Shopian, Jun 23: Nestled among towering Chinar trees on the banks of the gurgling Rambiara river, about 3 km from Shopian town, the TirathrajKapalMochan shrine has witnessed an unusual influx of devotees and pilgrims over the past month during the auspicious Adhika-masa.
According to the shrine management, around 7,000 pilgrims visited the shrine during the intercalary month in the Hindu calendar. Devotees arrived from different parts of north India, including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and various parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“During this period, shraddha rituals for those who died in accidents, as well as for children and unmarried persons, were performed,” said Nana Ji Dhar, a sevak at the shrine.
He said the civil administration and police extended full cooperation to facilitate the pilgrimage and ensure smooth conduct of the religious ceremonies. The shrine holds immense religious significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community and is associated with an ancient Hindu legend. According to tradition, Lord Shiva beheaded Lord Brahma after the latter made a false confession. Following the act, Brahma’s skull (kapal) became attached to Shiva’s hand as a symbol of the sin of Brahma-hatya (the killing of Brahma).
Despite visiting numerous sacred places, Shiva was unable to free himself from the skull. It is believed that when he reached the KapalMochan shrine and took a dip in one of its sacred springs, the skull detached from his hand, absolving him of the sin. The shrine continues to attract devotees seeking spiritual merit and liberation, particularly during Adhika-masa, which is regarded as an especially auspicious period for prayers, charity and ancestral rites in the Hindu calendar.
