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of Ananda
Excursions of Ananda
Haridwar
It
is said that when Gods left their footprints on the land of Haridwar, metaphorically
they also left an indelible mark on the spiritual ethos of every Hindu - more
so the devout, which would later follow their holy paths all across this blessed
land. Of such significance is Haridwar in the thought of India's traditional
Hindus that it has earned its sobriquet of honor as The Gateway to the Gods.
Legend has it that the holy Ganga, the holiest of all rivers, which flows
through this sacred city has actually been sanctified by the powerful trinity
of Hindu mythology- Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
Down the ages, this special importance of Haridwar as the ever-refreshing
mystic venue for the purification of the mind, body and soul gained more impetus
and today manifests itself in two great events that take place here - the
memorable Kumbh Mela which is held every 12 years and the Ardh Kumbh Mela,
which is held once every 6 years.
Rishikesh
The
town of Rishikesh lies in the foothills of the Garhwal region. Located 1160
feet above sea level, it is the gateway to the upper Garhwal region and the
starting point to the Char Dham - four famous pilgrim centers namely Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri. It is believed that meditation at this place
leads to attainment of salvation.
The Ganges flows through the town and is worshipped here. Rishikesh has long
been a spiritual centre. It has numerous ashrams, some of which are internationally
recognized, as places for philosophical studies, yoga and meditation. An international
'Yoga Week' is organized here every year in the first week of February.
Back in the 1960's Rishikesh gained instant fame as the site, when the Beatles
came to stay here with their guru, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi.
Narendra Nagar
The small hamlet town of Narendra Nagar came into existence in 1895, when Maharaja
Narendra Shah decided to move his capital from Tehri to a more picturesque locale.
The small town of Odathali nestled in the Shivalik foothills was chosen not
only for its extraordinary scenic beauty, but also for its proximity to the
plains below.
'Odathali' is a place of historic and mythological significance. It has been
known to be a seat of spirituality and meditation since ancient times. According
to legend, the sage Udhav is known to have performed severe penance at this
spot. Also, Purasar, the founder of astrology, has been known to conduct various
experiments on the movements of planets and stars. His observatory has now
been converted into the local polytechnic.
Narendra Shah was an enlightened ruler, as you can see in the well ordered
civic buildings of the neat little royal township of Narendra Nagar. Some
of the buildings like the hospital and the secretariat are still in use today.
The bazaar buildings too are a century old.
Garhwal
A
venture into the Himalayas is more than a mere journey: it is a "yatra".
A pilgrimage does not hold more importance than it does in Garhwal and Kumaon,
once known as "Uttarakhand" - the 'northern territories' - in the
pre Vedic era. This is the domain of the ascetic Lord Shiva, the destroyer and
re-creator; it is land charged with "Shakti", the power and energy
of the goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva and the daughter of Himavat, Lord of
the Mountains. Together, Garhwal and Kumaon form a sizable wedge in the Central
Himalayas, joining India and Nepal.
Garhwal today remains a land of myth and legend, where every stone tells a story.
The earliest historical references to the region are found in the Vedas, paeans
to the purity of the Himalayas. Specific mention of the mountains exists in
the Mahabharata, dated around 1000 BC. This is when the protagonists of the
epic, the Pandavas, are said to have ended their life on earth by ascending
the slopes of peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini - literally, the Ascent
to Heaven'. The epic also mentions this region being the home of the Kirata,
Puolinda and Tangara tribes.
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