[Reader-list] The Goddess Hingala Of Baluchistan

[yasir ~يا سر]

http://offroadpakistan.com/pictures/hingol_2005/




On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 11:17 AM, francesca recchia <kiccovich at yahoo.com>wrote:

> thanks for sharing this!
>
> francesca recchia
> kiccovich at yahoo.com
> it +39 338 166 3648
> iq +964 (0) 750 7085 681
> http://www.veleno.tv/bollettini/
>
>
> --- On Tue, 14/4/09, anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] The Goddess Hingala Of Baluchistan
> To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Tuesday, 14 April, 2009, 8:11 AM
>
> dear pawan,
>
> A very interesting and informative story there.
>
> regards,
> anupam
>
> On 4/14/09, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > *The Goddess Hingala Of **Baluchistan***
> >
> > *By Sanjay Godbole*
> >
> >
> >
> > “Baluchistan “ is a State in Pakistan, having a fairly vast expanse.
> > Hingola
> > is an ancient river, which traverses across the terrains of Baluchistan.
> A
> > mountain named ‘Khirdhar’ is situated at the banks of river Hingol. At
> the
> > extreme end portion of this mountain, which is popularly known as
> *Kanraj*,
> > there is an ancient cave known as ‘*Hingalaj*’. This place is situated
> > in *Tehsil
> > Lyari *of Baluchistan and is, since ancient times, reckoned as the
> largest
> > and the most famous place of Worship of the Goddess Hingla in the Indian
> > Sub-continent. The “Hingalaj” cave is located at a distance of 250
> > kilometers from “Karachi”  on Karachi-Quetta highway. On the eastern
> side,
> > is situated a town called Lyari. Next to Lyari, not very far, is located
> a
> > military base of Baluchistan. One has to cross two rivers named Aghor and
> > Gungi, to arrive at Ashapura Sarai hermitage’ charitable rest house for a
> > camping halt where the Hingalaj cave is situated in the near vicinity.
> >
> > At this location, there are some old temples of worshiping such as Lord
> > Ganesha, remains like Goddess mother Kali, Guru Gorakhnath, Brahmkunda,
> Ram
> > Zarokha, Anil Kund and holy place of Gruha of Goddess Devi.
> >
> > During the Treta-Yuga epoch or era (according to Hindu mythology there
> are
> > 4
> > yugas (Eras) Satyayug *Dwaparyug,* Treta-Yuga and *Kalki*-*Yug* .When *
> > Parshuram* incarnated, *Dadhichi* the Famous ascetic sage had penned a
> > predictive story. King *Vichatar*, a descendent of a Tartar
> > *Mangol*Dynasty, ruled this province. He had two sons, named “Hingol”
> > and “Sunder”
> > * Sunder* brutally oppressed the populace. The harassed public,
> propitiated
> > Lord Shiva, and the Lord Ganesha (Son of Shiva). Lord Ganesha killed
> > Sunder.
> >
> > Later on, Sunder’s brother, Hingol, who had received boons, which ensured
> > that he (Hingol) would not meet death by any weapon whatsoever, in any of
> > the three lokas (worlds)' as per Hindu mythological concept three worlds
> > exist worlds *Swarg, Mrityu. Pataal Hingol*, all the same, would not
> remain
> > immune to death. Hingol soon became insolent and opressed his subjects.
> He
> > also added new territories to his Kingdom. He, thereafter, suo moto,
> > assumed
> > the title as Hingol Dev (God Hingol). Ultimately, the people as a
> resultant
> > reaction, worshipped “Goddess Shakti”.
> >
> > The Goddess killed Hingol in a cave at a place known as “*Satdeep*” in,
> > what
> > is known as ‘Baluchistan’today. Hingol, just before meeting his death,
> > requested and prayed to Goddess Shakti, that he be identified and be
> > synonymous with his name. The place, thenceforth, was known as “*Hingol
> > Tirth*”.
> >
> > When Alexander the great, invaded “Sistan” now called “Baluchistan”
> > presently, in the year 325 B.C., the Greek forces were camping at the
> banks
> > of river “Hingol”. Sikandar waged a war with the King of “Balikot”. Some
> > devotees of Goddess Hingla were there, to worship the Goddess Hingla and
> > they were all safe.
> >
> > Emperor “Vikramaditya” at the time of Vanquishing India, visited this
> place
> > as a devotee. King, Todarmal, contemporary of Emperor “Akbar” had also
> > visited this place as a devotee. So also did many Rajput nobles, and
