Hari Parbat (SHARIKA PEETH) is situated at the side-line of Srinagar city is an ancient peak and one of the holiest place of Kashmir. It is the abode of Maha Shakti. The Divine mother of Shri Jagat Amaba Sharika Bagwati also known as Maha TRIPURSUNDHARI OR RAJESHWARI locally called HARIE. The EIGHTEEN ARMED goddess SHARIKA is regarded as the presiding deity (ISHT-DEVI) of Srinagar city.
The Goddess Sharika is represented by a Sayambhu “SRI CHAKRA” (Mahamaha Srichakra) also called “MAHA SRIYANTRA” which consists of circular Mystic impressions and triangular patterns with fot(Bindhu) at the centre. The mystic SHRICHAKAR self-engraved on a vertical holy rock (shilia) is located at the middle of western face of Hari Parbat (Hillrock).
ABODE OF STRENGTH (SHRI SHRI SHARIKA AMBA)
The shrine of Chakreshwar has been a place of worship from the anicient day. The Godess Sharika manifested herself in the form of “SHILA” on the Hari Parbat.
It is perhaps due to Goddess ShriChakra that the capital city of Kashmir is said to have derived its name of Srinagar (Shrinagra).
As per the “VISISH TADHVAITA” DOCTRINE” Shri is the Divine consort of the Lord and is said to play on intermediate role between god and human soul. A legend from Sharika Mahatmaya records, in order to save the free the residents of (SATIDESH) from the evil deeds of the demon. The mother Goddess ASHTADUSBUJA i.e. EIGHTEEN ARMED JAGAT AMBA DURGA took the form of bird (Harie in Kashmir) on the day of Ashad Shukla Paksh Navmi (Har-Navmi). It’s believed to have carried a celestial pebble in its beak and dropped it on the demon to crush it to death.
A miracle happened and the celestial pebble is said to have assumed the shape and form of a hill rock giving it the name of Sharika Parbat or Hari Parbat.
GODDESS SHARIKA (represented by the mystic Soyambhu-Shrickakra) made her permanent abode on the western face of the hill rock (Hari Parbat) on the vertical rock (Shilla) to assure the native people of her presence and protection.
Harnavami – Birth Day of Jagat Amba – SHARIKA BAGWATI is celebrated at CHAKRESHWAR Shrine with night long singing of hymns and Bhajhans in the praise of Goddess.
The Shrine of Chakreshwar has been a place of worship from the day Goddess Shrika manifested herself in the form of a shilla on the Hari Parbat.
The whole of hariparbat is a hallowed place. A number of holy temples representing the different deities are located on its all sides. Devotees undertake a circumambulation of the whole hill rock of Hari Parbat in the form of Parikrama, Parikrama starts from LORD GANESH shrine located on the south western corner of Hari Parbat. Next place of obeisance of Parikrama route is the []bsaptrishi Sathapna (satresh). Further on the next holy sport on the Parikrama is the Sathapna of the GODDESS KALI which is marked by small temple. It has eith Bairvas called as ASHT BAIRAV.
Next on the Parikrama route is avast stretch of open space known as Devi Angan; the play field of cosmic mother. Next holy sport on Parikrama is the SATHAPNA OF HARI represented by a rock that is located on the north eastern face of hill rock. Other temples on the Parikrama’s way are AMBER KOUL’S TEMPLE ,opposite to it is GODDESS MAHALAXMI SATHAPNA; Then sathopna of “VAMDEV”, which is located on left side of Parikrama route. Vamdew is regarded as the Divine consort of the GODDESS REGHNYA, on its way to left side down, is Pokhribal (SHRINE GODDESS RAGENYA) with holy spring inside the temple.
A small hunuman temple located on the right side of the foot hill is the last spot of the Parikrama route. The circumambulation of the Hari Parbat ends at Kathi Darwaza.
It is rightly believed that those who worship at Hari Parbat – Chakreshwar are deemed to have worshiped all the Gods and Goddesses of Hindu Mythology and have obtained and obtain worldly desires and wishes - Saints and Yogis attained the ultimate on worshiping at this Sharikapeeth.
SHILA SHREE – YANTRA (CHAKRA)
The word “SHREE” means wealth and “YANTRA”, an instrument and it makes sense of instrument for wealth (Spiritual). At Hari Parbat, where the SHREE YANTRA is considered to be in the shape of rock, spiritual souls state, the entire hill rock of HARI PARBAT is a great Tantra while Yantras are normally two dimensional. This SHREE YANTRA is a three dimensional and holds great spiritual importance.
The SHREE YANTRA has a great significance and those who have its knowledge categorize it into two forms (1) Evolution Yantra of Samyachar order of Kashmir and (2) Involution Yantra of Koulahar order of kashmir.
1. Central Red Bindu depicting MAHA TRIPUR SUNDARI (Bindu Triya).
2. Central white triangle depicts Chakra giving all success.
3. Eight Red triangle depict power that rules COLD,HEAT, HAPPINESS, SORROW DESIRE and three Gunas i.e. SATVAH (SATVIK) RAJAS (RAJUO) AND TAMAS (TAMO).
4. Ten inner blue triangles depicting Shakties of ten vital fires.
5. Ten outer red triangles depiciting Yognis of 10 vital breaths.
6. Fourteen blue triangle describing all goodk, fortune and associated with Chief Nadis or currents of bio-energy.
7. Eight red lotus petals depicting power of speech holding, walking, excreting, pleasure, abandoning, concentration and detachment.
8. Sixteen (Blue) lotus petals depict sixteen yoginies associated with the attainment of desires.
9. Three circles in yellow surrounded ground with four gates that depicts the chakra ruling the three worlds.
The intersecting triangles represent the play or creation, protection and absorption of whole universe by the pure divine force known as “SUDHA-SHAKTI”. The central point in the chakra in BINDU which symbolises the union of “Shive with Shakti or Kameshwar with Kameshwari”.
According to Tantra Raja Tantra, There are 900 Yantras and shri Yantra is the principle one.
Shre Yantra is considered one of the most auspicious important and powerful Yantras used as source of attaining worldly desires and wishes. Yogis Saints, spiritual personalities ,by the virtue of their devotion used, it as an instrument to attain ultimate and focused their energies on SWAYAMBHU MAHA SHREE YANTRA.
In India these are 52 energy centre but energy centre of Hari Parbat Srinagar Kashmir is considered centre of great significance in entire universe in term of attaining spiritual bliss. (Above description is from small yantra on corner of Photograph).