Garhwal
Sages , poets and writers have called Garhwal – land of Gods , land of salvation , land of heaven and himwant . In fact the the beauty of Garhwal is very pleasant and attractive . Gods , Yakshs , Kinner and sages were all attracted by it . The glow of the snow clad mountains is worth watching . This beauty has remained in a non active form and is available in the extensive Himalayas . It has not only given inspirtation and peace to the followers but also had been center of dedication and worship . ' Himalayo Nam Nagadhiraj ' – meaning that the name of Himalaya is like a king . One is lost in contemplation to see the various forms of its static and peaceful posture . The dense shade of dell tree ( devdar ) , pine tree and oak tree envelops the secrets of life and gives infinities , which can not be expressed and provides coolness . The foot path on the hills which appear like in a serpentine way , appear to be symbol of various facets of life . When some foot path disappear from view on the hills , the well wishers get lost in the secrets of life , death and transience of the world .
In Sanskrit literature , Himalaya ( Him + Alay ) or Himwant , are mentioned at many places . The oldest book Rigveda , in the tenth chapter , stanza 121-4 , the description is like this : -
Yasyem Himwanto Mahitwa Yashya Samudaram Rasaya Sahouh
Yasyemah Madiso Yast Bahu Kasm Devaya Hawisa Vidhem
Which means :- O himwant mountain , whose glory we sing , the importance of which is declared by the ocean with flavor , the might which is expressed by directions , we worship that god with our offerings .
In Arthved , Himalaya is described as : -
' Giraste Parvatah Himwantonaranyam , Te Prithvi Visthonmastu ' ( 12-1-12 )
Which means :- O earth ! mountain Himwant's zone , its forest , may give us comfort .
In the ' Gangawataran ' ( Crossing of Ganga ) , in the Balkand chapter of Valmiki Ramayan , Ganga has been called Hemwati and the matted hairs of Lord Shiva has been similized to ' Himalaya ' . In the epic ' Mahabharata ' in the forest chapter , Himwant has been called ' Nagottam ' ( The best ) . For thousand day how they reach the sacred rear of Himwan and the number of creepers are found , soft shady trees are found which flourish round the year and touch the snow of the Himalaya .
In the ancient scriptures , the retentive quality of Himalayas and description in detail is found . In the 14 th stanza of Parvati Khand three of " Sri Mahashivpuran " , Himwan has been stated to be the God of mountains , super strong and full of prosperity mountain , in the North . In " Matsya Puran " , when Bhadra Raj sees towards Himalayas , utters the words , top of the mountain such that there even birds can not reach and is abode of people who have attained realization , in the 116th chapter . The dense forest of dell wood are its clothes navel below and clouds are its clothes on chest . The bright Clouds are its turban , and moon , sun are its crown . Its overall body is submerged in snow .
In the chapter forest of the epic " Mahbharata " , the sage Vyasa called it ' Himwant ' –
Gire Himwant Prishte Bhujwan Nam Parvatah
Tapyate Tatra Bhawane Tapo Nityammumapati
Which means – At the back of Himwant mountain , there is a mountain named Bhujwan , where the God and Goddess ' UmapatiShiva ' caries out penance .
In chapter 10 ( Vibhuti Yog ) , Lord Krshna , says in praise of Himalaya ' Stharwarnam Himalaya ' . ( I am Himalaya for things which are static ) .
Again in ' Skanda Puran – Kedarkhand ' it has been mentioned –
Puratano yathay ye tatha sthanemidam kil
Yada srishti kriyo cha mayawe bahumurtynam
Sthithitam traiv satatam parbraham jihishaya
Tadadikmidam sthan devanapi durlbham
Which means – As I am ancient , in the same way this ' Kedar Khand ' is also ancient . When I took the avatar ( incarnation ) of Braham – Murty and appeared in the world , I created the universe at this place only .
In fact the form of Himalaya is just like a ascetic , the silver matted hairs is spread all around and on the east sun is shining and in the west darkness is hiding . On the navel of which forest surge and on the temple there is moon and on whose foot rivers fall . This large and prosperous form of the Himalaya on the blue sky is like ' Om ' . This mountain is the beautiful and true symbol of India's ancient history and prosperity . Under large peaceful sky , this province is extensive source of pleasure and is abode of Gods and particularly it is liked by the lord ' Shankar ' .
