History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand Garhwal Part -2

History of Garhwal (1223- 1804 AD) –part -9

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -254

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

                      Political Division of Uttarakhand

          The history records proof that when in eleventh century, Narsingh Dev transferred his capital from Joshimath to Baijnath the political division of Uttarakhan started. Katyuri were ruling on both the political regions. In 11191, Ashok Challa captured Katyuri Kingdom and he ruled both the political entities.

  The Ashok Challa rule was divided into following major regions-

1-Bairath-The western part of today’s Nepal or eastern region of Kali Ganga.

2- Kamades- The present region of Kumaon.

3- Kedarbhumi or present Garhwal region- From Tones-Yamuna to Nandadevi all districts of Garhwal including Dehradun and perhaps Haridwar or parts of Haridwar district. In Mahbharata, there is no mention of Kedarbhumi but Uttarakhand was described as Kulind des in general term.

                           Garhwal and Kedarkhand Names

            There is no mention of Kamades, Kurmachal, Kumaon and Kedarkhand, Kedarbhumi in Katyuri inscriptions.

             There is no mention of Kamades, Kurmachal, Kumaon and Kedarkhand, Kedarbhumi in Katyuri names in the literature of Kalidas, Ban and Rajshekhar who described this region (Uttarakhand) in their literature. Though, the names Kedarkhand, Kurmachal are not mentioned in inscription it is sure that among common people and elite too these names were discussed before Ashok Challa. 

                                            Kedarkhand

               In Skand Puran (largest and about Kartikeya), there is a separate chapter ‘Kedarkhand.   

In Sanskrit, Kedar means marshy land. However, this meaning does not suit to Kedarkhand.

  In Sanskrit, Kedar means Kapila’s field a Tirtha; Matanga’s field another Tirtha; a basin round the tree; a bed in garden; of a mountain country (present Kedarnath); of Shiva as worshipped in Himalaya.  Kedar means the Himalayan stones where big stone is worshipped as Shiva in.

               It is sure, that present Kedarnath region was familiar as Kedar Teertha in and before Gupta period.

 The Munger inscriptions of Devpal (800) state that servants of Maghad King Dharmapal took bathe in Kedarbhumi. Malwa King Bhoj (1000-1055) either constructed or repaired Kedar Mandir.

                Around 1200; Kangda King Lakshamn Chandra visited Kedarteerth and vowed to treat his wives as sisters.  

           It is obvious that Kedarkhand, Kedarbhumi or Kedarkshetra was commonly used for the regions of Garhwal, Dehradun and Haridwar before eighth or ninth century.

        Areas under Kedarkhand

         Kedarkhand of Skanda Puran describes the regions of Kedarkhand from Gangadwar (Haridwar) to greater Himalaya and Tamsa (tones) to Baudhacahl (Badhan at the border of Kumaon).

 Ashok Challa had rule over Garhwal, Dehradun and Haridwar.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com24/1/2014

                                      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

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

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

(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          

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -255  

Xx

History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Pauri Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Chamoli Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Rudraprayag Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Tehri Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Uttarkashi Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Haridwar Garhwal; History Details of Nomenclature of Kedarkhand and Garhwal- Dehradun Garhwal;