Vasvanand Bahuguna: The Great Astrologer of Garhwal of Gurkha Period

Disregard for Garhwali Scholars in Garhwal in Gurkha /Gorkha Period -3

History Discussion on Gurkha/Gorkha Administration in Garhwal - 33

History of Gorkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -98    

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -617

                          By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

              Gurkha administration never supported scholars of Garhwal in their regime. However, individually, tens of scholars were famous scholars at that time too.

 Vasvanand /Vasva Nand Bahuguna was one of such Astrologers of Garhwal in Gurkha Period who was also famous in Punjab of Ran Singh.

    Himalaye Swargsamanbhumau prakhyat bahugun-viprashyh

Tapodhanh suryasmanteja shrivasvanand dwijo babhuv

             (In collection of Shridharanand Bahuguna, Reference; Prem Datt Chamoli, Sanskrit ko Garhwal ki Den, page 239-241)

               There is no knowledge of birth place of Astrologer Vasvanand Bahuguna) (Dr Dabral wrote Bhardwaj instead of Bahuguna).   Dr Dabral stated that Ramdatt Jyotirvid of Kumaon brought ‘Prashnasindhu’ by great astrologer Vasvanand in lime light. Dr Prem Datt Chamoli states that Nirnay Sagar Press published ‘Prashnasindhu’ in 1896. Venkateshwar Press Mumbai published ‘Prashnasindhu’ in 1905.

 In ‘Prashnasindhu’, Vasvanand offered his introduction that his grandfather was Guna Nand and father name was Lilanand. Vasvanand mention that while living in prosperous western country, at Sujanpur, he completed ‘Prashnasindhu’ on Sanvat Shake 1739, (29^th January 1818) Friday. His father Lilanand was Court Astrologer of Garhwal King. Vasvanand was also Court Astrologer for Garhwali Shah King. That means that he was born before 1790 and expired around 1830 (Bhakta Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangat Vibhutiyan).

 Vasvanand travelled Mayakoti, Kimaota, Saudi, Matargaon etc.

 When British rule started he ran away from Shrinagar or his native place (Kuthar or Pokhri) and travelled to Dhangu, Udaipur Garhwal, Nazibabad, Punjab and Indore. King Ranjit Singh was impressed by knowledge of Vasvanand.

               Prashnasindhu an Astrology Book   

        Vasvanand Bahuguna wrote more than three books but ‘Prashnasindhu’ is available now (Dr. Prem Datt Chamoli).  in the introduction of 

In the introduction of ‘Singh Makarsth Guru Meemansa’, Pundit Vasvanand Khanduri mentions a book ‘Muhart Sar’ by Vasvanand Bahuguna

           Prashna Sindhu starts for  prayers of Shripati, Ganesh, Shiva, and Parvati. There are solutions for various problems and questions through various Signs (Chinh).

  Vasvanand Bahuguna divided ‘Prashnasindhu’ into ‘Taranga’ and not Adhyaya or Chapters. There are following Tarangas in ‘Prashnasindhu’ by Astrologer Vasvanand –

1-Shubhashubhnamk

2-Gamagmashya

3-Jayajayashya

4-Chaurvidhanashya

5-Mishrakashya

6-Doshabhidhan:

7-Jalabhidhan

8-Vanshobhidhan

   Great Astrologer Vasvanand explained and describes the signs of auspicious and non auspicious signs and their respective results.  As the sound of Shanka, Mridang, Veena, Hathi , Hans, gau, Ghoda are auspicious signs and Gadha , Bhains are non auspicious Signs.

 In Gamagmanshya, Great Astrologer Vasvanand discusses about travel, arrivals reaching etc.

                    Mishrakashya Taranga

   Mishrakashya Tarang is largest one having 25 Poems.