The nature of this place is inspiring and its huge , extensive heart , is having affection . Well wishers in the bosom of the mother while having affection , has always heard the heart beating very clearly . The mornings here not only represent the time , but has got new and vast rejoicings for life . This is an eternal world of nature , which is free from fear and sorrows . It is easy to feel the huge glory and jubilation which is spread all around , but very difficult to express .
In this infinitive beauty of the nature , the glow of autumn moon is available every where . This beauty of nature had converted Kalidas to roaming Gandharva , Kinner who makes the bees of Kartikeya dance , and made the Charushom of Alaka , Virahiyaksha . This place is even better than the heaven because of immense store of innovative beauty of nature . The attractive nature and easy to carry out meditation , has provided completeness , beauty and compassion , in the solidity is lost once golden day goes to sleep . But the hope never dies . The clouds which have covered the nature lovely spring season , huge extent and liquid wind gives shade to happiness and sorrows of life in direct and indirect way . Where one is not bothered for praise of condemnation , all direction become same. Where in forest and winds , only increate and huge name of the God is heard , where there is no enemy or perverted person . Where sorrows meet happiness intimately . The land and inhabitants of this land are in fact better than heaven .
In this way there is wonderful description by great poet Marwi in' Kiratijurniyam ' , where the poet has showered similes . He writes that in the springs of this place the infinitive is present . They go ahead singing and speaking in the springs , keeping in heart . The butter fly takes flight over colorful flowers , in search of someone and become colorful themselves . Humming of black wasp and cuckoo is lost in the brightness of flowers and cuckoo plays with the mango tree and refreshes the whole atmosphere . The humming of the bees in the yellow mustard in the fields , arouses strange feelings . When the wind is touched , the mind becomes impatient and wriggles due to pain of shortage . Flowers write their morning songs for the sake of black wasp , on the leafs . They lick the dew drops on the leaf and appear to be under sleep under the light of stars on the earth . Black wasp surround the buds and depart when rays are dying . In the lips of the west , the kiss is lost and the darkness , the roar of rivers in distress , becomes endless .
The music of wind is listened by the trees . The cuckoo who has lost her way returns for staying in the natural nest on the trees and the trees which no body asks for in the summers , people become lively after getting the shade under these trees . The nature here and all things relentlessly rise like a stream , breakaway and submerge and which is an endless journey . Heaven , Shivlok ( the abode of Lord Shiva ) , Devlok ( the abode of Gods ) , Bainkuth ( the abode of Lord Vishnu ) , etc the best and artistic adjective used by the poets in the description , appear to be older to the scenic , endless and mysterious form of this land . Body , mind are purified when one enjoys the sweetness of this land . Definitely , extraordinary attraction must have impressed the Sage Vyasa , the creator of Mahabharata and other ancient scriptures and written " Kedar Darshanadevah Mukti Punsakenasthitam " – meaning – This attraction all of sudden gets the soul of human being enjoy and feels the world and reality of Satyam Sivam Sundaram is realized . That is why here , the music of the Veena of Sage Narad resonated . Padavas came not only to take shelter here but disappeared here only .
Only by viewing this land penance , the sins are destroyed . That is why sages take the shelter of this land to increase piousness . " Shetra Darshanmatren Praninam Nastipatkam " ( Skandpuran – Badrikashram Mahatmaya ) . Jagadguru Shankaracharya fulfilled his desire of knowledge after coming at this place and after enjoying the divine beauty of the nature , took everlasting trance . With out doubt Tapobhumi ( land of penance ) , Devbhumi ( land of Gods ) , Kedarkhand which was known as Ilavrat Brahampur , Uttarakhand , Rudra-Himalaya , Kritpur or Kartic and Chulluhimwant in Budhist literature etc , is having minutest part lively and juicy .In the poetry , the nature of this place speaks and it is not ignorant of happiness or sorrows of the region .
The great poet Kalidas has taken inspiration from Himalaya and in Kumarsambav , he described elaborately . Eham ' Eshanah Sarva Vidhanam " is seen in dancing Lord Shiva and the most imaginative and original description of Himalaya is found in his poetry in ' Meghdoot ' . In reality the great poet Kalidas was stirred by the juicy , lively , pulsation of the nature . While reading Ramayana and watching Hanuman taking the message of Rama to Seeta in Ashok Vatika , Kalidas too must have been affected and pain of separation must have risen , similar to what we see in the rainy season from the first cloud . This scenic and attractive form must have touched the core of his heart and for conveying the message of pain through the clouds ( Megha ) , he must have created " Meghdoot " . Then the great poet must have been overwhelmed and voice on its own must arisen – Etyakhyatepavan tanayam , Maithaliwonmusee sa ,
Twa Mutkanthochavasithradaya veev Sanbhawaychaiwam
Srishyatyasyat paramvihita Somyasimantineenam
Kantodantam Suhridaynatam Sangmat Kichadanam
( Meghdoot – Poorvmegh )
It means – O cloud ! My message will be heard by my wife as Seeta heard the message of Rama sent through Son of wind ( Hanuman ) .
