Tourism in Uttarakhand > Religious Places Of Uttarakhand - देव भूमि उत्तराखण्ड के प्रसिद्ध देव मन्दिर एवं धार्मिक कहानियां
Nanda Raj Jat Story - नंदा राज जात की कहानी
एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
The festivities come to a standstill, when the comes for the Devi to leave for her Sauras (husband's home). Special pr"y"
and rituals are performed and the offerings are loaded on the four-horned Ram just like the things given to a daughter in her
marriage are sent. The deity is decorated like a bride, ready to leave for her husband's home. The scene becomes pathetic when the devotees, in tears, bid farewell to the Devi, as if they are bidding farewell to their own daughter.
Leaving the image of the Goddess there, the four horned ram proceeds towards towards Kailash (Trishuli peak) the abode of
Lord Shiva on its own.
The Trishuli peak is the highest peak of the Nanda Parbat, the highest mountain range in Chamoli district. The parbat is
revered by the people, the women folk believe that the mist I around the Nanda Kot peak is the smoke coming out of the
kitchen of Goddess Nanda. They get sentimental while they sing songs associated with their revered Goddess, whom they regard
as a pampered daughter of their own.
एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
The Popularity
Parvati (Shail Putri), the daughter of Hills and the consort of Lord Shiva, is known as Nanda in Garhwal & Kumaon areas.
The popularity of the Goddess is understandable, as the highest peak of the district has been identified with the name of the
deity, also several Nanda temples are situated at all the prominent places in Garhwal and Kumaon like Nauti, Chandpur,
Kurur, Devrada, Kulsari, Nandkesri, Lohajang, Shila Samudra, Nandakot Vaidini, Srinagar, Sink, Devikhet, Nandprayag,
Gopeshwar, Helang, Lata Niti and Badrinath. Similarly the Kumaon region include Nanda Devi temples located at Nainital,
Almora, Baijnath, Shuwbhgash, Munsiyari, Doonagiri, Jageshwar, Bageshwar and Ranikhet.
एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
Nanda in History
The genesis of Nanda Devi is not very clear. Folk lyrics suggest that Nanda was a princess of the Chanda dynasty of Almora.
Some people associate the Goddess with YogMaya, the daughter of Nanda, who replaced the eighth issub of Vasudev (father of
Krishna) and who escaped from the hands of her assailant, Kansa and forewarned him of his impending death at the hands
of Lord Krishna. There is no mention of Nanda in the Puranas or other scriptures. However, certain later inscriptions mention
a Goddess with names similar to Nanda. The Goddess finds mention in Sanskrit literature. Some very old statues found in
Mathura show one Goddess as Eknansha. Accordingly, some people believe that the same Goddess was subsequently regarded
as Nanda. Naini (of Nainital) and Naina (of Himachal Pradesh) also appear to be variants of the same Goddess. There are
ancient temples of the Goddess at about twenty places all over Garhwal. Similar temples are found in Almora region also.
एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
The history of Nanda Raj Jat is associated with King Jasdhaval of Kannauj. It is believed that the wife of King Vallabha was the daughter of the ruler of Chandpur (Garhwal). Once the Queen was cursed by Nanda Devi and consequently her kingdom
became a victim of droughts, famines and other natural calamities. The royal priest, on assessing the reason, advised
the King to participate in the Nanda Raj Jat, to get rid of the curse. So King Jasahaval, Queen Vallabha, Prince Jadeel and
Princess Jadeela, along with a troupe of dancing girls and musicians, arrived in Garhwal and joined the Jat at village Bann.
They did not obey the prohibitions, to be observed during the Yatra, defying the norms, the King held dancing sessions. Since
then the place is known as Patar Nachonia (the spot where the festivities were organised). The entourage had to make a night
halt at Roopkund, where the Queen delivered in a cave. The irreverance earned the Devi's wrath, causing heavy snowfall and
perishing the entire troupe. It is believed that some people had slipped into lake Roopkund and the dancing girls had turned
into rocks. This accident is believed to have occured around 1150 A.D. Jasdhaval is believed to be an ancestor of the Prince
of Kansua and thus originated the tradition of paying homage to King Jasdhaval at this point during the Nanda Jat.
एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
see more details.
http://gbpihed.gov.in/envis/HTML/vol92/vol92SunilNautiyal.html
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version