Hari Parbat

 Hari Parbat (हारी पर्बत) popularly known as Sharika Peeth is a hill overlooking Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the site of a Durrani fort, built in 1808. It has the famous Shakti Temple on the western Slope and Muslim shrines of Makhdoom Sahib and  on the southern slope. These Islamic symbols were build intentionally by invaders at a later stage of Kashmir History. From this time onwards, the policy of constructing Mosques near all temples picked up momentum and Muslims wholeheartedly began dominating Kashmir on religious lines. On the southern side of the outer wall there is a Gurudwara, which commemorates the visit of Guru Hargobind.

History of the fort
The first fortifications on the site were constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1590. He built an outer wall for the fort, and planned a new capital called Nager Nagor to be built within the wall. That project was never completed. The present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of Shuja Shah Durrani who basically was a Hindu.

Sharika Temple
The hill is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits due to the presence of temple of Sharika. Temple is of goddess Jagadamba Sharika Bhagwati. She has 18 arms and is regarded as the presiding deity (`isht`-

Makhdoom Sahib
Nestled below the imposing Mughal Fort is the shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdum. Also known as Makhdoom Sahib, Mehboob-ul-Alam and Sultan-Ul-Arifeen. Shrine is towards the southern side of Hari Parbat Hill. It is one of the most sacred shrines in Kashmir. This double storied, many-pillared structure displays a remarkable architectural style. This shrine is visited not only by Muslims but by people of all faiths, throughout the year. Makhdoom Sahib, also called Hazrat Sultan, was a Sufi saint.

Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi
Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi, Kathi Darwaja, Rainwari, Srinagar is one of the most important Sikh Gurudwaras in Kashmir. It is believed that the sixth guru of Sikhism traveled through Kashmir, stopping to preach occasionally and stayed for few days.

GURUDWARA SHRI GURUHARGOBIND SAHIB JI (GURUDWARA SHRI CHATTI PATSHAHI SAHIB) is situated near Kathi Darwaza in Rainawari Area of Distt City Srinagar, J&K State. An Old Blind lady Bag Bhari was a great disciple of SHRI GURU HARGOBIND SAHIB. She had prepared a Khadar Chola for GURU SAHIB and was waiting for GURU SAHIB as she being blind could not travel. So to fulfill her wish, Guru Sahib came to Srinagar and met her. She offered GURU SAHIB chola, and requested that she wanted have a glimpse of Sahib. GURU SAHIB hit ground with his Barcha, a spring of water started coming out of ground. GURU SAHIB asked Mai Bhag Bhari to wash her eyes with that water. When Mai Bhag Bhari did that her eye sight came back. Seeing GURU SAHIB with her own eyes, She fell on Sahib's feet. And further Mai requested that now she had darshan of GURU SAHIB and she does not want to see anything else in this world. She requested to SAHIB to release her from this birth. Her request was accepted and she left for heavenly abode. GURU SAHIB himself cremated her body on the left side of GURUDWARA SAHIB. That place still exists there. From there, Sahib left towards Baramulla, Uri.

Legendary origin
According to legend, the Hari Parbat hill was once a huge lake inhabited by the demon Jalobhava. The inhabitants called on the goddess for help. She took the form of a bird and dropped a pebble on the demon's head, which grew larger and larger until it crushed the demon. Hari Parbat is revered as that pebble, and is said to have become the home for all the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Another version of the myth says that two demons, Tsand and Mond, occupied the fair valley. Tsand hid in the water near the present location of Hari Parbat and Mond somewhere above the present Dal Gate, and both terrorized the people of the valley. The gods invoked Shakti who assumed the form of a Haer (myna) and flew to Sumer, picked up a pebble in her beak, and threw it on the demon Tsand to crush him. The pebble grew into a mountain. Hence was named Hari (myna) Parbhat. Parvati is worshipped as Sharika in Shri Tsakra (an emblem of cosmic energy pervading the universe) occupying the middle part of the western slope of the hill. The hill is also called Predemna Peet.

On the birthday of Sharika Bhagwati, the devotees make a sacrificial offering of `Taher-charvan' (Taher - rice boiled with turmeric powder and mixed with oil and salt; Tcharvan - cooked liver of goat) to the goddess. This day is celebrated as Har Navum.

Muslim mosques and fort
Many mosques were built by Muslims in the Hari Parbat area since the time of the Afghan Ghaznavids and Afghan Ghurids. The present fort, called Hari Parbat Fort, was built by the Durrani Afghan rulers of Kashmir in 1808.