Certainly Garhwal is beautiful , simple and lively . The stair type golden fields attract the mind of the viewers . At places up and down hills , at places ascending valleys , somewhere unending music of natural springs , somewhere colorful bird's good chattering is the immortal sign of Satyam – Shivam – Sundaram ….. ( Dharati Gati Hai – Dr. Devendra Satyarthi )
Garhwal ' nature is peaceful and filled with soft passions . It keeps on spending prosperity . It is the abode of the Gods ( Devlok ) of the beauty . There are some very pleasant tributaries which flows from Himalaya . Its correctness is verified by the river Pindari which flows out of Nanda Kot Himani , and these tributaries converge at the confluence of Alaknanda river at Karnprayag . At places , evergreen trees of delwood and oak are in the forest which are very beautiful . At places water springs provide cold water to tired travelers and let them enjoy . " The highest places of Garhwal are covered by snow always which is about one third of the whole area . There are places where where plants or living being are not seen and it is believed that in the ancient time this was the abode of the Gods . Below this place , there are places which are covered by snow during winters . Though there are no villages here , but it provides large grass fields which is heaven for animals , and known as " Bugyal " in local language . During rainy season the land here is covered flowers of variety of colors . Rainy season is in fact is the spring season of this place " ( Himalaya Parichaya – 1 – Rahul Sanskratayan , P. 3 )
Here every individual , knowingly or unknowingly , directly or indirectly , is busy in knowing the self . The nature has given him micro vision and self awareness and has made him eligible that by self enlightenment , he eradicates the darkness of forgetfulness and view the immense beauty . Every stage of change of nature , leaves indelible mark on his heart and gives birth to the music of happiness .The heart on its own starts feeling the truth and life after becoming musical , listens the voice of brightness and is engrossed in the secrets of infinite blue sky . The intellect is tired , imagination requests for rest but mind does not obey . Then it tries to contain the infinite in limits . This life cycle goes on with untiring speed and again when it attains the self vision , it merges with the infinite . For it the importance of happiness – sorrows , attachment – enmity is lost . Even if its tired , the speed does not stop . In the strong and speediest state of the passions , it loses conscience . Pleasure and beauty show to his sense , its glimpse and kidnap him to the world of juice . When it regains consciousness , it finds this pleasure juice in each and every particle of the nature . When it tries to grasp it , it goes away becoming more complicated . But it feels infinite peace when it imagines about the secret of the truth . Its nature is to go from lifeless to life and pleasure becoming juicy . The secrets of life cycle of various stages is hidden in this effort of imagination .
The natural beauty of Garhwal is such that by simply viewing it , the heart tastes the ' Sundaram ' ( Beauty ) and becomes ' Sundaram ' ( Beautiful ) . This beauty in flower of life is sufficient grace which some times dances against the soft rays of the moon in the sky , shiver and at times against strong waves of the ocean does uninhibited dance . At times shows laziness in presence of the brightness of the summer . At times in spring season , in development of flowers , feels pleasure and swimming . At times it weeps due to pain to human beings . At times in a religious posture , controls eyes and lips and shiver with joy . For these type of various forms beauty are showered by the various facets of the life and can not remain aloof without leaving a indelible mark of the life .
This beautiful state of Nature of Himwant makes the life sentimental and prosperous . The recent germination of desires on earth and infinite sky over it , free wind , unstoppable moon and soft waves of the ocean , the dance of the rivers and unstoppable music , sweat warbling of the birds , the grown new – spring look of the developed flowers , static beauty of the constellation and many such instrument , when presented in the vast stage of the world , hypnotizes the senses and showers beauty . It makes the life active and with the result the pulsation of the living and flow is at the maximum . The vastness of the senses is the truth of the life and imagination's moon state is beautiful and appreciable . This mystery of love , truth and image , is the living state of the nature of Himwant Pradesh . It is , therefore , had been the indelible inheritance of inspiration from time immemorial .
