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About the Shrine
Trikuta
mountain is located in the Kandi belt of Jammu region and
is a dry zone. Not only is water scarce but the soil is
rocky and infertile too. For this reason, the people in
the area have traditionally been poor. During those days,
legend says, the area was inahbited primarily by Drora Thakkars,
Maniotra Thakkars,
Khas Thakkars
and Samnotra Brahmans. All
of them were agriculturists and they eked out a precarious
living from the soil. The mysterious conduct of Shridhar
came in for considerable comment and soon a rumour spread
that Shridhar had chanced upon a treasure horde and he went
to the mountain every day to count it.
Very quickly the story was embellished by imaginary accounts
of his change in life style and his luxurious ways. Hardly
any one bothered to cross check and ascertain whether this
was true. When the entire area was all agog with such rumours,
the leaders of the four communities met in private to discuss
the matter.
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Trikuta
Mountain under Mist
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They
agreed that Shridhar had chanced upon some kind of treasure.
That is why he used to walk around looking so happy. They
also agreed that Shridhar should have shared his good fortune
with the others considering the fact that the people in
the area were generally poor and could do with a little
financial help. They further agreed that Shridhar had erred
grievously in not reporting his find to the leaders and
surrendering a part of the booty to them. Therfore, they
resolved that a few sturdy young men should waylay Shridhar
and force him to show them the treasure. They also agreed
that whatever was found should be shared equally by the
four communities. Shridhar was blissfully unaware of the
turbulence that he had caused in the area by his mysterious
early morning sojourns. As
it was, he had begun to live in a spiritual world of his
own after the vision and although he still met others socially
and treated every one correctly, he yet gave the impression
of being always a little aloof, a little detached. His neighbours
interpreted it as an air of superiority that they felt had
crept into his behaviour after he had found his treasure.
Some envied his good fortune, others were intensely jealous.
Shridhar was blissfully unaware of the turbulence that he
had caused in the area by his mysterious early morning sojourns.
As it was, he had begun to live in a spiritual world of
his own after the vision and although he still met others
socially and treated every one correctly, he yet gave the
impression of being always a little aloof, a little detached.
His neighbours interpreted it as an air of superiority that
they felt had crept into his behaviour after he had found
his treasure. Some envied his good fortune, others were
intensely jealous.
As was his wont, this morning too Shridhar left his hut
in the very early hours of the day, much before day break,
and made his way up the mountain. There was a prayer in
his heart, a Jaikara on his lips and a skip in his step
as he climbed the mountain purposefully. He neither suspected
nor expected that he would be attacked by any one.
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