Katas Raj Temple : Bringing religions and histories together

[[Bregs]]

Because it means nothing to most of the people. And I thank the people for keeping it up.
Except of course most of the idols are gone.


We can fix that even today. Open the gates and allow those who wish to go either way. If ex Lahori Hindus feel too nostalgic about Anarkali bazaar...and if ex Lucknowis want to return...

how convenient you are able to bring this thread off line easily,i feel sarcasm is not going to benefit hindus or hinduism in any way rather will make it look idiotic in international forum

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Actually this particular area did not see any riots and Muslims enjoyed good relations with Hindus. I have been told of emotional farewell where both embraced each other before departing. Muslims also assured of providing security to Hindu populace to make them stay but they chose to leave nevertheless. This points to a generally peaceful situation in the area. What baffles me is, given the significance of this temple and a peaceful situation prevailing in the area why would no one stay behind to take care of the temple.

Hindu temples left behind were not destroyed or harmed. You may be surprised that I was actually schooled in a Hindu temple that was abandoned. Many decades after partition, most figures of Hindu deities still stood unharmed though decaying with time. Out of curiosity, I have asked my grandfather who lived and schooled with Hindu as how things really were at that time. I wouldn't tell here what he said, but things were tense but there wasn't madness like it is today. In fact, several years ago some of the Hindu came to visit in my area where they use to live. Old and frail now, they just wanted to see last time where they grew up as a child. It is an interesting tale but suffice to say after so many years all had just respect for each other. I'm proud that my people went out of their way in hospitality. Sure there were problems of serious nature at the time of partition as my granddad explained me but can't we move on now?

The actual bloodshed on both sides of the Border took place in Punjab alone. No other states subjects were harmed or threatened. I am not sure why Punjab had to be different though in 47.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

how convenient you are able to bring this thread off line easily,i feel sarcasm is not going to benefit hindus or hinduism in any way rather will make it look idiotic in international forum

I am not a thekedar of Hinduism or Hindus. I am only hanging out with buddies - from both this and that side of the border.

 

[[Bregs]]

I am not a thekedar of Hinduism or Hindus. I am only hanging out with buddies - from both this and that side of the border.

lol you are an asset in most issues but you did not bother to reply too why the left over hindus have not been able to maintain idols inside this revered temple ?

 

[SarthakGanguly]

lol you are an asset in most issues but you did not bother to reply too why the left over hindus have not been able to maintain idols inside this revered temple ?

What will they do?

If a few hooligans break them what will anybody do? Idols are broken in India as well. But since the Hindu community is strong, the police is forced to lodge FIRs. If there is nobody to lodge FIRs why would the police bother. The police in both India and Pakistan are pretty much the same.

 

[[Bregs]]

The actual bloodshed on both sides of the Border took place in Punjab alone. No other states subjects were harmed or threatened. I am not sure why Punjab had to be different though in 47.

Because both sides of punjab witnessed trains first entering with dead bodies and hence more violence followed in this state as counter response now do not ask me who started first as it doesn't matter now

 

[Jackdaws]

The actual bloodshed on both sides of the Border took place in Punjab alone. No other states subjects were harmed or threatened. I am not sure why Punjab had to be different though in 47.

I had read about this. It started in West Punjab where Sikhs owned large tracts of lands - it had nothing to do with religion - it was a land grabbing technique - plain and simple. Given their lesser numbers, they were an easy target. They regrouped and retaliated in kind. The argument that Jinnah had for all of India was "Muslims were once the rulers and will not be subjugated by the Hindu majority." But that exact same logic applied to Punjab - "The Sikhs were once the rulers and will be subjugated by the Muslim majority." If I remember correctly, the demand for a separate Sikh homeland was made even during Partition.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Is there any puja done in this temple?

