Baramulla, Oct 16: A 13-foot stone structure, believed to be a Mukhalinga, has drawn attention to north Kashmir’s ancient Shaivite traditions, renewing interest in the region’s religious and cultural heritage.
The structure, along with a Chaturmukhi Shivling at Sheeri, has attracted interest among members of the Kashmiri Pandit community because of its distinctive carvings and potential religious significance.
Shivanand Rohit, a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community, has taken the initiative to investigate the structures to establish their origins, historical context and religious significance.
According to Rohit, the sculptures may have links to ancient spiritual and tantric traditions associated with Kashmir. However, their precise age and historical origins remain to be established through expert examination.
A Mukhalinga is a representation of Lord Shiva in which one or more faces are carved on a Shiva Lingam. A Chaturmukhi Shivling typically features four faces, reflecting distinctive elements of Hindu religious iconography.
Rohit said teams had visited the site of the Chaturmukhi Shivling at Sheeri for an assessment, adding that further examination and conservation work were expected to begin shortly.
He said the four faces carved on the Sheeri Shivling represent Durga, Kali, Lakshmi and Uma.
Meanwhile, restoration work has resumed at the historic Shivling in Kanlibagh, Baramulla, believed to be around 500 years old.
The work gained momentum after Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Syed Fakhurdin Hamid inspected the temple and reviewed the ongoing restoration.
Members of the Kashmiri Pandit community welcomed the resumption of work and expressed gratitude to the district administration and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for addressing their long-pending demand for conservation of the shrine.
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