Where Gods Dwell: Folktales of IndiaAn introduction to the colourful and exuberant folk literature from the hills of Kumaon and Garhwal In the iridescent snows of the Central Himalayas known as Devbhoomi, the land of the gods, there is a story for every mountain, river and tree. Kusum Budhwar introduces us to Kumaon and Garhwal’s rich and rarely translated folk literature by retelling the colourful and exuberant stories of the region. Whimsical and imaginative, these are tales of high adventure, luminous love and romance, benevolent pastoral gods, local heroes, brave medieval warriors, sacred sites and historical anecdotes, all of which are equally popular in these parts but little known outside. Arranged in sections, each focusing on a particular theme, the book opens with Nanda Devi, the patron goddess of the region, believed to be the daughter of the Himalayas. In the sections that follow we become intimately acquainted with the enchanting adventure sagas of the Ramola clan, the Ramola Gathas; the romantic ballads ‘Malushahi’ and ‘Haru Heet’; the tale of Chyongompa, the demon bird; and the simple stories, imbued with faith, of local gods and goddesses like Golu Dev and Devmangala, among others. Where Gods Dwell not only allows us to savour the stories of the hills, resonating with the cheerful cadences of mountain streams and the dark silence of the forests, but also offers us a rare glimpse of the culture, life and society of the people of the region whose lives are shaped by the rugged terrain they inhabit and who revere the mountains on which they make their home. |
Contents
Birth of a Goddess | |
The Wrath of a Goddess | |
A Goddess in Action | |
Goludev the Just | |
Naagraj Krishna | |
Devmangala of Budho Kedar | |
Kal Bisht the Gentle Cowherd | |
Mahasu Devta of Hanol | |
The Ballad of Raja Malushah and Rajuli | |
Haru Singh Heet the Righteous | |
Massar Kund | |
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Almora asked baby Bafaul Bageshwar beautiful began Bhabbar Bhanumal Bhartichand Bhole Shankar Bhotiyas blessed Brahmi brave brothers Budhwa Champawat Chand child crows daughter deity demon Devmangala divine diwan dream Dwarahat Dwarka eyes father fell forest Gangu Ganjuli Garhu Garhwal gave girl goddess gods Golu guru Haru heard Hemant Himalayas holy Huna Jhalrai Johar Joshiji journey Kailash Kal Bisht Kalinka Kaliya Kalua Katyuri killed king knew Krishna Kumaon Kumaon Regiment Kunwar Kutri Muya land Listen lived looked Lord Baghnath Madho Singh Mahasu Mainuli Malushah Mardana marry masan meditation mother Motimala mountain Munsiyari Muya Nanak Nanda Devi Narada night offered once palace Parvati Patal queen Raja Rajuli Ramganga Ramola Ramoligarh reached reetha region returned Rishasau river Roopkund Rudhi sacred sage Saryu saying Shesh Naag Shiva Sidhwa Srinagar story Sumyal Sunapati Suraj Teelu temple told took tree Udyain Uttarakhand Vairat village Vishayapala worship young