Arjun Singh Rathore
Wisdom is mainly acquired first by Reflection (which is noblest); second by imitation (which is easiest) and third by experience (which is bitterest) and Knowledge comes by perception, memory, consciousness and reason. And to acquire both Wisdom and Knowledge one has to accept the belief of his deeds and education. A Philosopher doesn’t need the help of scriptures, only wisdom and knowledge are sufficient for the release of soul from this immaterial world. Being a Bhaderwahi and native of this place I haven’t written anything on this subject in the past but when I read some of the new generation writers writing on the history and existence of Bhaderwah, which I personally found little bit far away from the actual history, compelled me to address a part of this subject as per my wisdom and knowledge. I am not a student of history but whatever I am sharing is based on the stories which I have learned from ancestors.
In Satyug, it was the goddess Bhaderkaali on whose name this town of Bhaderawati was established and it always remained a favourite abode of Gods & Goddess, Gandharv (Demigod), Vidhadhars (Intellectuals), Saints and Sage-Sages. In the past eras right from Satyug the Gods & Goddess followed by Saints & Sages used to penance on the banks of Neeru and in the caves of Kailash and all these places are today worshiped as pilgrimages for the Moksha of the soul.
Situated in the north of mighty Himalya, this today’s Bhaderwah went through a series of name changes from Bhaderwati to Bhogawati to Bhader-aashram to Bhaderkashi. It is believed that this is the place of origin of Nagas the scared serpents and their family. Pleased with the worship of Vasuki Nag ji Maharaj, the Shiva and Parvati themselves declared him the most scarred deity of this whole region which starts from the Utrakhand region to the Anantnag region of Kashmir. Since then the Nagas and Nagini Matas of Vasuki family along with Shiva is worshiped in this region as the biggest of all the deities.
Among the highly worshiped deities in Naga family are Shri Vasuki Nag, Subaar Nag, Chatarbhuj Nag, Kali Nag, Kansar Nag, Ma-lund Nag, Mahal Nag, Shesh Nag, Shash Nag, Tak-shk Nag, Elaa-putr Nag, Chabar Nag, Karko-tik Nag, Dhanjay Nag, Shank-chud Nag, Gabbar Nag, Ashvatr Nag, Shank-shevat Nag, Mahapadam Nag, Bhed Nag, Surgul Nag, Kai Nag, Gou-mai Nag, Shantnu Nag, Sagud Nag, Kilaru Nag, Moi Nag, Nagni Mata. In fact Vasuki Nag ji was blessed with 22 sons and 80 grandsons and all these are the deities of Nag family, worshiped as Kuldevta and Kuldevee in the whole Bhaderwah region. In addition to this Veri Nag, Anant Nag and Shesh Nag are worshiped in south Kashmir. Similarly Basuki Nag and Neel Nag are worshiped in Himachal and Mul Nag & Stuhr Nag in Uttarakhand.
Among all the Nagas, Shri Vasuki Nag ji Maharaj is considered Shiromani (the superb jewel worn in a crest or on the top of head). Vasuki Nag is the necklace of Lord Shiva (Vasuki Nag hain kanth ki shobha). Faith is a small word for the faith, which is unconditional, of the people of Bhaderwah region residing anywhere in the world, impose upon him. No auspicious work on any occasion is started by the Bhaderwahis without performing the ritual of puja-archna of Shiromani Vasuki Nag ji Maharaj followed by the prayers of local Nag deity. The influence of Nagas is so much in this region that almost all the natural resources of drinking water are also named after the Nagas of the locality and in local language they are addressed as Nag-du.
Although the deities are worshiped throughout the year but on festivals and special celebrations especially in the months of Ashwin and Kartik Mass as per the Hindu calendar, which otherwise is the time between the mid of August to mid of October, special Yatras are performed for special worships. These Yatars are led by the sacred God men, locally addressed as Chy-la. The rituals performed in Yatra include Bali (sacrifice), Mundan (offering of hair), Jaagruu (burning of huge fire) in the company of Dha-ku, a local dance Kud is performed, on the music of local musical instruments, Dhol (Double Sided Barrel Drum), Nagarey (Indian Drums), Taashy (Tasha Drums), Ganti (School Bell), Bansuri (Flute), Manjira (Hand Hats), Ransingha (Primitive Trumpet), and Kahl (Long Medieval Trumpet), by the Bajantries (Musician), with chanting of Bhajans.
But one question will always remain unanswered, Why Bhagwan Vasuki Nag ji choose only this part of the world to finally settle down here? Was this place so sacred and beautiful before his arrival or it’s sanctity and beauty was blessed after his arrival? Whatever may be the answer but one thing is very clear Shiva the creator, created this pageant (Lila) which gave birth to this immortal story (Amar Katha), in which Vasuki Nag ji is the main character who not only saved but also provided safe protection to his Naga family from Garuda (Eagle, the mount [Vahan] of Bhagwan Vishnu). The second most important character is Jeevitvahan, the king of Bhader-aashram, who laid down his life for saving the entire Naga family of Vasuki Nag from Garuda and this is the reason Bhagwan Vasuki Nag blessed Jeevitvahan to be worshiped along with him. In every Vasuki Nag temple the second sculpture along with Vasuki Nag ji is of Jeevitvahan.
By adopting the valley of Bhaderkashi as his permanent abode, Bhagwan Vasuki Nag ji laid the foundation of attachment, participation, homage, faith, love, truth, devotion, worship, dignity and purity. The habitants, the mountains, the rivers, the birds, the flowers all feel the presence of existence of Vasuki Nag around this whole area and it is the source of inspiration to follow the path of truth to touch the new heights as described in Vedas, Puran, Gita, Ramayan, Upanishad and all other holy books.
The motive behind sharing this story with the readers is not imposing anything on them as the facts written down by me might not be materially correct, because these are the stories which we learned from our elders, usually at our bed times, but at the same time these stories keep on moving from generation to generation. No one has seen God, but the faith in God has been felt by those who believe in God and this has literally resulted in keeping alive the very much existence of Sanatan Dharam despite of the lapse of hundreds of thousands of years since the creation of this universe.
Jai Bolo Jai Vasay Nagay Ki Jai, Teri Sada He Jai,
Boly Ga Jai-kara Ho-ay Ga Nisthara, Bol Sanchay Darbar Ki Jai!!
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