Muslim Man Saves Hindu Temple

[Guest guest]

Well, since this seems so interesting, I'll tell a quick story. I knew a

person in Iraq who as a self-avowed Buddhist. Against all odds. Since a

story with too much facts can seem like fiction by ringing too true, I'll

leave facts out.But anyway, a Buddhist in Iraq has few marriage prospects,

it outcaste because agnostic. In fact there are no Buddhists in Iraq. He

lknew that as soon as he turned seventeen was was to join the military and

right then fight, or proclaim Buddhist and be killed a a triator to Islam. I

havent heard from him since.

[Guest guest]

GULMARG, Kashmir (July 30, 2006): Inside the sanctum sanctorum of the

historic Maharani temple here, a diminutive-looking priest recites

holy verses loudly. At first glance, he looks like any other Hindu

priest, but in reality he is a devout Muslim.

 

Thirty-year old Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh is the caretaker and priest of

the 91-year old temple, which houses a Shiv Lingam and idol of Goddess

Parvati. He has been the priest of this Hindu temple for the last 14

years. Interestingly, he is well-versed in both the Gita and the

Quran. He offers Namaaz regularly and also performs aarti at the temple.

 

"When everyone left the valley, I was the only person who took care of

this temple," said Sheikh. "Since then I am performing pujas regularly

at this temple. And my antecedents have never been questioned. People

respect me more when I tell them that I am Muslim."

 

The Maharani temple also known as Mohineshwari Shivalalaya was built

by Mohini Bai Sisodhia, the wife of erstwhile ruler of Kashmir

Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1915. The temple had a regular priest until

the onset of militancy in the area.

 

After the migration of the pandits [i.e., Kashmir Hindus, in the face

of escalating sectarian violence], Sheikh's uncle became its priest

and caretaker. Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh took over 14 years ago. Since

then, he has donned the mantle of priest of this historic temple.

 

"The temple remains open everyday from 6am to 9pm," said Sheikh.

"Aarti is performed twice a day for devotees, mostly the tourists.

After performing aarti, I offer namaaz."

 

The custodians of the Maharani temple are paying him a paltry sum of

Rs 1600 [uS $35] monthly to sustain his family.

 

"I have no other income," he said. "But the devotees who come to know

about my religion sometimes offer some money as a token of gratitude."

 

Sheikh however, rues that the government has not done anything for him

despite the fact he has kept the flame of secularism alive in tough times.

 

"My residential quarters suffered damages during the October 8 quake,

but not a single penny came my way," he lamented. "The

pseudo-secularists are being felicitated and I've not even been

recognised."

 

Hindu devotees are grateful to him for setting a precedent of

Hindu-Muslim unity.

 

"All religions preach brotherhood," said Asha Sadhu Dimri, [a Hindu

pilgrim visiting Kashmir from] Pune. "God is one and he does not

discriminate. It makes no difference for us who leads our prayers."

 

Sheikh has also brought another Muslim relative to serve the temple.

 

"We consider it our duty to serve the people no matter which religion

caste or creed you belong to," said Manzoor Ahmad, a gardener at the

temple.

 

SOURCE: DNA (Daily News & Analysis) India, Mumbai, by Ishfaq-ul-Hassan

URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1044609

[Guest guest]

Pranam. These kind of incidents are what is still keeping the belief in humanity in me. If only everyone can feel this way, not necessary to worship but at least, merely accept and give respect to believes of others, peace can perhaps prevail.

With Love

Shankaree

 

Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta > wrote:

GULMARG, Kashmir (July 30, 2006): Inside the sanctum sanctorum of the

historic Maharani temple here, a diminutive-looking priest recites

holy verses loudly. At first glance, he looks like any other Hindu

priest, but in reality he is a devout Muslim.

 

Thirty-year old Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh is the caretaker and priest of

the 91-year old temple, which houses a Shiv Lingam and idol of Goddess

Parvati. He has been the priest of this Hindu temple for the last 14

years. Interestingly, he is well-versed in both the Gita and the

Quran. He offers Namaaz regularly and also performs aarti at the temple.

 

"When everyone left the valley, I was the only person who took care of

this temple," said Sheikh. "Since then I am performing pujas regularly

at this temple. And my antecedents have never been questioned. People

respect me more when I tell them that I am Muslim."

 

The Maharani temple also known as Mohineshwari Shivalalaya was built

by Mohini Bai Sisodhia, the wife of erstwhile ruler of Kashmir

Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1915. The temple had a regular priest until

the onset of militancy in the area.

 

After the migration of the pandits [i.e., Kashmir Hindus, in the face

of escalating sectarian violence], Sheikh's uncle became its priest

and caretaker. Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh took over 14 years ago. Since

then, he has donned the mantle of priest of this historic temple.

 

"The temple remains open everyday from 6am to 9pm," said Sheikh.

