Why Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi?

Posted by VYOMINGWAY on


Photo by Alok Kumar: www.pexels.com

Uttarakhand: A Journey Through the Spiritual Heart of India. Nestled in the foothills of the Great Himalayas, Uttarakhand is a destination steeped in mythological and historical significance. Home to numerous pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and more, this Indian state is often referred to as the 'Devbhoomi' or 'Land of the Gods.' But what makes this claim of being a holy land legitimate? In this intriguing article, we delve into the rich mythological and historical roots of Uttarakhand to uncover the truth behind its revered title as the 'Devbhoomi.'

Uncovering the Mystical Roots of Uttarakhand: A Journey Through Time: For centuries, the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand have attracted sages and spiritual seekers seeking enlightenment and a deeper understanding of the ultimate truth. Mentioned as 'Devbhoomi' or the 'holy land of the sages' in Rigveda, this region has a rich spiritual history dating back to the Vedic era.

 Join us on a journey as we explore the legends and tales that have made Uttarakhand a revered spiritual destination.

In Ramayana:

The Hanuman Link:




Everyone must have heard about Hanuman's story of lifting a mountain to help Lord Rama's brother Laxman, as the hill had the powerful Sanjeevani booti(medicinal herb). He couldn't identify the medicine by himself so instead, he lifted the whole mountain to Lanka. However, after Laxman regained consciousness he was asked to place the mountain back in its position.

The mountain uprooted; which had that powerful life-giving herb was the Dunagiri mountain itself, which is 50km from the town of Joshimath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

The people of that village do not worship Hanuman as a part of their tradition since the lord didn't take consent from them before uprooting their mountain. We won't find a temple of Hanuman even today.

DEVPRAYAG:


Photo by Arun Chaudhary: www.pexels.com

This town lies at the confluence of the river Bhagirathi and the river Alaknanda. It is from this confluence river Ganga is formed.

  1. This Devprayag was conferred as Devteerth, Brahmteerth and Sudarshanteerth in Ramayana.
  2. Lord Rama also meditated at this place after Lanka's victory.
  3. King Bhagirath, one of the forefathers of Lord Rama, penanced a lot to bring Ganga on earth so that his forefathers could get salvation. After a lot of convincing when the holiest river Ganga decided to descend on earth from heaven, it first touched this place.

THE VASHISHTH LINK:

Image credit: www.euttaranchal.com

Sage Vashishth; one of the Saptrishis, was the guru of Lord Rama & Laxman. He lived with his wife Arundhati on the bank of the river Ganga near the jungle. The place was called Himdav or Hindav by Vashishth while talking about his stay.

The place is identified as Shivpuri,18km from Rishikesh, the place which is famous for trekking and other adventure sports. Two caves have been found there. They named the Vashishth and Arundhati caves near an old Shiva temple. It is believed that the Guru worshipped Lord Shiva here.

MAHABHARAT

Mahabharat_why_uttarakhand_devbhoomi

The most convincing proof of the importance of Uttarakhand is through Mahabharat. The religious text has 18 parts called Parvas. The Parvas in which the region finds its mention are Vana Parva, Sabha Parva and Adi Parva.

In Mahabharata, the region was conferred as Himvant; However, in some places( in Adi Parva) the region was called Uttar Kuru and even Kurujangal Pradesh.

  • It is categorically mentioned that there were gifts from Uttar Kuru for Yudhisther, while he was performing Ashvamedh Yagya

IMPORTANCE OF HARIDWAR


Image credit: Pexels


According to Garuda Purana, it is one of India's 7 holiest cities(The Sapt Puris); the giver of moksha(liberation, salvation). Others being Ayodhya, Mathura, Kashi(Varanasi), Kanchi(Kanchipuram), Avantika(Ujjain), Puri & Dwaraka

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।
पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैते मोक्षदायकाः ॥  ~~GARUD PURAN.

It is worth noting that the Haridwar is mentioned as Mayapuri, the old name of Haridwar. It was mentioned at various places in the Hindu mythological tales. Some of them are mentioned below:

  • IN VAN PARVA: While teaching about India's religious places, Rishi Dhoumya mentioned Haridwar as the place from where the Ganges slows down after crossing high mountains. He called the place Gangadwar.
  • KUMBH MELA: The story of Samudra Manthan or the Churning of the sea is one of the best-known episodes in Hindu mythology narrated in Ramayana, Mahabharat, Vishnu Purana & Bhagwat Purana.
    • It is the story of the quest for the Amrita( the divine nectar) between Devas & the Asuras. It is believed that while both were fighting for the Pot having nectar (amrita-Kalash), the Amrita spilt out and fell on 4 places on earth, i.e. Haridwar, Ujjain, Prayag & Nashik.
    • Due to this event, these places possess some spiritual value. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these places after every 12 years(Ardh Kumbh every 6 years). During the Kumbh, people who bathe in the rivers (in these cities) are believed to attain moksha.
  • Haridwar acts as the gateway to the Chhota Char Dham Yatra. The kickstart point to the pilgrimage is Haridwar. There are shreds of evidence in the Mahabharata of this tradition.
    • Even the Pandavas started their pilgrimage to Badrika ashram(Badrinath), Mt. Kailash and Gandhmadan parvat from the Haridwar itself. They started their climb from the Ushirgiri mountain, Kankhal(Haridwar). This Ushirgiri is the mountain adjacent to Neel Parvat(at the top of which Chandi Devi temple is situated)
  • Sage Kapil also had his abode in Haridwar, it may be the region that the place was also called Kapila or Kapilsthana at some point in time. Also, sage Agastya performed penance at Haridwar with his wife Lopamudra at a different point in time.

