Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 114

   Early Medieval   Asian History of Katyuri Imperialism of Kartikeyapur in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) -25

          (Early Asian Medieval History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar, Doti Nepal (Uttarakhand, India))

                          (Early Asian Medieval History (740-1100 AD)

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

                       Secularism, Religious Harmony in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Middle Period

                    There is no doubt that Katyuri Kings of Kartikeyapur (Asian Middle Age) and largely people were Sanatani (Hindu) believers.  However, there were Buddhists in plains or foothills of Kartikeyapur kingdom. There were Jains also in this territory.   

  The Pravodhchandroday  play suggests that Jain saints had to flee from various regions to get shelters. A few Jain saints migrated to plains of Uttarakhand. The 1010 years old period Idol of Shri vardhmanswamidev is found in Badhpur. Ruins of Mordhwaj and Badhpur suggest that Katyuri kings permitted religious harmony in the kingdom. Buddhists and Jain were free for constructing their temples.

                    Rituals, Beliefs and Worshipping in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Middle Period

  Hindu was major religion in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Middle Period.

            The religious title of Katyuri kings was ‘Parammaheshwar’ in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Middle Period. The religious title of Subhikshraj was ParamVaishanva.

      The Katyuri kings of Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Middle Period believed that they got kingdom due to blessings of Shiva and Nanda Devi Bhagvati.

 The early Asian Middle Period Katyuri Kings described them as Parambrahmanya or Brahmin devotees.

The early Asian Middle Period Katyuri Kings of Kartikeyapur believed in Caste-Class system (Varnashram).

 Shiva and Nanda Devi were major deities and goddess.

Narsingh, Nagdevta, Durga, Brahmeshwar were other important gods and goddesses.

The local deities were Gaviyapind, Bharke, Chandalmunda (village Deities) in the early Asian Middle Period Katyuri Kings Kingdom. There were temples of these deities and goddesses.

 The inscriptions did not mention about Sun god. However, Sun Idols of this period were found in this region.

             The Vishnu was worshipped as Narayan by Katyuris of middle age. The queen of Lalitshur built Narayan temple in Gerunnasa and Shripurushbhadra built Narayan temple in Garudashram.

 Shankracharya reestablished rituals in Badrikashram(Vishnu) before Lalitshur. Narayan was worshipped in Badrikashram. Brahmcharis used to stay in Tapovan near Badrinath. Padmt donated land to Badrikashram. Subhikshraj donated land for a Narayan temple.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 3/8/2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -115

Early Asian Medieval History of Katyuri Dynasty in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued…26

        (Oriental Early Medieval History (740-1100 AD to be continued…)

Notes on Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period; Religion rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Uttarakhand; Religion rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Pithoragarh; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Almora; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Champawat; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Nainital; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Bageshwar; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Udham Singh Nagar; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Bijnor; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Haridwar; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Dehradun; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Doti Nepal; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Chamoli Garhwal; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Rudraprayag; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Tehri Garhwal; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Uttarkashi Garhwal; Religion, rituals, Beliefs, Deities and Secularism in Katyuri Kingdom of Asian Medieval Period around Pauri Garhwal