From the time of forest ( Aranyak ) and scriptures ( Upnashids ) , human being had seen the possibility of pulsation of the heart from the expressed rule of the nature . He was engrossed by internal senses and the source of pleasure burst out , which gave the man sober , peaceful and beautiful state of the nature in place of enraged – terrifying , unconquerable state of the nature . With the result that one did self contemplation and its practical approach and was named ' Religion ' ( Dharma ) , ' Extensive Religion ' ( Dharma Wyapak ) , was viewed . Nature and man , life and visualization , religion and life were the different effect of the one infinitive beauty source .
The development history of the worship of the nature has hidden the confidence of the ordinary citizen and the artistic creation of the society . Nature and religion , being one part of the nature , never remain away from the human being nor it can remain away in future . Religion is his life and nature is life and culture is the binding force . In the nature of Himwant , there is pulsation , there is living sense in the lifeless . For this self-contemplation only , the human mind called it ' Tapobhumi ' ( Land Of Penance ) , ' Devbhumi ' ( Land of Gods ) , and got the unexpressed inspiration of the nature . The his heart dances with great joy , with the visualization of the nature . The mind is overwhelmed and voice on its own makes its presence felt . It still remains in his heart that he can find sympathy for the happiness – sorrows of the human being . Can see pulsation of the life and guess about the hidden state of the God . Therefore , flowers do not bloom unnecessarily , always , rivers don not sing with out purpose , wind does not blow with out purpose . Automatically , nature is his Goddess of beauty and this beauty state is a great inspiration for human mind . On this basis only sages , poets , writers etc were inspired to unknot the secrets of life and assess the extent .
The feeling and imagination of human being in the primitive time , has expressed the trees , Gods , Kinner , ghosts , Goddess of water , in the form of instrument of the nature . Nature had received the God hood and , therefore , was called ' Devbhumi ' ( The land of the God ) . From the excavation of ' Harappa ' and ' Mohanjodero ' , it was found that before Vedic – Culture , Aryans simultaneously did terrestrial worship and non terrestrial sentiment together . In the ' Sindhu – Ghati Culture ' this worship , local worship , worship of the land , water , ghost , dead fathers and forefathers , yaksha , nagon ( snakes ) , kinners etc was performed and tree worship is expected as seal of this era are having the image of the tree.
" In the symbol of the knowledge and idols , even today the images of the banyan tree, rivers , sun , etc are found . The worship of snakes is customary , mouse is worshiped as the vehicle of Lord Ganesha , owl for Goddess Lakashmi , lion for Goddess Durga , bhere ( ram ) for Lord Brahma , and young buffalo for Lord Yamraj . Fish , tortoise , pig are worshiped being symbolic of incarnations . Basil , peepul , banayan , banana , dell wood , pine tree , etc are worshiped even now at the time of marriages and other rituals . The proof of worship of rivers is found on the occasion of auspicious fast , during full moon , at the time sankranti when the sun moves from one astrological place to another , during sun and moon eclipse , on festival of pitchers , we find many reference of auspicious bath in rivers , worship and verses in praise of the importance . The worship of mountains like varun , mainak , Himalaya , kankanchal , udayachal , neelkanth , narnarain , kailash , sumeru etc is found in literature . Even today common people worship it . ( Virat Hridaya – Shabhuprasad Bahuguna – page – 15 ) .
In the time coming the " Aikodwitayam " ( Non dualism ) gained prominence . The importance of inner self and outer self reduced . Even then the compassion of Lord Gautama and the sacred stream of love is ' Sarvotman ' ( There is one even if there are many ) and is the practical form . One time also arrived where all stream submerged in the spiritual ocean of the ' Ramayana ' and ' Mahabharata ' . The actions of the human being became lively , celestial and beautiful . Lord Shiva , Krishna and Rama became undetachable part the people . During the depressed state in sorrows , the remembrance of people friendly work of these Gods , inspired hope and increased the strength ." Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and rise of unrighteousness , O Bharata ( Arjuna ) , then I send forth ( create incarnate ) Myself "
Bhagwad Geeta ( 4 – 7 ) . People had great confidence on the this saying of the God . There after truth, beauty , shiv became one . Nature for its development developed religion and all art and helped in development of the culture .
