A Muslim priest in Kashmir’s Hindu temple | Gulmarg.org – Skiing, Adventure, Fun in Gulmarg, Kashmir

The age-old harmony between Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir is still alive and demonstrated by people like Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh, who has been performing the duties of a priest in a famous Shiva temple for the last 17 years.

IN THIS MILITANCY stricken valley, where some ‘outsiders’ are leaving no stone unturned to widen the divide between Muslims and Hindus, a Muslim has been looking after a Shiva temple for the last 17 years. By uttering verses from the Quran and shlokas from the Gita with same fluency and devotion everyday, he presents a unique example of secularism and communal harmony in

Kashmir.

Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh is the priest of the 92-year old Shiva temple at Gulmarg. The temple houses a Shiv Lingam and idol of Goddess Parvati. Everyday Shiekh performs all the rituals of a pujari including performing aarti and distributing prasad among devotees, who throng this ancient temple in big numbers, especially in summers when the place comes alive.

For him there is no difference between ‘Allah’ and ‘Bhagwan’. Being a Muslim he never forgets to perform namaz daily.

How a Muslim became the ‘pujari’ of a temple?

Shiekh’s father Gulam Rasool Shiekh was the Chowkidar of the temple and he rendered his services for about 40 years. Due to militancy when Kashmiri Pandits fled

Kashmir, the temple was left abandoned; Shiekh started performing the duties of a pujari. From that point of time he has been looking after all the affairs related to the famous temple.

Shiekh had to pay the price for becoming the priest of temple. It was not an easy task for him. He was targeted by terrorists many a times in past, who threatened him to leave the job of priest. He was once kidnapped by the ultras, but it was his sheer good luck that he was released later on by them.

Credits for the story: VIVEK SURI

7 thoughts on “A Muslim priest in Kashmir’s Hindu temple”

Rajesh Gandhi December 24, 2007 at 9:31 am

Hi
It is very strange that any muslim is taking care of lord Shiva. In next month Jan 07 I am visiting Gulmarg. I have keen interest to see this Temple so please guide to how to reach there

Thanks
Regards
Rajesh

raju August 25, 2008 at 11:24 pm

lord shiva pl give buddhi and shakti to all j and k people.
this people are fighting for what and what r u doing sitting and giving only blessings??? pl take care of our people there give them love or show some great miricle.
regards
raju