Bhanu Bhaupelo: A Brave Folk Legendary of Garhwal and Kumaon (Uttarakhand)

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarkahnd-19

 Chivalry, Gallantry, Graciousness Folklores, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand –4  

                                         Bhishma Kukreti 

             It is well known fact that every region has its own folk legendary as Wilwal and Bucur Baceyr are respected folk legends of Somali. Shango, Yoruba, Oranyan, Oranmiyan are a few to name brave folk legendaries of Yorubaland, Africa. Hang Tuah is brave folk legendry of Malacca of Malaysia.

  There are many brave folk legends in Garhwal and Kumaon (Uttarakhand).  Bhanu Bhopelo was one of the brave legendary of the region. There is fight between Bhanu Bhopelo and King Guru Gyan Chand (1374-1419) in Bhanu Bhaupelo Gatha. The initiating Jagar lines are as follows-

कुमाऊं और गढ़वाल की लोक गाथाएँ/जागर  -19  


भानु भौंपेलो: भडौ , कटकू, भड़वळि    या पांवड़ा

(सन्दर्भ: डा चातक,  डा . नौटियाल और डा बलूनी  )

 हिंडवाणीकोट मा रंदो छयो हंसा हिंडवाण
वो त होलो अनमातो घनमातो
जैकी छन बार तिबारी बत्तीस नीम दरी
मट्टी जसो अन्न होलो, दुंग्यों जसो धन
बार छन बेटा जैका अठार छन नाती
 तब हिंडवाणीकोट मा पड़े बार बरस को अकाळ
देख  बडा पेड़ा , न लायन भूक
छोटा  न पड्यान दुःख
हिंडवाणीकोट मा कनी तराई मचीगे
रोंदा छन बरांदा भूखन नौना
देखी देखिक जिकुड़ी चिरेंदी
बत्तीसू कुटुम भूखन चचलाण  लैगै
बड़ो आदमी छयो हंसा  हिंडवाण 
बैकु शरम ऐगे अपणा आंसु पीगै
कैमू विपदा क्या लाण
कैमू मैन अब मांगणक जाण
बिपता का दिन अपणा भी होंदन पराया
 गाड़े वैन तब खोड़ की लगोठी
मीठो जहर डाळि , दिने बतीस कुटुम
तब बतीस कुटुम , वैको स्वर्गवास ह्वैगे
वैको बेटा भानु ममा कोट छयो जाएँ
तब लौटी आये, हिंडवाणीकोट मा
सुनो चौक देखे वैन सूनकार तिबारी
घूमद ऊँ बार तिबारियों , बाइस निमदारियों

 Dr. Chatak and Dr. Nautiyal provide full Jagar in their respective books.

       Hansa lived in Hindvanikot. He was very prosperous king. Hansa had twelve big courts and thirty two Buildings. Hansa had twelve sons and thirty two grandsons.

        Once, there was worse famine in Hindvanikot for twelve year. People started to die. The king Hansa and family also came under famine. Hansa could not bear the pain and shame of famine. He mixed poison with food and he and his whole family dies instantly.

         At that time, Bhanu Bhaupelo the brave son of Hansa was gone to his maternal uncle place .That was why Bhanu was safe.   

     Bhanu Bhaupelo came to his place Hindvanikot and was very sorry to see his dead family members.

             Bhanu Bhaupelo put off the princely dress and put the Malu leaves dress and started roaming different places. Bhanu Bhopelo reached Kalunikot. Saju Kaluni was the king of that area. Bhanu requested the king for jab the king provided him the job of grass cutting. One day, Bhanu Bhopelo reached to Dadamandi hills for grass.

         The daughter of Saju Kaluni Amravati used to live there. Amravati stopped Bhanu Bhopelo to walk on Dadamandi hills. Bhanu Bhaupelo told that he was servant of Saju and would not stop grass cutting. Amravati left her dangerous buffalo Chandubedu after Bhanu Bhopelo. Bhanu Bhopelo killed buffalo by his first fist. Amravati was amazed by his bravery. Amravati collected knowledge about Bhanu Bhopelo. Brave BhanuBhaupelo told his sad story to her.

 Amravati took Bhanu Bhopelo to her room and started playing dice. They were happy.

 The people sent message to King Saju Kaluni. Saju Kaluni engaged his daughter with the king of Gwadchhod guru Gyan Chand.

      Guru Gyan Chand became furious to hear the love story between Amravati and Bhanu Bhopelo. Guru Gyan Chand sent his army to Kalunikot. There was army everywhere on the street of Kalunikot.  

