Pakistan declares 1,000 years old Panj Tirath Hindu temple as national heritage

[SecondSlip]

PESHAWAR: Pakistan has declared over 1,000 years old Hindu temple at the historical Panj Tirath site in Peshawar as national heritage.

Provincial Government Directorate Archeiology and Museums has issued a notification to declare the Panj Tirath site as national heritage.

A fine of upto Rs2 million and five years’ imprisonment will be imposed if anyone found guilty of damaging the historical site.

The historical site and temples are located inside the Chacha Younus Family Park and has been in dire need of rehabilitation.

Panj Tirath is an over 1,000 years old archaeological site and is situated at Hashtnagri. The archaeological site got the Panj Tirath name from the five pools of water there. It has two temples and a spacious lawn with Peepal and other trees.

The site is considered one of the most sacred places for the Hindus which has been turned into a family park.

Panj Tirath has been mentioned in Hindus religious book “Hindu Mythology.” A writer, Lord Hinger, mentioned that five Pando brothers started living in this place which later came to be known as Panj Tirath.

It said that the Pando brothers then left the place but their followers made five pools there in their memory and established a temple called “Shawal Thakardawara.”

They believed that the water cured all kind of diseases. Later it was renamed as Panj Tirath.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/4...panj-tirath-hindu-temple-as-national-heritage

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I am frankly amazed that this site has been standing for 1000 years. Surely it should have been demolished and a mosque built in it's stead considering the Islamic extremist mindset of northern Pakistan region?

 

[troodon]

What were Pandav Brothers doing in Peshawar? Spying for India?

 

[Syed1]

Pakistan and India are moving in opposite directions these days. Long may it continue.

 

[gazza619]

1000 year old? Amazing. Would love to visit the site and experience.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Pakistan and some parts of India are moving in opposite directions these days. Long may it continue.

Slight correction

Coming to topic positive development in Pakistan, kudos. Hope it is shared widely in Indian news sites and common people appreciate such positive stories. Thanks to ruling party politicians, sanghis, hawks and sellout media houses, Pakistan is mostly portrayed negatively in India. Need to fight such hatred and bias.

 

[gazza619]

Slight correction

Coming to topic positive development in Pakistan, kudos. Hope it is shared widely in Indian news sites and common people appreciate such positive stories. Thanks to ruling party politicians, sanghis, hawks and sellout media houses, Pakistan is mostly portrayed negatively in India. Need to fight such hatred and bias.

I think if Imran Khan tweets or talks less about India, that might help too..

 

[hafeezrocks]

Proud of Pakistan and Imran Khan.

 

[PakLFC]

Good decision. We must appreciate our non Muslim monuments and it's historical value. Pakistan is the home of Sikhism and Zen Buddhism. I totally own our non Muslim mainly Hindu and Buddhist ancestors. I don't want any neighbouring country hijacking our ancient civilization.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Good decision. We must appreciate our non Muslim monuments and it's historical value. Pakistan is the home of Sikhism and Zen Buddhism. I totally own our non Muslim mainly Hindu and Buddhist ancestors. I don't want any neighbouring country hijacking our ancient civilization.

These monuments also hold enormous tourist potential. For example there are so many Buddhism related ancient sites in Pakistan. If they are maintained well the government can start a Budddhist circuit type tourist package that will attract many visitors, especially from East Asia who have loose purse strings. That can add to the GDP, foreign exchange reserves, give employment to many Pakistanis etc. It can also double up as a hotspot for academicians from all over the world and as a tool for projecting soft power.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Slight correction

Coming to topic positive development in Pakistan, kudos. Hope it is shared widely in Indian news sites and common people appreciate such positive stories. Thanks to ruling party politicians, sanghis, hawks and sellout media houses, Pakistan is mostly portrayed negatively in India. Need to fight such hatred and bias.

There is no comparison between the two. was this medieval hindu temple built by demolishing the religious shrine of the majority religion? so why would anyone have problem with according it a heritage status?

 

[ExpressPacer]

Slight correction

Coming to topic positive development in Pakistan, kudos. Hope it is shared widely in Indian news sites and common people appreciate such positive stories. Thanks to ruling party politicians, sanghis, hawks and sellout media houses, Pakistan is mostly portrayed negatively in India. Need to fight such hatred and bias.

