Muslim priests at 900-year old Shiva temple in Kashmir

Pahalgam, July 8: Situated on the banks of the icy Lidder river, a 900-year old Shiva temple is the only Hindu shrine in India's northern state Kashmir valley which has Muslim priests. After the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from a nearby village, two Muslim priests - Mohmmad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan kept the doors of the Mamalaka temple open and bells continued to toll.

"We not only took care of temple but also held 'aartis' everyday," Ghulam Hasan told a visiting PTI correspondent here.

Besides ensuring the safety of the 3-feet-long black stone "shivaling", Abdullah and Hassan have ensured no devotee goes without prasad even for a single day

Built by Raja Jai Suria, the temple was once a must stop over for pilgrims going to the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas. . (PTI)