Saturday, 9 October 2010
Chitai Golu Dev Mandir Address
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Milord, Golu Dev
Parampujya (most venerated) Golu, says an appeal, in neat schoolgirl-devnagari script, on non-judicial Uttaranchal stamp paper, help me get through my exams...or, get me a seat in a hostel...get my son a job in Bangalore...heal my father. Below the signature, occasionally, is an address, even a telephone number—just in case he decides to call. The petitioners aren't just from the hills, where Golu is a superstar—his name on trucks and shopfronts, his little icons sold in bazaars, his stories told in folk songs, his spirit invoked at jagars (seances)—but also from the plains of Uttar Pradesh.
Pre-eminently, Golu is the god of justice—"Supreme court se badhkar," declares businessman Girish Joshi, whom we encounter on the temple's steps. Arbiter of land disputes, saviour of the swindled, rescuer of young women thrown out of their homes by nasty in-laws, court of appeal for senior officials protesting unfair transfers. Or even a disgruntled job applicant. Strung up among the petitions and damp with rain is a 13-page 2001 ruling of the UP State Public Service Tribunal, on a complaint filed by a man rejected for the post of solar astronomer. Grievance not tenable, says the ruling. Penned in a margin is the complainant's angry scrawl: Golu, do something.
And does he? Apparently, yes. Wrongdoers fall ill, die, recant...according to tales told in whispers. Vardai-putra (born of a boon) of Kali, and a form of Bhairav, Golu has dark powers.
devotees at the temple's sanctum sanctorum
"For local people, this is no less than a fast-track court," says Dr G.P. Pandey of the Uttarakhand Sewa Nidhi, an Almora-based NGO. "The sentiment is so strong you can't ignore it, even if you're not a believer." Sometimes, just invoking Golu's name works, says Pandey. The principal of a local school couldn't get villagers to stop letting their cows eat the newly planted oak saplings on his campus. Only when he threatened to petition the folk god did the cows disappear.
Believers sacrifice goats at the temple. The temple is more inclusive than many of its mainstream Hindu counterparts in allowing scheduled caste marriages. "Anyone can get married here, there is no restriction," says one of the temple's pandits, Harishchand Dalakoti.
Underpinning the appeal of Golu is a story as riveting as any Gothic fairy tale. Writes Jagdishwari Prasad, in his book Kumaon Ke Devalay, Golu was the son of a king from Champawat, the ancient capital of Kumaon. Spirited away at birth, behind his father's unknowing back by wicked stepmothers, he knows what it is to suffer injustice. He fights, and wins. The stepmothers are tossed into boiling oil. Golu goes on to wear a crown, rule, become a god. And dispenser of justice in a land where a lifetime can pass before the courts deliver it.
Uttarakhand’s Golu Devta temple where devotees seek solution of legal problems
Friday, 4 July 2008
MAI TO AAYU TUMARI SHRANA
MERI LAAZ DHARIYA NARAINA
NAR ROOP MEIN JANMA NARAINA,
HUM SAB CHAN TERA SHRANA
KSHATRIVANSHI HO RAJA GORAIYA,
VARDAANIHO MERA BHUMAIYA,
GORI GANGA LE NAAM GORAIYA,
KAATHE GHORI KA TUM THAPAYIYA,
SIDDH PEETHE CHAN BHOTE TUMARA,
NYAYKAARI CHA DEVA HUMARA,
SAAT SAUTON LE GANGA BAGAAYO,
DEVA BHOTE TUMUGE SATAYO,
GORI GANGA ME BHANA BHIVARA,
JAAL PHENKO PITARI UPPAR,
MAI TO AAYU TUMARI SHARANA,
MERI LAAZ DHARIYA NARAINA
MERI LAAZ DHARIYA NARAINA,
MERI LAAZ DHARIYA NARAINA.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Most Popular story of Golu Devta
His father Haalrai was famous king of Gari Champawat and the only son of brave and generous predecessor raja Zhaalrai, a role model of Chand dynasty. On the words of my AAMA (grand mother), all 7 queens (real sisters) of king Haalrai couldn't give birth to a single successor of the dynasty, in due course raja Halarai prayed hard to his kul-devta (God of extended family) Kaal-Bhairav, eventually with bliss God Kaal-Bhairav took pity on him and rewarded by granting a amazing wish, a brave successor of chanda dynasty, a new birth of his own embodiment. According to Kaal Bhairav Devta, king's all 7 queens were not eligible enough to acquire his new birth, so a new marriage must needed to be bond with Devi Kalinga, sister of PANCHNAAM DEVTA. As per the wish raja Haalrai got married with Kalinga and after a while Rani Kalinga was expecting a baby.
Unfortunately 7 queens were extremely jealous of her, and to the end committed a cruel sin, immediately after birth they replaced the newly born baby with a set of stones (sill-lwada), later packed the baby in a box having seven locks and finally threw him out in the Kali River. Few miles away a fisherman (BHANA DHEEWARA) found a heavy stuff trapped in his fishing net, brought it up, and got surprised to see the baby inside. Bhana Dheewara and his wife were barren, they decided to take a good care of the baby, with immense care and love they let grew him up. This embodiment has started showing his magic since his childhood.
Once upon a time, Raja Haalrai while on hunting saw this child riding on a wooden horse near the bank of river Kali. The King could observe the extraordinary divine power on his face...he was keep gazing at him for a while.....and finally asked about what he doing there. The Child replied he is there to let his horse drink water. Surprisingly king asked about, how a wooden horse can drink water. Innocently child replies back, 'if a queen can give birth to stones then why couldn't his wooden horse drink water". The king was astonished with the reply and earnestly enquired about the child. Detectives of the palace identified him, after knowing the story he brought him back to his palace and declared him the prince of Gadi Champawat.
Later he ruled the whole Kingdom and endows his public with a trustful justice irrespective of the various critical issues. His highness Gol-jew is known to be the God of justice. He was a great warrior and his lore of bravery and justice are still sung by the local folk artistes during various fairs, jagars and baisi.
Although every village of Kumaon has a temple of His-highness Golu Jew, though it is believed that the original is said to be the one located at Goluchaur Champawat. Other famous temples are located at Chaura (Someshwar), Ratkote (Manan), Tarikhet, Manila, Gagrigol, Chuthan, Ghorakhal and the most famous one at Chitai (Almora). People after failing to get justice from other sources used to appeals his-highness Golu Devta and offer bells after they get evenhanded. His-highness Golu Devta does justice and punishes the defaulter in several ways known as 'Chetak' among folks. The defaulter has to compromise with the victim in a live combined worship called Jagar afterward puja is been done at his-highness Golu Devta's temple.
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Source of story: www.creativeuttarakhand.com