I am sad that is the case in spite of the Kartapur crossing that Pakistan has initiated and paved the way for. I don't think people are taking it as seriously as they should. Visa free access for citizens of an enemy state for the sole reason of facilitating the desires of foreign people is a massive thing to do. I'm sure you would agree.

 

[enkidu_]

Good decision. We must appreciate our non Muslim monuments and it's historical value. Pakistan is the home of Sikhism and Zen Buddhism. I totally own our non Muslim mainly Hindu and Buddhist ancestors. I don't want any neighbouring country hijacking our ancient civilization.

Not Zen Buddhism but Mahayana Buddhism, of which Zen is a school in Japan, but there are other Mahayana branches in Japan as well as the dominant Buddhic philosophies of China and Korea. Also Buddhism superseded the native bon shamanic tradition in Tibet through the action of the 8th century scholar Padmasambhava, who’s thus considered the spiritual father of Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism, and he too was a native of what became the Swat valley.

 

[Swashbuckler]

There is no comparison between the two. was this medieval hindu temple built by demolishing the religious shrine of the majority religion? so why would anyone have problem with according it a heritage status?

I was talking in terms of Pakistan moving in the right direction.

 

[Swashbuckler]

I am sad that is the case in spite of the Kartapur crossing that Pakistan has initiated and paved the way for. I don't think people are taking it as seriously as they should. Visa free access for citizens of an enemy state for the sole reason of facilitating the desires of foreign people is a massive thing to do. I'm sure you would agree.

I too want and believe in stronger Indo-Pak ties for a better future. But we have a government in New Delhi which is hell bent on keeping Pakistan as the perennial enemy for vote catching purposes. They have traction because of communal polarization and due to demographic reasons they are comfortably placed. Also sections of the Indian media (English, Hindi) in an attempt to prove their loyalty to the masters are upping the anti-Pakistan rhetoric. In regional channels it isn't a big problem, Pakistan hardly makes news in Tamil channels and Pakistan isn't a vote catcher here. Likewise in some other states. But northern and western India have their own equation wrt Pakistanis and they comprise 60% of our population (and growing at a faster rate). Of course like in any country, hawks will use this to further their advantage, no better business than the bogey of external threats and internal enemies for them.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I too want and believe in stronger Indo-Pak ties for a better future. But we have a government in New Delhi which is hell bent on keeping Pakistan as the perennial enemy for vote catching purposes. They have traction because of communal polarization and due to demographic reasons they are comfortably placed. Also sections of the Indian media (English, Hindi) in an attempt to prove their loyalty to the masters are upping the anti-Pakistan rhetoric. In regional channels it isn't a big problem, Pakistan hardly makes news in Tamil channels and Pakistan isn't a vote catcher here. Likewise in some other states. But northern and western India have their own equation wrt Pakistanis and they comprise 60% of our population (and growing at a faster rate). Of course like in any country, hawks will use this to further their advantage, no better business than the bogey of external threats and internal enemies for them.

Yes, I am aware. Hopefully the new Govt. elected can make a change.

 

[Varun]

Doesn't look like much, does it? Maybe this label will channel some funds to renovate it.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Doesn't look like much, does it? Maybe this label will channel some funds to renovate it.

Seems like they declared the entire site as national heritage. The site contains other things apart from the temples, especially important are the water pools which hold sacred value for the Pakistani Hindus.

 

[Loralai]

Good move but more focus needed on improving the day to day lives of our minority communities.

 

[Loralai]

Pakistan and India are moving in opposite directions these days. Long may it continue.

Agreed brother they are far ahead of us in many respects but we should keep working hard and focusing on our own nation.

 

[CricketCartoons]

I was talking in terms of Pakistan moving in the right direction.

So you agree with my point. good.

 

[barah_admi]

I am frankly amazed that this site has been standing for 1000 years. Surely it should have been demolished and a mosque built in it's stead considering the Islamic extremist mindset of northern Pakistan region?

You have been really misled by media propaganda.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Doesn't look like much, does it? Maybe this label will channel some funds to renovate it.

Best thing about the whole property is the brick paved ground area. That became trendy only in the last generation in the UK, and it looks in decent condition compared to the rest. I don't know what that tin shack looking monstrosity is adjacent to the temple, but it needs to come down.