Kheer Bhawani Temple

The Kheer Bhawani Temple, also known by the names Ksheer Bhawani or Ragnya Devi Temple, is a prominent Hindu shrine situated in the village of Tulmulla, approximately 25 kilometers northeast of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kheer Bhavani, who is also referred to by various names including Ragnya, Rajna, Devi, Mata, or Bhagavati. The temple is constructed over a sacred spring, and the offering of 'kheer,' a milk and rice pudding, is a customary practice to propitiate the goddess, leading to its translation as 'Milk Goddess.'

The worship of Kheer Bhavani holds universal significance among Kashmiri Hindus, with many revering her as their protective patron deity, their Kuladevi. The temple shares this status as a Kuladevi for the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu community as well. A significant annual event is the Kheer Bhawani mela, which takes place during Jyeshtha Ashtami. This festival attracts one of the largest congregations of Hindus in the region, second only to the Amarnath pilgrimage.

Temple Description and History

The temple is considered one of the most important Hindu temples in Kashmir. The resident deity, Kheer Bhavani, is deeply revered in the region. A unique feature of the temple complex is a heptagonal spring surrounding the deity's shrine. The waters of this holy spring are famously known to change color, exhibiting various hues such as red, pink, orange, green, blue, and white. While most color changes do not hold specific meaning, a black shade of the spring water is considered inauspicious and was reportedly observed during the time of the Kashmiri Pandit Exodus and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historical records indicate the temple's antiquity. Kalhana's Rajtarangini mentions the sacred spring of Tula Mula, and historical accounts suggest that floods once inundated the spring and temple. Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, in his work Aini-Akbari, described the area of Tula Mula. The current structure of the spring, temple pond, and temple was developed under the patronage of Maharaja Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir in the 1910s, with further renovations undertaken by Maharaja Hari Singh. The temple area is also known for its old-growth chinar trees, providing shade and resting spots for pilgrims.

The Kheer Bhawani Mela

The Kheer Bhawani mela is a vital annual event that draws Kashmiri Hindus and other pilgrims. The festival, celebrated during Jyeshtha Ashtami, faced threats during periods of Islamic terrorism and the Hindu exodus in the 1990s. However, dedicated efforts by the Indian Army contingent stationed in Ganderbal helped restore the mela. Currently, a contingent of the CRPF is deployed at the temple complex, ensuring its security. Notably, Hindu priests have continued to serve at the mandir throughout these challenging times, despite serious terrorist threats.