Surinsar Lake: The Lake that dates back to Mahabharata period
Jammu, June 8: Surinsar is one of the three famous lakes of Jammu viz Mansar, Surinsar and Sanasar. While Sanasar is more of a tourist spot Surinsar and Mansar have a religious background as well as being one of the popular tourist spots of Jammu.
Since Surinsar and Mansar are linked with each other due to their existence, common background and being in the vicinity of each other, it becomes imperative to mention both the lakes whenever one writes for any one of them.
Surinsar even though a big tourist attraction lacks in development and maintenance while Mansar is getting more attention in terms of tourism and development.
Surinsar is not being maintained properly and its water is not clean but still the religious sanctity is of same value for both the lakes and it can only be hoped that the new dispensation gives some attention to this place and promotes it to attract more tourists as it has huge pilgrim tourist potential for Jammu region.
Surinsar is considered as a sacred lake and has been the centre of pilgrimage since times immemorial. The annual mela is held in August every year coinciding with Nag Panchami, Shravan Purnima and Sankranti when hundreds of people from around the Jammu district throng the place to take a holy dip to wash off their sins.
According to Hindu mythology Surinsar lake dates back to Mahabharata period as it is believed the lake alongwith Mansar Lake was formed due to a bowshot by one of the sons of Arjuna.
The legend says that Surinsar and Mansar lakes were in the territory of Nilapura belonging to Naga dynasty and it was during the Vanvas of Pandavas when they were on a sojourn in this area that Arjuna found a beautiful Nag kanya and fell in love with her. They had a son named Babruvahana who acquired great physical powers like his father but Arjuna was ignorant about his great physical powers.
After the Mahabharata battle Pandavas performed a Yajna where Babruvahana captured the horse released by Arjuna at Tat Khooni the site of present lake. A battle ensued between the two as Arjuna asked Babruvahana to let the horse go but Babruvahana declined his order resulting in a fight between the two.
During the fight since Arjuna did not know the powers of Babruvahana and took him lightly but was defeated in the process and fell unconscious.
When Babruvahana’s mother came to know about this she rushed to the spot and admonished her son telling him that he has actually killed his own father. This hurt Babruvahana and he consulted the physicians to save his father who told him that he can be saved by an herb that was not available in the world. Babruvahana then pick the bow and shot an arrow at Mansar which pierced the earth and took the life saving herb along but emerged from another site at Surinsar with the herb on its tail. The Arjuna was saved and the place from where the arrow was shot and came back got filled and became two beautiful lakes known as Mansar and Surinsar thus making both the lakes sacred and revered for Hindus who throng the places with great reverence and perform puja-archana during annual Melas’.
Another version is that it was actually Arjuna who shot the bow and formed the twin lakes.
During routine days also people don’t eat mutton or non-veg items near the lakes and feed the fish that is abundant in the lakes.
There are some remains of old forts also in the area which are said to be the palaces of Bandral Raja Balwant Singh with a portion of the tower, courtyards and walls still standing nearby.
Surinsar Lake spread over 1-1/2 sq mile is one of the three lakes in Jammu, the other being Mansar Lake and Sanasar Lake, located around 24 km away from Jammu city.
The perimeter of this lake is surrounded by thick mangroves, looming pine trees and beautiful hills. An island situated in the middle of this land is home to thousands of bats.
Surinsar Lake, with its abundant natural beauty, is an ideal getaway for someone looking for tranquility and peace of mind. The quietness of forests around adds to serenity of this lake that is dominated by floating lotuses in summer time. Boating and swimming in this lake is restricted due to religious beliefs. A bird sanctuary around the lake is a favourite among bird watchers.
Surrounded by forests covered hilly terrains, the lake is a famous tourist spot, and the beauty and natural splendor of Surinsar Lake can be compared with the magnificence of Dal Lake and Nagin Lake of Srinagar. The Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled in the midst of both the lakes and supports 3 mammalian species and 15 avifauna species including crane. (Compiled with inputs from tourism related sites)