Classical Hindu deities and Goddesses in British Garhwal

History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -208

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1041

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

           There was regular migration from plains to South Garhwal (Salan) from centuries. Mostly, they were Rajput and Brahmins. They used to shift towards north Garhwal slowly.  Slowly, due to Hindu Rajput and Brahmins migrating to Garhwal brought classical Hindu deities and goddesses too. Classical Hindu deities and goddesses started influencing old culture of rituals too.  There was promotion for Shakt, Shaiva, Vaishnava, Nath and Siddh sects in Garhwal. All those sects and their rituals started influencing people. People started building temples of Ram Sita, Lakshman, Vashishtha, From 1860, Ramlila staging also became part of Uttarakhand.

 Nath priests captured Shivalays.  Karmkandi Brahmins mixed Vishnu, Devi rituals with local deity rituals. Priests and Brahmins related Nanda Bhagvati  with Durga, connected Mahasu, kailas and Bhairav with Shiva; Ghantakarn with devotee of Vishnu, Nag and narsingh with Vishnu and Krishna. The ritual scholars mixed classical rituals of classical deities  with local methods.

  Mahabharata characters were from the old age. Rama hanuman etc got acceptance later stage.

   Harijan used to worship Nirankar or ‘Bada Devta’Nrankar jagar clim Kabir the best devotee and then Raidas and Kamal. According to Nirankar Jagar, Brahma was nowhere before them. As per Nirankar jagar, Brahma was greedy and lie teller. Kabir, Kamla, used to stay in dwarika along with Narad, Surdas and other Krishna devotees.

   

References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.3

3- Trail, 1820, Settlement Report

4-Oklay, Holi Himalaya page 218

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 2/10/2017 History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1042

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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

 History of British Garhwal, History of Devalgarh Garhwal; History of Badhan Garhwal; History of Barasyun Garhwal; History of Chandpur Garhwal; History of Chaundkot Garhwal; History of  Gangasalan Garhwal;  History of Mallasalan Garhwal;  History ofTallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal; Sociity  in British Garhwal. History of British Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith in Chamoli Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith of Pauri Garhwal ,  Social and Culture History of Rudraprayag Garhwal