[Reader-list] The Goddess Hingala Of Baluchistan

[Pawan Durani]

Dear Yasir,
Thanx for sharing these pictures.

Pawan

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 5:10 PM, yasir ~يا سر <yasir.media at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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