on this day and is offered to the Goddess. The hill-folk also sing hymns and songs in praise of the Goddess.
I think the Sri Lankan Temple which is mentioned in the legend of Goddess Kheer Bhawani is the Temple of Shree Nāgabhooshani Amman. It is situated in the island called Nainativu. The word Nāgabhooshani means 'She who is adorned with snakes'. In this Temple, the Goddess is worshipped as both Nāgabhooshani and Bhuvaneshwari. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this Temple as 'Rakteshwara'. The name Rakteshwara literally means 'the Lord of blood'. My personal experience is that sometimes after praying to Goddess Nāgabhooshani Amman when I talk a hissing sound comes from my mouth.
Antiquarians believe that the northern area of Sri Lanka was inhabited in ancient times by the Nāgā race and some of their forms of worship has prevailed to this day.
Legend of the Temple states that two traders, Manayakan and Mahasathavan, observed a cobra with a flower in it's mouth swimming in the sea towards in the island of Nainativu where it worshipped at a shrine. This shrine was later enlarged and enhanced by Shri.Veeraswamy Chettiar into an impressive temple with 7 Prakara and enshrining both Goddess and Lord Shiva. After the arrival of the Portuguese, this temple was demolished in 1620. The new Temple was built in the year 1788 and the Gopuram was added in 1935. The most important festival of this Temple is 'Ther Thiruvizha(तेर् तिरुविज्ष्या)' which means 'chariot festival'. This 16 day festival celebrated every year during the month of Aani(June-July) according to Hindu Tamil calendar.
I have not visited either of these Temples. But when I read the legends, I felt that these two Temples are related to each other. What I am trying to find is that, if my assumption is true, when the Idol Goddess Ksheera Bhawani was taken to Kashmir from Sri Lanka, who installed the new idol of Goddess in the Temple of Sri Lanka.
Referrence: Cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir edited by Kulbhushan Warikoo, When My Valley Was Green By Kanwar K Kaul, Fasts and Festivals of India By Manish Verma, The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka by Rough Guides, Encyclopaedia of Oriental Philosophy and Religion: Hinduism : S-Z Front Cover by Nagendra Kr Singh, A. P. Mishra, The Hindu Legacy to Sri Lanka by Nirmala Ramachandran
The Idol of the Goddess and Lord Shiva are placed in a beautiful marble Temple in the midst of a Holy Spring whose water change it's colours into rosy red, turquoise green, pale lemon, sky blue, milky white or pure white from time to time. When any calamity has to befall on the people of the Kashmir, the spring at Kheer Bhawāni Temple changes its colour to black.
Legend has it that, pleased with the worship by King Ravana of Sri Lanka the Goddess appeared before him. He built a Temple for her. She was later displeased by King Ravana's vicious ways. When Lord Ram defeated King Ravana Goddess showed her desire to establish a new Temple for her in Kashyapabhoomi, that is, Kashmir. It is further believed that she came along with 360 Nāgās.
Jyeshtha Ashtami is the most popular festival of this Temple. Jyeshta Ashtami falls on the eight day of Shukla Paksha(the span of waxing moon) in the month of Jyeshta according to Hindu Vedic calendar. To celebrate this birthday festival of Goddess, people from adjoining hill areas assemble in large number at the shrine and offer prayers and worships at lotus feet of Goddess. Milk Kheer, a dish made by boiling rice in milk, is prepared on this day and is offered to the Goddess. The hill-folk also sing hymns and songs in praise of the Goddess.
I think the Sri Lankan Temple which is mentioned in the legend of Goddess Kheer Bhawani is the Temple of Shree Nāgabhooshani Amman. It is situated in the island called Nainativu. The word Nāgabhooshani means 'She who is adorned with snakes'. In this Temple, the Goddess is worshipped as both Nāgabhooshani and Bhuvaneshwari. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this Temple as 'Rakteshwara'. The name Rakteshwara literally means 'the Lord of blood'. My personal experience is that sometimes after praying to Goddess Nāgabhooshani Amman when I talk a hissing sound comes from my mouth.
Antiquarians believe that the northern area of Sri Lanka was inhabited in ancient times by the Nāgā race and some of their forms of worship has prevailed to this day.
Legend of the Temple states that two traders, Manayakan and Mahasathavan, observed a cobra with a flower in it's mouth swimming in the sea towards in the island of Nainativu where it worshipped at a shrine. This shrine was later enlarged and enhanced by Shri.Veeraswamy Chettiar into an impressive temple with 7 Prakara and enshrining both Goddess and Lord Shiva. After the arrival of the Portuguese, this temple was demolished in 1620. The new Temple was built in the year 1788 and the Gopuram was added in 1935. The most important festival of this Temple is 'Ther Thiruvizha(तेर् तिरुविज्ष्या)' which means 'chariot festival'. This 16 day festival celebrated every year during the month of Aani(June-July) according to Hindu Tamil calendar.
I have not visited either of these Temples. But when I read the legends, I felt that these two Temples are related to each other. What I am trying to find is that, if my assumption is true, when the Idol Goddess Ksheera Bhawani was taken to Kashmir from Sri Lanka, who installed the new idol of Goddess in the Temple of Sri Lanka.
Referrence: Cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir edited by Kulbhushan Warikoo, When My Valley Was Green By Kanwar K Kaul, Fasts and Festivals of India By Manish Verma, The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka by Rough Guides, Encyclopaedia of Oriental Philosophy and Religion: Hinduism : S-Z Front Cover by Nagendra Kr Singh, A. P. Mishra, The Hindu Legacy to Sri Lanka by Nirmala Ramachandran
