Why Aswal Community and Kandar Leaves are not allowed in Tadkeshwar Dham

(Folk Tales /Community from Garhwal Series-117)

                                           Collected by Bhishma Kukreti

                   Due to strict custom, Aswal community, Kandar Leaves ( Shorea rubusta) and mustard oil are not allowed into Tadkeshwar Temple Premise. Tadkeshwar Temple is situated in Badalapur Patti, Pauri Garhwal.

          There are many versions for the reasoning of disallowing Aswal community, Kandar Leaves into Tadkeshwar Temple primes.

          Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal offers following folk story about non allowing of Aswal Community, and Kandar into temple.

             An Aswal Thakur was plowing field. It was after noon time and Bolanda (Caller) Tadkeshwar deity called Aswal Thakur to free bulls from plowing. Plowing bulls after noon is called cruelty. Aswal Thakur did not accept the cautious calling of Bolanda Tadkeshwar Deity. Tadkeshwar Mahadev took the form of a farmer and went before Aswal Than kur and requedted him to free bulls from plow. Instead of freeing bulls from plow, Aswal Thakur ran after the farmer to beat him. Tadkeshwar in Farmer form slipped due to Kandar leaves. Tadkeshwar Mahadev became angry on Aswal and Kandar Leaves. Tadkeshwar Mahadev cursed that from that day  neither Aswal person nor Kandar leave to be allowed in his temple at Tadkeshwar.

There is a Saying –

‘Aswal ki Jat ar Kandar ko Pat , Yakh ni Chaindi , yonki Jat ‘

The above saying  means that in this temple, neither Aswal community nor Kandar leave are required.

Reference of Present Story, Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal (Garhwal Darshan) and Dr Khyat Singh Chauhan, Prachin Siddhpeeth Tadkeshwar Dham

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 16/6//15, Mumbai, India

bckukreti@gmail.com

References

1-Bhishma Kukreti, 1984, Garhwal Ki Lok Kathayen, Binsar Prakashan, Lodhi Colony, Delhi 110003, 

2- Bhishma Kukreti 2003, Salan Biten Garhwali Lok Kathayen, Rant Raibar, Dehradun