Strange as it may sound, many Hindus in India believe in taking a holy dip to absolve themselves of the ‘sins’ they think they have committed. However, this Hindu temple in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarg district gives people a ‘sin-free’ or ‘paap-mukt’ certificate after they take a holy dip, says a Times of India report.
The temple called Gautameshwar Mahadev Paapmochan Teertha, a Shiva temple, apparently allows people to redeem their ‘sins’ by taking a dip in its Mandakini Kund. A group of priests reportedly called Aminat Kachhari charges Rs 10 is for `dosh-nivaran’ (removal of obstacles) and Re 1 for each certificate.
“People ostracised in their villages come here to take a dip and go back with `paap-mukti’ certificates,” priest Nandkishore Sharma told TOI who also claims that the temple has records of all the certificates issued.
Reportedly, the shrine is popularly known as `Haridwar of tribals’ because scores of people from the tribal community visit the temple during the fair in May. “For centuries, it has been a famous pilgrimage held in great reverence, specially by the tribal community. Lakhs of devotees gather here for the Gautameshwar fair held in May ,” Sharma was quoted as saying. However, of late, the number of people seeking certificates have down. This May, he says, only 3 people asked for the certificate.
“When people do farming, they inadvertently kill insects and other creatures, damage eggs of birds and reptiles. This fills them with guilt. They come here with a heavy heart, but go back relieved,” another priest Kanhaiyalal Sharma was quoted as saying.