MYTHS AND FACTS OF CHAMBA

1. Khajjiar in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh is well known for its scenic beauty. It is associated with the Pandavas. In the midst of thick deodar forests lies a small lake. Nearby is a wooden temple dedicated to Khajji Nag Devta or the snake deity. The Vedic cult of worshipping the snakes is still prevalent in the hills.

            It is believed that the temple was built by the Pandavas. They are also believed to have meticulously carved their  

            own images on the pillars of the temple.

2. Next just adjoining the historical town of Chamba on the other side of River Ravi stands a large hillock which resembles an inverted basket. It is known as Bheem ki Tokari or the basket of Bheem. It is said that the basket fell from the hands of Bheem when he was carrying the dug up earth to build a castle. The basket took the permanent shape of the hill which we see now as standing today.

3. The myth surrounding Bharmour is embodied in its two landmarks, the Chaurasi Temple and the Brahmani Mata hill temple.

            Legend has it that Shiva and his company of 84 siddhas angered Brahmani  Mata, the presiding deity of  

            Bharmour, by trespassing on her land. In order to appease her, Shiva granted her a boon that all pilgrims  

            embarking on a pilgrimage to Manimahesh can complete their spiritual endeavour only if they take a dip in the  

            pool of Brahmani Mata. The 84 siddhas assumed the form of lingas and settled down in Bharmour for            

            eternity. The Chaurasi temple, located at the centre of the town, is surrounded by a complex of 84 shrines. Some 

            of the shrines date back to the seventh century. The Brahmani Mata temple is located 4 km uphill from   

            the town.

4. Among the village Devi’s some have common names like Bala Sundari, Tripura Sundari, Kirpa Sundari, Bhagasidh,etc. There are others who are peculiar in their name and fame. At a number of places she is simply known as Devi or Devi mata without any specific name and at many other temples she is popular on the names of the villages where such shrines are situated- like girdasan Devi, Bari Devi etc. Such Devis have seldom more than a local reputation. At haritaliangar in Bilaspur the goddess is known as Haria Devi. A fair is held there on the 8th and 9th of July every year. Sui Devi is, in the fact, the queen of Chamba who gave her life for the sake of kuhl ‘water course’ which wanted human sacrifice before it could be constructed successful. The kuhl to the town was every time damaged by the night. The king had a dream that in case some one dearest to him was offered as a sacrifice to the kuhl the construction might be successful. The matter came to the knowledge of the queen and she pondered, “if the raja is sacrificed the riyaya ‘his people’ get heirless, if the son is sacrificed the Vansh ‘dynasty’ goes heirless. The daughter is pray than ‘other asset’, if the daughter in las is sacrificed the son becomes widower and might not get a son. So I am the only choice for a sacrifice for the sake of water to the town.” And Sui Ravi was buried alive.

5. They say that when the sky is clear, on a starry night, the moonlight falls on the white glacier of this peak and the reflection of it in the Shiv Kund below appears like the very Lord Shiva is seated here, draped in light with the same crescent moon on his forehead, glowing as it were on the peak of Manimahesh mountain. The moon, as it adorns this peak, appears like a sparkling jewel, alias Mani, which glows in the night sky giving this mountain its name - Manimahesh.