Ghulam Hassan, who takes care of the Shiva temple in Pahalgam.Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir): Situated on the banks of the icy Lidder river, a 900-year-old Shiva temple is the only Hindu shrine in the Kashmir valley which has Muslim priests.
After the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from a nearby village, two Muslim priests -- Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan -- kept the doors of the Mamalaka temple open and the bells tolling.
"We not only took care of the temple but also held aarti everyday," Ghulam Hassan said.
Besides ensuring the safety of the 3-foot-long black stone shivaling, Abdullah and Hassan have ensured that no devotee who visits the shrine goes without prasad even for one day.
Built by Raja Jai Suria, the temple was once a compulsory stopover for pilgrims going to the Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
The temple was for long run by a local association of Kashmiri Pandits headed by Pandit Radha Krishen.
After Radha Krishen's migration from Kashmir in 1989, the temple became the property of the state archaeology, archives, and museum department and a protected monument.
While leaving, Radha Krishen gave charge of the temple to his friend Abdul Bhat, a Muslim, and asked him to keep the gates of the temple open. Keeping the promise, Bhat took care of the temple till his transfer from the area in 2004.
After that Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan were entrusted with the task of maintaining the temple.
"We have faith in Lord Shiva," Ghulam Hassan said. "We not only maintained the temple and undertook repairs, but also ensured that the temple remains fully functional despite threats from militants.
"We have fulfilled our task of guarding this shrine for Kashmiri Pandits. It is theirs. We wish they return and take back control of the temple."
The temple, which has images of Ganesh, Parvati, and Hanuman carved in stone, also houses a natural spring.
Abdullah and Hassan said the number of Hindu devotees to the temple has increased slightly in the past four years. These include some Kashmiri Pandit families who had left the area and come visiting once a year, as well as tourists.
After the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from a nearby village, two Muslim priests -- Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan -- kept the doors of the Mamalaka temple open and the bells tolling.
"We not only took care of the temple but also held aarti everyday," Ghulam Hassan said.
Besides ensuring the safety of the 3-foot-long black stone shivaling, Abdullah and Hassan have ensured that no devotee who visits the shrine goes without prasad even for one day.
Built by Raja Jai Suria, the temple was once a compulsory stopover for pilgrims going to the Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
The temple was for long run by a local association of Kashmiri Pandits headed by Pandit Radha Krishen.
After Radha Krishen's migration from Kashmir in 1989, the temple became the property of the state archaeology, archives, and museum department and a protected monument.
While leaving, Radha Krishen gave charge of the temple to his friend Abdul Bhat, a Muslim, and asked him to keep the gates of the temple open. Keeping the promise, Bhat took care of the temple till his transfer from the area in 2004.
After that Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan were entrusted with the task of maintaining the temple.
"We have faith in Lord Shiva," Ghulam Hassan said. "We not only maintained the temple and undertook repairs, but also ensured that the temple remains fully functional despite threats from militants.
"We have fulfilled our task of guarding this shrine for Kashmiri Pandits. It is theirs. We wish they return and take back control of the temple."
The temple, which has images of Ganesh, Parvati, and Hanuman carved in stone, also houses a natural spring.
Abdullah and Hassan said the number of Hindu devotees to the temple has increased slightly in the past four years. These include some Kashmiri Pandit families who had left the area and come visiting once a year, as well as tourists.
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