ANANTNAG, OCT 3: Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, visited the revered Shri Martand Tirath at Mattan along with Chief Education Officer Anantnag, Deputy CEO, Principal Higher Secondary School and other officials, paying obeisance at the historic pilgrimage centre and participating in traditional ancestral observances.
During the visit, Sharma performed traditional ancestral rites, including Pind Daan and Shraad, in remembrance of his departed ancestors. At the sacred Tirath, he offered prayers to Bhagwan Martand seeking peace, salvation and eternal repose for the departed souls. He also prayed for the welfare, peace and prosperity of all, seeking divine blessings for harmony and collective well-being.
The visiting dignitaries were warmly received by Shri Martand Tirath Trust General Secretary TK Tickoo, along with other members of the Trust. The Trust representatives apprised the visiting officers of the religious, cultural and spiritual significance of the sacred Tirath and its continuing role as an important centre of pilgrimage and ancestral worship.
The Martand Tirath at Mattan holds particular significance in Kashmir’s religious traditions for ancestral worship and ceremonies performed in remembrance of departed family members. The sacred Tirath is centred around ancient springs, temples and associated religious sites where devotees traditionally perform Shraad, Pind Daan and Tarpan seeking peace and spiritual well-being for their ancestors.
The Tirath forms a distinct sacred complex within the wider Mattan-Bawan religious landscape, separate from the nearby archaeological remains of the historic Martand Sun Temple. The area has retained its importance as a pilgrimage destination where generations of devotees have undertaken religious observances connected with ancestral remembrance.
Among the sacred features associated with the Tirath are the Vimala and Kamala springs, along with temples and shrines connected with different Hindu traditions. The Kamala Kund is traditionally associated with a Shiva shrine, while the wider sacred landscape includes the Bhargshika/Adi Shakti shrine at Devi Bal and the Sangam area associated with ancestral observances.
The Sangam Tirtha holds particular importance in local religious tradition, with devotees performing ancestral rituals including Pind Daan, Shraad and Tarpan. These practices continue to draw families to Mattan to honour their departed ancestors and offer prayers for their spiritual peace.
The Shri Martand Tirath Trust has played an important role in maintaining the religious traditions and facilities associated with the sacred site. The Trust traces its institutional history to the establishment of Purohit Sabha Martand in 1949, reflecting the longstanding involvement of the local Purohit community in the management and preservation of the Tirath.
The sacred complex forms part of the broader Martand-Mattan heritage landscape, which also includes the historic Martand Sun Temple, dedicated to Surya, the Sun deity. The Martand Sun Temple is recognised as an important historic monument of Kashmir and is traditionally associated with the Karkota ruler Lalitaditya Muktapida.
Against this backdrop, Sharma’s visit combined an official engagement with a personal religious observance, as he undertook ancestral rites at a Tirath traditionally associated with remembrance of departed forebears.
The accompanying CEO Anantnag, Deputy CEO, Principal Higher Secondary School and other officials also paid obeisance at the sacred complex.
The religious observance concluded with prayers for peace for the departed souls, universal welfare, harmony and prosperity, reaffirming the continuing spiritual relevance of Shri Martand Tirath as a centre of worship, pilgrimage and ancestral remembrance.
The Shri Martand Tirath Trust expressed gratitude to the visiting officers for paying obeisance at the sacred shrine and participating in the traditional religious observances.