> > personalities such as Biharimal, Madhusingh, & Raja Jagtatsingh visit the
> > place.
> >
> > *Dada Mek-han*, the famous saint of Gujrat, came all the way from
> Gujarat,
> > to visit and have glimpses of this holy place. Those devo-tees, visiting
> > this place Hingalag are addressed as ‘Kapdis’. The pilgrims, after
> > completion of their pilgrimage, sport a string, made out of “Thumra”, a
> > variety of stone, mined from “Thatta” in Sindh.
> >
> > Prior to the partition of British India, in 1947, many devotees,
> especially
> > from “Gujarat” and “Rajasthan” regularly visited “Baluchistan” to
> > propitiate
> > Goddess “Hingla”. Travelling was not that easy and comfortable at that
> > time.
> > The travellers had to undertake the tedious journey by braving the
> barriers
> > such as rough and sloppery roads, jungles, mountains and crossing of
> > challenging rivers. This tedious journey, at times had to be completed on
> > the back of camels or in a Palanquin and would last for about a month or
> > so.
> >
> > Shri Varsimal Devani, a Trust of Swami Narayan Temple , a religious cult
> > popular as Vaishnava, residing on Mohamad Ali Jinnah Road in Karachi, is
> > also a trusth of Hingla Mata Temple of Baluchasitan. He also arranges
> tours
> > to Hingla Teerth. He very graciously made available to me some fine
> > photographs of Hinglamata Mandir.
> >
> > According to Shri Devani, the Goddess Hingla Devi being famous all
> around,
> > devotees from Africa and even Europe frequent this pilgrimage spot in
> > multitudes.
> >
> > As per the legend, in Uttar Ramayana, Lord Rama visited Hingla Teerth in
> a
> > sortie in his aircraft “*Pushpak*” and bathed in the water basin (Jal
> > Kunda)
> > here. One spot in this area is identified with Lord Rama’s sacred visit.
> >
> > Shri. Devani further added, that the temple of Hingla Mata is inside a
> cave
> > and it admeasures 25 feet by 12 feet. There is no idol of the deity, but
> > only the Astan (Seat) and the trident.
> >
> > A priest is duly appointed for carrying out daily rituals and general
> > maintenance and house keeping.
> >
> > Each year a minimum of Twenty five thousand strong contigent of devotees
> > visit there for pilgrimage. They offer flowers and coconuts to the
> Goddess
> > Hingla. Some offer a cloth piece suitable for Blouse, making such an
> offer
> > is considered to be auspicious. Some offer “Saubhagya Lenis” and even
> > silver
> > canopies Umbrellas i.e. according to Hindu belief, a married lady is
> > considered to be fortunate, if she passes away prior to her husband.
> Since
> > dry fruits are available in abundance in Baluchistan, these are offered
> to
> > the deity and are distributed to the visitors as blessings of the deity.
> >
> > Devani said that the members of “Zigri”, a Baluch tribe reside in this
> > area.
> > They also worship the deity and take a vow. When their vows are fulfilled
> > these “Zigri Baloch come to the spot and offer Mithi roti (Sweetened
> > Bread).
> > All the members of their family gather on such an occasion. They address
> > Hinglamata as “Nanima” . (Nani means mother’s mother ). All the security
> > personnel of this temple are Baloch. This was specifically mentioned by
> > Shri. Varsimal Devani.
> >
> > As per the legend described in “Shiva-Purana” Sati’s main mortal remains
> > fell over this part of the land. Sati was the daughter of “King Daksha”
> and
> > wife of Lord Shiva who preferred to go “Sati”. (Sati according to
> orthodox
> > Hindu beliefs, a married woman after the death of her husband should
> > immolate herself on the pyre of her husband , this it is claimed is
> > necessary for her salvage in future births) . Hence this place assumed
> > importance in the specified holy places of the Goddess.
> >
> > But exactly like the “Sharada” temple in Kashmir, this place Hingla
> Teerth
> > is now in Pakistan. Hence we (Indians) are deprived of an easy access do
> > this place.
> > **(The author is a noted Archeologist, a linguist and expert on the
> history
> > of South-West Asia)*
> > **
> > *Source: Kashmir Sentinel*
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