Katas Raj is a composite of seven antique
temples neighboring a pond reflected sacred by Hindus. It is believed to have
been created some 1500 years ago.
Located near Chakwal, these
temples are situated a little over a two-hour drive away from Islamabad, casing
around 260 canal of land. Until a few years ago, this site characterized just
another forgotten piece of history, though it ongoing to gain grip over the
past few years and is now reflected one of the top one-day trip places in
Punjab, especially amongst photographers, creative thinker and history-lovers.
Katas Raj in Tradition
It is thought that the place was visited by the Pandawa
brothers of "Mahabharat" celebrity and this multifaceted of temples
was built to commemorate their visit. It is supposed that this is the area
called Dvaitavana in the classic and here is where the Pandawa lived throughout
their refugee and also where the sequence of questions happened between the Pandawa
and the Yakshahs. The site of the Sath Ghara or Seven Shrines is said to be the
home where the Pandawa completed their home during their 12 year émigré.
A Brahmanical story tells this site straight to Shiva, whose
unconsolably sorrow at the passing of his wife Sati ran to a rain of moans
which shaped two ponds of water, one at Pushkara near Ajmer and the other at
Katas.
The smaller temples, constructed in pairs around the larger dominant
temple, were constructed around 900 years or so ago, while the initial of them days
back to the latter half of the 6th century AD.
The temple multifaceted was uncontrolled by Hindus when they traveled to East Punjab in 1947 and no one remained back. The association of Hindus with resident Muslim population was very good. Resident Muslims even attended them to next town Choa Saiden Shah from wherever the Katas Hindu inhabitants continued further to India. It has always been the place of holy visit for people of Hindu faith from northern Punjab. It is thought that Shiva lived the years of his married life with Satihere,
after Sati's decease grief took over him and
from his cries a pond was formed. The travelers wash in the holy pool and seek mercy
as Hindu trust holds that dip in the pond (especially on certain times) leads
to the pity of sins and helps achieve deliverance. Till lately, it was thought
that the pool had limitless depth. Even nowadays, parishioners of all Hindu
faiths perform journey to the mandir.
The Katas Raj Temples hold huge
significance in the Hindu mythos, as it is believed the bluish-green water of
the pond, formed by the tears of Lord Shiva, which he shed following the death
of his wife, wash-downs one’s sins. The remnants
of a Buddhist stupa can also be seen in the area along with some newly built
structures.
In many ways, Katas Raj’s history
reflects Pakistan’s evolving attitude towards its Hindu heritage. After
Partition, while ancient Buddhist sites were preserved, and promoted, as part
of the country’s rich history, the Hindu heritage was ignored as the trauma of
Partition and the quest for shaping an identity distinct from Hindu India
animated the national narrative. During the wars of 1965 and 1971 with India,
members of the Hindu and Sikh communities were attacked. In 1992, after the
demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in India, many Hindu temples in
Pakistan were destroyed.
Although the dilapidating and immensely
ignored temple complex is being reinstated, the heavy vegetation around the
temples and the calmness of the area makes it one of the most prominent tourist
attraction
The tomb is on the tentative list
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.stinations in Punjab.
Additionally, this composite of
temples is one of the largest holy sites for the followers of Hindu religion in
Punjab.
Location: Kalar Kahar Road, Katas,
Chakwal
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entry Fee: None
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