In the Vedic era , sages Vyasa , Vashsist , Kashyap , Bharadwaj , Panini , Dhomya , Garg , Manu , Bhrigu , Marichi , Angira , Parashar , Atri , Jamdagni , Gautam , Vishwamitra , Augustsya , Charak etc , in this huge form of nature of Himwant , achieved penance by performing meditation in this land of Gods . Sanskrit language , which is the oldest and complete language of the world and mother of all languages , had borne in natural environment of this place and reached to the top . Even today credit goes to Garhwal for development of astrology , mathematics , aurveda etc . In this land of Gods , Lord Rama mediated at Devprayag ( The confluence of river Alaknanda , Bhagirathi ) and obtained celestial knowledge . The life saving river ' Mother Ganga ' , Yamuna and tributaries of these rivers , have originated in this sacred place . The existence of Nar-Narain convent , Upmanu convent , Vyasa convent , Agustmuni convent and Bhriguashram convent is the proof of this only .
At this place only , there is Kanwa convent of sage Kanwa which was the main centre of the Vedic education in ancient time . At this place only daughter Shakuntala and Dushyant , were inspired for marriage . The importance of this land of Gods has been described in ' Skanda Puran – Kedarkhand ' . In which Lord Shiva tells Goddess Umma " This land of Kedar is greater than all religious places . The nature of this place is beautiful . Only by viewing this land , the importance of all religious places is fulfilled . There is no place in this world which can be called Kedarchetra ( Land of Kedar ) ".
In this scenic place i.e. Garhawal , the ponds have their own utility . Chief among them Shukhadi Tal ( Chamoli ) , Nachiktal ( Uttarkashi ) , Sahastra Tal ( Tehri ) , Roopkund ( Chamoli ) , Dodital ( Uttarkashi ) , Sartal ( Uttarkashi ) , Kedarnath , Lokpal , Kemkund , and Benital ( Karanprayag ) and in Kumoun region – famous Nainital and Bhimtal are located . As per the sacred scriptures , one gets the result of one and quarter lakh mountains , eighty four lakh religious places , ten million temples and one thousand secret presence of sages , rotation , one gets all these by on travel of Uttarakhand . Its Panch Badrinath ( Five Badrinath Temples ) , Kedar Nath , Gangotri , Jamunotri etc four religious places , Devra , Karn , Nand , Vishnu , etc Panch Prayag ( Five Prayag ) and Mani Bhadrapur ( Mana – a place at the extreme North ) , the confluence of Ganga river and Sarswati river is famous . The inspiring form of the nature has been described in detail in the book " Puratan Aur Awarcheen Garhwal " By Rai Bahdur Patiram .
The nature of this place is fit for meditation and , therefore , the land is complete , respected and inspiring . The minutest part of this land is filled with liveliness and it becomes a great poetry . Not only in the view of the poets but also in view of known or unknown ascetics , the king of mountains Himalaya is step for heaven . History is testimony that after world teacher Shankaracharya , Ramanujacharya , Madhavacharya , Nimbakacharya , Balabhacharya , Saint Tulsidas , Swami Vivekanand , Swami Dayanand Sarswati visited this place to have a glimpse of this land . Swami Ramteerth , Swami Tapovan Maharaj – a Kerala resident , Swami Pranavanand , Swami Shivanand , Swami Sunderanand etc who were in the high ground of asceticism , remained meditating .
There is some evidence that poet Gumani Manorath of Kumaon and poet Moksh Mandal of Nepal also visited this place . As per the Sikh history Guru Govindsing meditated at Hemkund which is now a place of worship for Sikh community . Great roaming Pandit Rahul Sanskrityan while praying says that Himalaya is the best mountain series of the world and nature has provided all beauty to this land of Himalaya . The glory of Himalaya is not same every where . There are differences . Himalaya Garhwal , Almora , Nainital
Himalaya , second kinner country , Himachal 's is different , and of Darjling is having separate beauty . I was attracted to it in 1910 and for the last 42 years I am having deep bond with it and it automatically induces me to write . ( Rahulji and Himalaya ) .
World known artist of Russia Nikolesato Rorik was so much impressed by Himalaya that at the age of 64 years , he came to India in search of the truth . He was so overwhelmed by the infinitive beauty of the Himalaya that he attained perfection in the art after becoming a ascetic and thinking artist . Till his last , he remained in the lap of Himalayas and at his last said that the amount of spiritual satisfaction which one gets from the invaluable snow of the Himalaya , that is not available elsewhere . I am very happy that I got the opportunity to spread the honor and beauty of Himalayas world wide . " Himalaya is the pure gem of India . O Bharata ! You are celestial and I bow before you ."