Pushkar Nath Koul
Uma Jayanti, as the name suggests, is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Divine Mother Uma, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Jayanti is celebrated on Chaitr Shukla Pakhsh Navmi also known as Ram Navmi. It coincides with the birth anniversary of the seventh incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu, Lord Ram. The day has more significance as the birth of the both was divine for the welfare of humanity.
Mata Uma is known as goddess of power, energy, nourishment, love, beauty, benovelence and motherhood. Mata Uma, also known as Parvati, Gauri etc., is the reincarnation of Mata Sati. The birth of Mata is believed to be a cosmic event aimed at bringing out the Lord Shiva out of ascetic withdrawal for the continuation and sustenance of the universe. The Lord Shiva had gone into ascetic withdrawal after his first consort Sati had sacrificed Her life to avenge dishonour of Lord Shiva by Her father Daksh Prajapati.
Parvati is known as Shiva’s Shakti ( the divine energy). As such she is the embodiment of divine energy and fertility. Shiva and Shakti are wholesome and incomplete without eachother. It underscores the indispensability of the Divine Mother. Uma also forms divine trinity with Lakshmi and Sarswati known as Tridevi.
Uma Jayanti Special
The divine land of Kashmir is known for its SIDHPEETHS and one amongst them is the Shrine of Uma Devi at Uma Nagri,(Brariangan), Uttersoo in district Anantnag. There are many legends associated with this abode of Mata. One legend traces its history to the Yegya of DakshPrajapati. Another version is that once Mata Uma during her BRAHMAN ( visit) stayed here and one another is that Mata stayed here in penance to get Lord Shiva. Whatever may be the background, there is no dispute that this shrine is dedicated to Mata Uma and She blesses Her devotees here by fulfilling their MANOKAMNA.
In modern times, the history of the shrine can be traced to the 18th century when Swami Shiv Ram Jalali started his meditation at the shrine. Shiv Ram Jalali was a Kardhar ( a revenue official) in Kothar Parganain the Pathanrule. Moved by an incident, he renounced materialistic interests and started meditation at Sonshah, near Village Brah in same area. He had vision of Mata who guided him to go to Uma Nagri and a crow guided him to the place. He started his meditation at the place and lit a DHOONI, a sacred fire, that remained lit till the exodus of the last Mahant Satyanand in May 1990. Here Mata manifests Her self alongwith Her Consort Lord Shiva in shape of an oozing in Shiv Shakti Kund ( spring). The other Kunds are Vishnu, Braham and Rudra, the five forming shape of PRANVA. Forced into submission by the divine glory of the shrine and mystic prowess of Shiv Ram Ji, the then Pathan Governor Haji Kareem Dad Khan allotted a big chunk of agricultural and forest land to the shrine. Uma Jayanti used to be celebrated at the shrine with religious fervour and enthusiasm up to exodus and continues to be celebrated in Jammu even in exile.
The shrine also was not spared in turmoil. The shrine was desecrated, the Moorti broken, temple harmed and DhhoniSahab and Dharamshallas of archaeological importance burnt to ashes. The Uma Bhagwati Asthapan Trust formed to look after theshrine on the demise of last Mahant in exile started to restore the sanctity of the shrine since 2007. The dedication of the Trust and contribution of Uma Bhakts helped a lot in this mission and the Trust looks forward to the implementation of the government project on the ground zero at the earliest.
An important mile stone was achieved last year when the Prathishta of new Moorti of Mata Uma was done in the sanctumSanctorum in the august presence of Union Minister of Home Nityanand Rai. This year the trust has decided to celebrate the Uma Jayanti at the Uma Nagri itself on the 6th. April. A yegya for Jagat Kalyan will be performed to rekindle the concept of VASUDEV KUTUMBKAM.
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