Haridwar was called Mayapur, Gangadwar, Kapilasthana.

Importance of Mana

Mana village (Chamoli) also holds much importance in the Mahabharata epic. It is titled India's last village. It is 5km from Badrinath and 24 km from the Chinese border. Mana village is also associated with many mythological tales mostly related to Pandava's Journey to heaven.

Mana_village_importance_of_mana_uttarakhand_why_devbhoomi


  1. It is believed that the Pandavas passed through Mana Village when they made their final journey to heaven. The staircase to heaven is said to arise from the Mana Village itself.
  2. According to Rigveda, Saptrishis stayed at Mana village when the Indundation(Jalpralaya) struck the Shrishti.
  3. There is a cave in Mana village named Vyas cave. According to Adi Purana, Veda Vyas scripted the Mahabharat in the cave.
  4. The Mention of Gandhmadan Parvat: In Van Parva, Gandhmadan parvat was called the land of the apsaras, the abode of the Devas. Hence it possessed religious value. This parvat(mountain) is believed to be in Mana village.

Birthplace of King Bharat

Birth Place of Emperor Bharat: The emperor Bharat after whom our country was named Bharatvarsh, was born in Uttarakhand. According to Mahabharat, he was born at Kanvaashram at the bank of the river Malini. Kanvashram was the ashram of Sage Kanv and was situated at a place from where the river Malini entered the plains. It is said that Sage Vishwamitra also meditated around the same place(Shakuntala was his daughter).


Today this place is in Chaukighat(Kotdwar). The story of Shakuntala and Dushyant(parents of Bharat) was dramatized by Kalidas in his play 'Abhigyan Shakuntalam' which was said to be written around 250BC.


Other popular places

  • Alakapuri glacier: the source of river Alaknanda which ultimately becomes Ganga at devprayag; is said to be the capital of deva’s treasurer Kuber
  • Kedarnath: It is mentioned in Skand Puran that Kedarnath is the place where Lord Shiva released the holy river Ganga from his matted hairs.
  • Badrinath: According to the Bhagwat Puran, Lord Vishnu in the form of sage Nara and Narayan did great penance at this place for the welfare of humans.
  • Bageshwar: Sage Markanday worshipped Lord Shiva at this place. It is believed that Lord Shiva blessed sage Markanday by visiting him in the form of a tiger. 
  • In Kashipur(ancient name- Govishan): There is a place called Dronasagar. It is believed that the guru of Pandavas and Kauravas- sage Dronacharya did penance at this place.
  • Rudraprayag: It is said that Lord Shiva- the god of dance and music, taught sage Narad this art at this place in his form of Rudra. That’s where the city got its name from.
  • Pandukeshwar: This place is regarded as the Tapasthali(place of penance) of king Pandu. Badrinath is 25km away from the place.

You might be interested in: How places in Uttarakhand got their names

For centuries, sages have flocked to the mystical land of Uttarakhand, seeking truth, enlightenment, and connection with the divine. This region is brimming with sites of puranic importance, each one offering a unique glimpse into India's rich spiritual heritage. One of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand is the Atrimuni Ashram, located in Anusuya just 25 km from Chamoli town. This ashram, associated with the Vedic sage Atri, is a tranquil haven for those seeking spiritual fulfilment.

Dip into the holy waters, perform pujas and other religious rituals, and bask in the blessings of the resident priests. Another must-visit site is the adobe of Sage Kassyap Rishi at Gandhmadan Parwat near Badrinath. This site is steeped in myth and legend and is considered to be a place of great spiritual power. It is believed that visiting this sacred site can bring blessings and good fortune.

Dubbed "Devbhoomi" or the "Land of the Gods", Uttarakhand is associated with numerous sages, gods, and mythological figures. This rich spiritual legacy, combined with its breathtaking natural beauty, makes it the perfect destination for anyone seeking a deeper connection with the divine. So, embark on a journey to Uttarakhand and discover the spiritual treasures that await you. With its rich cultural heritage and serene atmosphere, this region is undoubtedly the best place to seek truth and unite with the ultimate being."

Image sources- Istockphotos, pixabay, pexels, uttarakhandtourism.