Temple maintained by Muslim after J&K Pandit exodus gutted in blaze

SRINAGAR: A 109-year-old Shiva temple tied to Kashmir's erstwhile royal family was gutted in a dawn blaze Wednesday in the tourist town of Gulmarg, 55km from Srinagar.
Built in 1915 by Mohini Bai Sisodia, queen of Kashmir's last king Maharaja Hari Singh, the temple - Mohinishwar Shivalaya Shiv Mandir, also known as Maharani temple - stood on a hillock surrounded by meadows.Made of wood and stones, the shrine's distinctive pyramidal dome with windowed dormers was a notable feature, visible from all corners of Gulmarg.
"Police and locals helped douse the flames, but the temple could not be saved," an official said, adding that the cause of the fire is still being determined. However, temple priest Purshotam Sharma attributed the fire to a short circuit from an electrical fault, exacerbated by high winds. He also dismissed rumours of arson.
For about 23 years, Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, a local from Dandahmuh in Baramulla district, maintained the temple dedicated to god Shiva and his spouse Parvati following the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits amid separatist militancy. Affectionately known as "Panditji", Sheikh served on a monthly salary from Dharmarth Trust, initially as a chowkidar. He later learned the rituals and performed puja as well as the evening and morning aarti in the absence of a regular priest. Sheikh retired in 2021. Since Nov 2023, Purshotam Sharma has been the appointed temple priest.
The temple was a popular tourist attraction, having appeared in several Bollywood movies, including the song "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar" from "Aap Ki Kasam", starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz, as well as in "Andaz" and "Kashmir Ki Kali".