 

[topgun047]

I had read about this. It started in West Punjab where Sikhs owned large tracts of lands - it had nothing to do with religion - it was a land grabbing technique - plain and simple. Given their lesser numbers, they were an easy target. They regrouped and retaliated in kind. The argument that Jinnah had for all of India was "Muslims were once the rulers and will not be subjugated by the Hindu majority." But that exact same logic applied to Punjab - "The Sikhs were once the rulers and will be subjugated by the Muslim majority." If I remember correctly, the demand for a separate Sikh homeland was made even during Partition.

Violence in Punjab is a cultural thing,
I worked as a doctor in rural area in Punjab.Let me share my experience.

What happens is many families sit together in the evening to have chai.
One person says something nasty to another.
That person retaliates by saying something even nastier.
This spirals into a brawl where as two families including the women are attacking each other with lathis and nails,
After seriously hurting each other, both families come to hospital together.

We used to get one or two such cases every month.Every month like clockwork.

I don't think this happens anywhere else in India.

IMO such culture developed over time as a result of Punjab being repeatedly conquered from either east or west in its history.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

I had read about this. It started in West Punjab where Sikhs owned large tracts of lands - it had nothing to do with religion - it was a land grabbing technique - plain and simple. Given their lesser numbers, they were an easy target. They regrouped and retaliated in kind. The argument that Jinnah had for all of India was "Muslims were once the rulers and will not be subjugated by the Hindu majority." But that exact same logic applied to Punjab - "The Sikhs were once the rulers and will be subjugated by the Muslim majority." If I remember correctly, the demand for a separate Sikh homeland was made even during Partition.

This was March 46. After 14th August 1946 - everything changed. The motives changed massively.
But let's not discuss that here anymore.

 

[[Bregs]]

Is there any puja done in this temple?

i doubt as per reply by @Paksanity there is no pooja done except on some major occasions like shiv ratri

 

[SarthakGanguly]

i doubt as per reply by @Paksanity there is no pooja done except on some major occasions like shiv ratri

I will write to Pakistan High Commission to forward my request to open a RSS shakha near the village for the benefit of the villagers there.

 

[Paksanity]

well dear your post is very nostalgic and this has been the case in many region of india too where muslims were protected and seen off by hindu families. but hatred took over in many parts of punjab from both sides

i wonder why the Hindus still living around this are not able to maintain the idols in this revered temple ? since this area did not witness any hatred that time thats why this temple is safe and relatively well maintained

Actually most of the temples are abandoned. In my area there are temples but no Hindu community. Still they are standing and nobody takes it upon himself to bring it down. Most of them were converted into schools. Only time I remember when these temples received some damage was when Babri Masjid was attacked in India. I don't recall any temple where religion is being practiced and it was damaged. They only threw stones on abandoned ones which actually were schools at that time. If you look at Katas Raj temple, it doesn't tell sign of any human damage. It just shows it has no visitors. My guess of absence of idol would be that nobody has been practicing religion there. I don't think there are any significant number of Hindus in the area who wish to worship there. Most Hindus in Pakistan are in Sindh, few in Balochistan. Sikhs mostly in KPK, Punjab and few in Balochistan. There they do have working temples.

 

[[Bregs]]

Actually most of the temples are abandoned. In my area there are temples but no Hindu community. Still they are standing and nobody takes it upon himself to bring it down. Most of them were converted into schools. Only time I remember when these temples received some damage was when Babri Masjid was attacked in India. I don't recall any temple where religion is being practiced and it was damaged. They only threw stones on abandoned ones which actually were schools at that time. If you look at Katas Raj temple, it doesn't tell sign of any human damage. It just shows it has no visitors. My guess of absence of idol would be that nobody has been practicing religion there. I don't think there are any significant number of Hindus in the area who wish to worship there. Most Hindus in Pakistan are in Sindh, few in Balochistan. Sikhs mostly in KPK, Punjab and few in Balochistan. There they do have working temples.

Its surprising and rather unfortunate to know that no hindus left there in chakwal area to maintain the pooja and idols in this temple

Thanks for your detailed reply

 

[Sugarcane]

Man these are fake temples as there are no secret chambers or basement vaults filled with treasures.