Kheer Bawani, the most revered shrine of Kashmiri Brahmans

Khir Bhawani Temple is situated at Tullamula in the Srinagar district, it is an important Hindu Shrine. The temple is associated with the hindu godess, Ragnya Devi. An Annual festival is held here on Jesht Ashtami ( May-June) when Hindus visit the place in large numbers to offer prayers to seek the blessings of the diety. Devotees also throng on every Shukla Paksh Ashtami round the year & perform HAWANS to please the Mother. The Historic Temple of Kheer Bhiwani was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912 & later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh.

A view of Kheer Bhawani Temple.
Kheer Bhawani: The Goddess Ragnya Devi is symbolised as a sacred spring at Tula Mula village, near (27 kms) Srinagar, Kashmir. The spring of Kheer Bhawani is quite large and has always been held in veneration by the Brahman population of Srinagar.

Within the spring is a marble temple. The temple-spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani as thousands of devotees offer milk and 'kheer' to the sacred spring.

The temple spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani because of the thousands of devottees who have offered milk and 'Kheer' to the sacred spring, which magically changes colour, turning black which warns of disaster.

The temple of Kheer Bhawani is situated at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar against the background of natural sight near the village of Tula Mula. This temple, is located in the middle of a spring, around which there is a vast area whose floor has been covered with smooth and beautiful stones. In it exist large and old chinar trees beneath which the pilgrims sit or sleep on mats of grass. The colour of the spring goes on changing. While most of the colours do not have any particular significance, the colour black is taken as an indication for inauspicious times for Kashmir.

The legend associated with the temple goes that Lord Rama worshipped Ragnya Devi during his exile. After the exile period got over, Rama asked Lord Hanuman to shift the seat of the goddess. The seat of the goddess was brought by Lord Hanuman first to Shadipora and later shifted to the site where the temple now stands. It is believed that it was the wish of Mother Ragnya that her seat be place at Khir Bhavani Mandir in Kashmir, India. And this wish was conveyed in dream to a pandit, Rugnath Gadroo. The temple of Ragnya Devi is called "Kheer Bhawani" because numerous devotees offer milk and kheer (Indian sweet dish) to the sacred spring. It is believed that milk and kheer turn to black color to warn of any impending disaster.

Maharaja Pratap Singh got the temple constructed in 1912. Later, Maharaja Hari Singh undertook the repair and restoration work on the temple. The eighth day of the full moon in May holds great significance for the devotees of Ragnya Devi. They fast on this particular day and gather at the temple in huge numbers. It is believed that on this day, the goddess changes the color of the spring's waters.

The Kheer Bhavani temple serves as the venue for an annual festival held in May-June, on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. During this festival, a large number of Hindus visit the temple to seek blessings of the goddess. Another occasion on which the Kheer Bhavani temple gains special importance is Shukla Paksh Ashtami. On this day, havans/yagnas are performed to please the goddess.