In Mishrakashya Taranga, Great Astrologer Vasvanand talks about miscellaneous subjects as –

Colors of Navgrahas and Akar (form descriptions)

Mansi Chitta Vichar (Psychological questions and conclusions for astrology)

Paraspar Prem Prashna (Love Dialogues between questioners)

Santati me Kanya-Putra Labh (Astrological conclusions about daughter and Son birth)

Vivah (Marriages)

Dhanlabh( Profits)

Stricharitra (Characteristics of Women)

Saras aur Neeras( Pleasure and Non Pleasure Aspects)

Bhojanprapti (Aspects of Food)

Swapna (Dreams and their meanings)

Sidhi (Accomplishments)

               Doshabhidhan Taranga

 Doshabhidhan Taranga is also important. There are importances of following aspects in recovering a patient –

Gram devta or village deity

Kul devta (Family Deity)

Narsingh deity

Pitar (forefathers)

Pretbhaya (Fear from deceased Souls)

Vat, Pit and Kaf descriptions their effects and curing

 Same way, Astrologer offers various aspects of Astrology in other Taranga of ‘Prashnasindhu’.  

 The language and style of ‘Prashnasindhu’ is simple and easy to follow too. Vasvanand mentions his name at the end of each Taranga.

** History, Gurkha/Gorkha Administration in Garhwal...Remaining part, read in next chapter

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com22/4//2015

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -618

*** History of Gorkha/Gurkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) to be continued in next chapter 

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

XX

                    Reference

Atkinson E.T., 1884, 1886 , Gazetteer of  Himalayan Districts …

Hamilton F.B. 1819, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal and the territories

Colnol Kirkpatrik 1811, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal

Dr S.P Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 5, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda

Bandana Rai, 2009 Gorkhas,: The Warrior Race

Krishna Rai Aryal, 1975, Monarchy in Making Nepal, Shanti Sadan, Giridhara, Nepal

I.R.Aryan and T.P. Dhungyal, 1975, A New History of Nepal , Voice of Nepal

L.K Pradhan, Thapa Politics:

Gorkhavansavali, Kashi, Bikram Samvat 2021 

Derek J. Waller, The Pundits: British Exploration of Tibet and Central Asia page 172-173

B. D. Pande, Kumaon ka Itihas

Sharma , Nepal ko Aitihasik Rup Rekha

Chaudhari , Anglo  –Nepalese Relations

Pande, Vasudha , Compares Histriographical Traditions of Gorkha Rule in Nepal and Kumaon

Pradhan , Kumar, 1991, The Gorkha Conquests , Oxford University  Press

Minyan Govrdhan Singh , History of Himachal Pradesh

A.P Coleman, 1999, A Special Corps

Captain Thomas Smith, 1852,Narrative of a Five Years Residence at Nepal Vol.1

Maula Ram/Mola Ram  , Ranbahadurchandrika and Garhrajvanshkavya

J B Fraser , Asiatic Research

Shyam Ganguli, Doon Rediscovered

Minyan Prem Singh, Guldast Tabarikh Koh Tihri Garhwal

Patiram Garhwal , Ancient and Modern

Tara Datt Gairola, Parvtiy Sanskriti

XXX

Nepal Itihas, Garhwal Itihas, Kumaon Itihas, Himachal Itihas; Gurkha/Gorkha ks kumson psr Adhikar Itihas , Gurkha/Gorkha Garhwal par Shasan Itihas;  Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Kumaon, Garhwal Uttarakhand; History Gurkha/Gorkha  Rule in Himachal, Uttarakhand;कुमाऊं , उत्तराखंड काइतिहास ; गढ़वाल , उत्तराखंड का इतिहास ; डोटी , पूर्व उत्तराखंड का इतिहास;गोरखाओं /गुर्खाओं का कुमाऊं पर अधिकार इतिहास ; गोरखाओं /गुर्खाओं कागढ़वाल पर अधिकार इतिहास ; गोरखाओं /गुर्खाओं का हिमाचल पर अधिकारइतिहास ; गोरखाओं /गुर्खाओं का  इतिहास ; नेपाल इतिहास

Xx

History Astrology and Astrologers in Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Pauri Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Chamoli Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Rudraprayag Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Tehri Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Uttarkashi Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Dehradun Garhwal; History Astrology and Astrologers in Haridwar Garhwal; Sanskrit Scholars of Garhwal; Sanskrit Scholars of Garhwal, Uttarakhand ; Sanskrit Scholars of Garhwal, Himalaya ; Sanskrit Scholars of Garhwal, North India; Sanskrit Scholars of Garhwal, South Asia