"Aarti is performed twice a day for devotees, mostly the tourists.

After performing aarti, I offer namaaz."

 

The custodians of the Maharani temple are paying him a paltry sum of

Rs 1600 [uS $35] monthly to sustain his family.

 

"I have no other income," he said. "But the devotees who come to know

about my religion sometimes offer some money as a token of gratitude."

 

Sheikh however, rues that the government has not done anything for him

despite the fact he has kept the flame of secularism alive in tough times.

 

"My residential quarters suffered damages during the October 8 quake,

but not a single penny came my way," he lamented. "The

pseudo-secularists are being felicitated and I've not even been

recognised."

 

Hindu devotees are grateful to him for setting a precedent of

Hindu-Muslim unity.

 

"All religions preach brotherhood," said Asha Sadhu Dimri, [a Hindu

pilgrim visiting Kashmir from] Pune. "God is one and he does not

discriminate. It makes no difference for us who leads our prayers."

 

Sheikh has also brought another Muslim relative to serve the temple.

 

"We consider it our duty to serve the people no matter which religion

caste or creed you belong to," said Manzoor Ahmad, a gardener at the

temple.

 

SOURCE: DNA (Daily News & Analysis) India, Mumbai, by Ishfaq-ul-Hassan

URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1044609

 

 

 

 

 

Let my every word be a prayer to Thee,

Every movement of my hands a ritual gesture to Thee,

Every step I take a circumambulation of Thy image,

Every morsel I eat a rite of sacrifice to Thee,

Every time I lay down a prostration at Thy feet;

Every act of personal pleasure and all else that I do,

Let it all be a form of worshiping Thee."

 

>From Verse 27 of Shri Aadi Shankara's Saundaryalahari

 

 

 

All New Mail – Tired of Vi@gr@! come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you.

[Guest guest]

Bless his heart. This is the sort of devotion that expresses the

HOly love.

 

 

ZN

 

 

, "Devi Bhakta"

<devi_bhakta wrote:

>

> GULMARG, Kashmir (July 30, 2006): Inside the sanctum sanctorum of

the

> historic Maharani temple here, a diminutive-looking priest recites

> holy verses loudly. At first glance, he looks like any other Hindu

> priest, but in reality he is a devout Muslim.

>

> Thirty-year old Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh is the caretaker and priest

of

> the 91-year old temple, which houses a Shiv Lingam and idol of

Goddess

> Parvati. He has been the priest of this Hindu temple for the last

14

> years. Interestingly, he is well-versed in both the Gita and the

> Quran. He offers Namaaz regularly and also performs aarti at the

temple.

>

> "When everyone left the valley, I was the only person who took

care of

> this temple," said Sheikh. "Since then I am performing pujas

regularly

> at this temple. And my antecedents have never been questioned.

People

> respect me more when I tell them that I am Muslim."

>

> The Maharani temple also known as Mohineshwari Shivalalaya was

built

> by Mohini Bai Sisodhia, the wife of erstwhile ruler of Kashmir

> Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1915. The temple had a regular priest until

> the onset of militancy in the area.

>

> After the migration of the pandits [i.e., Kashmir Hindus, in the

face

> of escalating sectarian violence], Sheikh's uncle became its priest

> and caretaker. Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh took over 14 years ago. Since

> then, he has donned the mantle of priest of this historic temple.

>

> "The temple remains open everyday from 6am to 9pm," said Sheikh.

> "Aarti is performed twice a day for devotees, mostly the tourists.

> After performing aarti, I offer namaaz."

>

> The custodians of the Maharani temple are paying him a paltry sum

of

> Rs 1600 [uS $35] monthly to sustain his family.

>

> "I have no other income," he said. "But the devotees who come to

know

> about my religion sometimes offer some money as a token of

gratitude."

>

> Sheikh however, rues that the government has not done anything for

him

> despite the fact he has kept the flame of secularism alive in

tough times.

>

> "My residential quarters suffered damages during the October 8

quake,

> but not a single penny came my way," he lamented. "The

> pseudo-secularists are being felicitated and I've not even been

> recognised."

>

> Hindu devotees are grateful to him for setting a precedent of

> Hindu-Muslim unity.

>

> "All religions preach brotherhood," said Asha Sadhu Dimri, [a Hindu

> pilgrim visiting Kashmir from] Pune. "God is one and he does not

> discriminate. It makes no difference for us who leads our prayers."

>

> Sheikh has also brought another Muslim relative to serve the

temple.

>

> "We consider it our duty to serve the people no matter which

religion

> caste or creed you belong to," said Manzoor Ahmad, a gardener at

the

> temple.

>

> SOURCE: DNA (Daily News & Analysis) India, Mumbai, by Ishfaq-ul-

Hassan

> URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1044609

>