Sharika Devi Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Srinagar International Airport has regular domestic flights to Jammu, Delhi and Mumbai, and occasional international flights.

• By train

  Srinagar railway station is on the 119 km Banihal-Baramulla line.

Why devotees come here

Sharika Devi Temple stands on the middle part of the western slope of Hari Parbat, a hill overlooking Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Parvati is worshipped here under the name Sharika. Legend says a pebble grew until it crushed a demon, and devotees revere Hari Parbat as that pebble.

Legend says a demon was crushed by a pebble that Sharika dropped. The pebble grew larger and larger until it crushed the demon. The story is told here as a legend, not as recorded history. Devotees revere Hari Parbat as that pebble.

The Sharika Mata shrine is on Hari Parbat hill. The temple occupies the middle part of the western slope of the hill. Sharika is depicted with 18 arms, seated on a Shri Chakra. Amongst the mystics, she is believed to be the presiding deity of Srinagar city, having manifested herself as a holy rock on Hari Parbat. Hari Parbat is also considered sacred by Kashmiri Pandits.

The Chhari Mubarak is the saffron-robed holy mace of Shiva, and it is the holy mace of the Amarnath Yatra. On Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada it is taken to this temple for special prayers, as per age-old tradition. One such visit took place on 13 August.

Festivals

• Shravan Shukla Paksha PratipadaChhari Mubarak visit

  The Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of the Amarnath Yatra, is taken to the temple for special prayers on this day, as per age-old tradition.

Tips for your visit

• Kashmiri Pandits consider Hari Parbat sacred, and the Sharika shrine stands on the same hill.
• Devotees also call her Tripursundari, the name used in the Chhari Mubarak report of the 13 August visit.

Questions people ask