       Father of Amravati called Amravati for some auspicious performance to Kalunikot. When, by evening, Amravati did not return from Kalunikot to Dadamandi, BhanuBhaupelo reached to Dadamandi. Bhanu Bhaupelo saw Amravati on the eastern palace balcony.  Bhanu reached to her room with the help of Sari. The mother of Amravati cautioned Bhanu to return and wanted to make him fearful by showing the army of Guru Gyan Chand. Amravati and Bhanu Bhaupelo requested the queen for their love.  The queen put the condition for Bhanu Bhopelo to win the Mahakali horse from Ragdisarikot. Bhanu Bhaupelo accepted the condition. The distance between Dadamandi was for twelve years walk.

           Bhanu Bhaupelo covered the twelve years distance within three days by horse riding. Bhanu Bhopelo requested Mahkali horse to go with him. However, the horse hid himself into cloud and did hide for nine days. Bhanu Bhopelo the majestic horse by stick and Bhanu Bhopelo won the horse. Bhanu Bhaupelo took the horse and reached to Kalunikot. There, Bhanu Bhopelo saw that Guru Gyan Chand and Amravati were on Marriage Vedi. The female friends of Amravati were surrounding Amravati. Bhanu reached by horse near to Vedi. The soldiers of Guru Gyan Chand killed BhanuBhaupelo by draggers. Amravati was sad and left her on the happenings by God.

        Bhanu Bhaupelo s soul reached to heaven and he said to the Lord d that his body was in front of his enemies. Lord Vishnu provides him life. Bhanu Bhopelo became live and he took Amravati from Vedi. Bravely, Bhnau killed each enemy including Guru Gyan Chand, Saju Kaluni.

Pandavas including Kunti and Draupadi took part in the marriage of Bhanu Bhopelo and Amravati.  

Copyright (Interpretation) @ Bhishma Kukreti, 3/5/2013

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarakhand to be continued…20  

Chivalry, Gallantry, gracious Folklores, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand to be continued…5    

Curtsey and references:

Dr. Krishna Nand Joshi, Kumaon ka Lok Sahitya (Folklore texts of Kumaon)

 Dr Trilochan Pandey, Kumaoni Bhasha aur Uska Sahity(Folklore literature of Kumaon )

Dr Siva Nand Nautiyal, Garhwal ke Lok Nrityageet  (Folk Songs and dances of Garhwal )

Dr Govind Chatak, Garhwali Lokgathayen (Folklore of Garhwali)

Dr. Govind Chatak, Kumaoni Lokgathayen (Folklore of Kumaoni)

Dr Urbi Datt Upadhyaya, Kumaon ki Lokgathaon ka Sahityik Adhyayan (Literary review of Folklore of Kumaon)

Dr. Prayag Joshi, Kumaon Garhwal ki Lokgathaon ka Vivechnatmak Adhyayan (Critical Review of Folklore of Kumaon and Garhwal)

Dr Dinesh Chandra Baluni, Uttarakhand ki Lokgathayen (Folklore of Uttarakhand)

Dr Jagdish (Jaggu) Naudiyal, Uttarakhand ki Sanskritik Dharohar, (Partially Folklore of Ravain) 

Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Dhunyal (Folklore and Folk Songs of Garhwal)

Shambhu Prasad Bahuguna, Virat Hriday

Kusum Budhwar, 2010, Where Gods Dwell: Central Himalayan Folktales and Legends 

C.M. Agarwal , Golu Devta, 1992, The God of Justice of Kumaon Himalayas

N.D .Paliwal, 1987, Kumaoni Lok Geet

E.S. Oakley and Tara Datt Gairola 1935, Himalayan Folklore

M.R.Anand, 2009, Understanding the Socio Cultural experiences of Pahadi folks: Jagar Gathas of Kumaon and Garhwal

Dr. Pradeep Saklani, 2008, Ethnoarcheology of Yamuna Valley

Shiv Narayan Singh Bisht, 1928, Gadhu Sumyal, Banghat , Pauri Garhwal

Kumaon: Kala, Shilp,aur Sanskriti         www.himvan.com/webpages/dana.htm

Anjali Kapila (2004), Traditional health Practices of Kumaoni women

Bhishma Kukreti, Garhwali Lok Natkon ke Mukhy Tatva va Vivechana

This chapter comprises brave Folk legendry of Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Jhatri Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Sainj Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Bhalgaon Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Bhelda Bada Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Banali Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Sirain village Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Quwata village Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Birmoli village Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Dhudfud Dadamandi region; brave Folk legendry of Birmoli village Dadamandi region.