BRARI MEAJ TEMPLE (Cave at)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A sacred, modified natural cave (temple cave with spring) of dubious nature, where Adi Shankaracharaya had spent some five years … practicing different paths of God realization reports BHAT, C M (2002) from in the temple [premises?] but also, a few lines earlier, from behind this temple and sacred spring (note 1) of Brari Maej or Brari Meaj (note 2), a divine mother cat fond of human girls wearing silk skirts. SITUATION: The temple cave lies somewhere the village of Murran (BHAT, C M 2002) or Muran (AMS sheet NI43-10 Punch, 1960 edition), about two kilometers west of Pulwama town (BHAT 2002) or 3 km in a direct line south-west of Pulawom (N33°53': E074°55' nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folk lore: Pandit Bhawani Bhat (1760-1840), a pious and orthodox person, had a celestial dream on Magh Ashtami. A diving effulgence filled his muddy room, as the Divine Mother looked affectionately at Pandit Bhawani Bhat, beckoned him to approach and said : -Yor great devotion has made me happy. The time has come to shift you from this place, as you are facing a lot of hardships during the rainy season here. Early the next morning, there will appear a cat in your compound. Pack up your belongings and follow her and settle down where she will give you an indication. That will be your next place of settlement. But, remember, your seven generations will live at the new place of settlement with dignity and honour and your eighth generation will no longer stay here.- The Divine Mother disappeared after revealing the story to Pandit Bhawani Bhat. Early next morning, the divine cat appeared in the compound of Pandit Bhawani Bhat. By that time he had already packed up his little belongings and followed the cat till both of them reached a village. The Divine Cat gave an indication to Pt. Bhat by waving the tip of her tail and disappeared. When she was gone, a small spring emerged on the spot. The spring was afterwards expanded by laying a single piee of stone (Pather Kein) and a temple was built on it. This was later called Brari Maej (Cat Mother) and an icon of the Divine Mother was installed by Shri Loket Bhat (1801-1876) in 1875 on it. (BHAT 2002).e of stone (Pather Kein) and a temple was built on it. This was later called Brari Maej (Cat Mother) and an icon of the Divine Mother was installed by Shri Loket Bhat (1801-1876) in 1875 on it. (BHAT 2002).