Varanasi/Gorakhpur: Congress workers are holding special prayers for the well-being of party president Sonia Gandhi, who took ill during a road show in Varanasi on Tuesday and is recuperating at a hospital in New Delhi.
While a Maha Mrityunjay mantra jaap (recital) was organized at Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple in Varanasi, 'chadar poshi' was performed at the shrine of Mubarak Khan Shaheed in Gorakhpur where Congress workers prayed for party president's health on Wednesday.
The jaap is believed to be the destroyer of all evil influences on one's life. A group of 11 priests, headed by Pt. Somnath Dixit, has been engaged in the jaap to ward off all evil forces from Sonia. "The temple is widely known for its spiritual prowess and people come here for Maha Mrityunjay jaap to save themselves from an unnatural death," said Dixit.
"The jaap will continue till Sonia Ji recovers from illness," Congress MLA Ajay Rai told TOI. "The priests will also perform Rudrabhishek for her well-being," he added.
The ritual began with 'sankalp' (pledge) taken by Congress leaders, including Rajeshpati Tripathi, Ajay Rai, and Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, around 3pm at the temple of Mrityunjay Mahadev - the "God who triumphs over death".
The temple is situated in Daranagar locality and is believed that offering prayer to the Shivlinga in its sanctum sanctorum keeps away the devotees from unnatural death. People from across the country come here and perform Mrityunjay jaap to get rid of their problems.
Sonia led a grand road show in the city on Tuesday to mark the beginning of party's 2017 UP assembly election campaign. But she took ill with high fever when she reached Lahurabir crossing after covering the major part of the roadshow.
While a Maha Mrityunjay mantra jaap (recital) was organized at Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple in Varanasi, 'chadar poshi' was performed at the shrine of Mubarak Khan Shaheed in Gorakhpur where Congress workers prayed for party president's health on Wednesday.
The jaap is believed to be the destroyer of all evil influences on one's life. A group of 11 priests, headed by Pt. Somnath Dixit, has been engaged in the jaap to ward off all evil forces from Sonia. "The temple is widely known for its spiritual prowess and people come here for Maha Mrityunjay jaap to save themselves from an unnatural death," said Dixit.
"The jaap will continue till Sonia Ji recovers from illness," Congress MLA Ajay Rai told TOI. "The priests will also perform Rudrabhishek for her well-being," he added.
The ritual began with 'sankalp' (pledge) taken by Congress leaders, including Rajeshpati Tripathi, Ajay Rai, and Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, around 3pm at the temple of Mrityunjay Mahadev - the "God who triumphs over death".
The temple is situated in Daranagar locality and is believed that offering prayer to the Shivlinga in its sanctum sanctorum keeps away the devotees from unnatural death. People from across the country come here and perform Mrityunjay jaap to get rid of their problems.
Sonia led a grand road show in the city on Tuesday to mark the beginning of party's 2017 UP assembly election campaign. But she took ill with high fever when she reached Lahurabir crossing after covering the major part of the roadshow.