History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal
History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -116
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -362
By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)
In 1624, Jesuit Missionary Father Antonio de Andrade reached to Shrinagar the Garhwal Kingdom capital. Father Antonio de Andrade was the first European reaching Shrinagar Garhwal (Jesuit Missionaries in Northern India and inscriptions on their tombs in Agra 1508-1803, published in 1907). Antonio de Andrade was born in Portugal in 1580. Antonio de Andrade entered into Jesuit Missionary at the age of sixteen. Jesuit Missionary sent Father Antonio de Andrade to Goa. In 1624, Father Antonio de Andrade was sent to Tibet for reforming Buddhist monks as missionary believed that Buddhist monks of Tibet were Christians but missed their path of Christianity. On 30th March 1624, Father Antonio de Andrade, Brother Manuel Marques and his two other associates started their journey for Tibet from Agra. From Delhi the missionary representatives journeyed to Garhwal with other pilgrim groups.
When Father Antonio de Andrade, Brother Manuel Marques and his two other associates were marching towards Garhwal from Haridwar, the Mughal Emperor army presumed them as culprits escaping from Mughal prison. Moghal army wanted to dispatch missionary group to Agra. Garhwali army presumed them as spy of Mughal army. For many days, missionary representatives spent time there at the border of Haridwar and Garhwal (perhaps at Rishikesh). Later on Garhwal King permitted Christian Missionary to travel in Garhwal territory
Christian Missionary representatives led by Father Antonio de Andrade reached Shrinagar experiencing terrific hurdles of hills and bank of Ganga road.
When missionary reached to Shrinagar the Garhwal Kingdom officers started asking various questions to missionary. Father Antonio de Andrade did his best to satisfy the Garhwal Kingdom officers that the missionary members were visiting Tibet to meet their own brothers (Buddhist Monks) who lost their path of Christianity. It took missionary group five days to satisfy Garhwal administration that they were not spy.
Garhwal administration permitted missionary to go to Tibet via Mana. When missionary representatives reached the snow of hills did not melt around Badrinath temple one mile away from Mana village. They had to rest in Mana for a few days. Father Antonio de Andrade came to know that Garhwal Kingdom was not ready to offer them way to reach Tibet. Leaving Brother Manuel Marques in Mana, Father Antonio de Andrade with his tow associates or servants took a Bhotia Guide and started marching towards Tibet without informing Garhwal administration. The Painkhanda commander came to know about marching of Father Antonio de Andrade and he captured them. Painkhanda commander threatened Bhotia guide that his family was put into prison. Bhotia Guide fled leaving Father Antonio de Andrade and his associates. However, Father Antonio de Andrade and his associates went towards Tibet territory. In path, they used to take Sattu (roasted wheat flour). Father Antonio de Andrade and his associates used to sleep into small caves or on open ground. Due to continuous snow contact with their feet and hands their foot and hand flesh got broken. The snow also weakened their eye sight but they did not weak their heart. They reached to origin of Sarswati River that is Devtal. Here, Brother Marques along with Bhotia traders also reached at Dev Tal (height 18300 Feet). After crossing Mana pass, in August 1624, they reached to Tsaparang wholesale market of Daba, Tibet. Father Antonio de Andrade and his associates and Brother Marques returned from Tibet to Garhwal after one month.
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 9/6/2014
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -363
References
1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India
2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas
3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern
4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal
5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore
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7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch
8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya
9-Shering, Western Tibet and British
10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal
11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal
12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun
13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas
14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas
15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities
16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History
17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture
18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books
19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications
20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika
21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, The Doon Valley Down the Ages
22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties
23- Shailndra Nath Sen, Ancient History and Civilization
24-H.M Elliot, 1867, The History of India as told by its Own Historians
25- Jaswant Lal Mehta, 1979, Advance Study in Medieval India
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27- H. Blochmann, 1873, Aine e- Akbari Translation
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter
Notes on South Asian Medieval History of Garhwal; SouthAsian Medieval History of Pauri Garhwal; Medieval History of Chamoli Garhwal; South Asian Medieval History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; South Asian Medieval History of Tehri Garhwal; Medieval History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; South Asian Medieval History of Dehradun, Garhwal; Medieval History of Haridwar ; South Asian Medieval History of Manglaur, Haridwar; South Asian Medieval History of Rurkee Haridwar ; South Asian Medieval History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian History of Haridwar district to be continued
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History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Haridwar; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Pauri Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Badrinath Temple Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Mana pass Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Chamoli Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Tehri Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Dehradun Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Ganga Valley Garhwal; History of Father Antonio de Andrade, a Jesuit Missionary visiting Garhwal in context History of Alaknanda valley Garhwal;
