Robin Koul
Relevance Abstract: Ramban is the land which is related to nagas since eternal times. Every area has its Kuldevta or Grahmdevta among one of the twenty-two sons of Nag Vasuki. Nagas have played an important role in the formation of the cultural, religious and social fabric of society in Ramban. Nagas are considered aboriginal settlers in the whole of northern India. Over a period of time they were considered as supernatural beings who can control the elements of nature at their will. They had the power to protect and to destroy. People started worshipping them in awe and in return, those nagas protected them and fulfilled their wishes in one way or the other. But sometimes human covetousness turned to devastate that relation of mutual trust which in turn led to great calamities among the whole societies and sometimes turned the whole of the kingdoms in rubbles.
Legend Part I: One of the legends states a story, when around the twelfth century the whole of the landmass of Maitra also known as Govindpura started sinking because of a landslide, summoned by the wrath of a very powerful Naga known as Cleu Naga. It is said that the height of present Maitra was as par to the height of today’s Neera and Falthi villages.
The land was saved by the sacrifice of seven Brahmans who laid their lives for the safeguard of humanity and people of Govindpura following the highest tradition of sacrificing even one’s own life to defend the life of the masses.
The temple dedicated to those Seven Brahmans is located just in front of today’s DC office Ramban. This temple constitutes the idols of Seven Brahmans and is revered as a very holy place in Maitra area. It is the local custom that the first part of the newly harvested crop is offered to this temple first. Neighbourhood people also organize a Bandara at the Mansar Devta temple annually.
It is said that in ancient times travellers used to follow the route through Govindpura towards Kashmir. People here were generous and offered food and shelter to the travellers. It is said that seven Brahmans from Mansar used to travel for Amaranth Yatra every year. They halt at Maitra on their onward and return journey. People of this place used to provide them with food and a place to rest.
Once they were returning from their pilgrimage, and while reaching Govindpura, they found that the whole of the landmass was sinking towards the Chandra Bhaga (Chenab) River. People in this village were lamenting the loss of their homes and livestock. Their lives were endangered. But they were helpless. It was a disastrous slide. Discovering the pitiful state of people, they decided to help those masses who were feeding them for years in their journey. They started a sacrificial Yagya at a place. But the sliding didn’t stop. At this, one of the Brahman gave his Praan Aahuti (Life sacrifice) to stop the landslide. But nothing happened. Then the second Brahmin followed him, still nothing happened and following the suit, rest of the Brahmans too sacrificed their life at the Hawan Kund (Fire Pit). With that the landslide stopped immediately. And the place where they sacrificed their lives, idols, was commemorated in their memory so that future generations can remember their sacrifice for the people of Maitra.
Legend Part II: The reason behind this calamitous landslide was the ignoble greed of a human being. Legends say that this area was under the protection of a powerful Naga Known as Cleu Naga. Who reside in Madhani of Balouth area. His caretaker was a priest known as Govind who was devoted to that Naga Deity. He worshiped and took care of him every day with a pious heart. He offers him a bowl of milk every day. Happy with his devotion, Naga used to present him a gold coin daily, inside the empty milk bowl, in the form of his blessings. That priest became very rich and had a good influence in the area. The area was known as Govinpura, following his fame. He used to help the needy and serve the travellers passing through the area.
Once, Brahman has to attend some work far away. Without finding any other option he instructed his son about the daily rituals and told him to follow those strictly. He also told him not to look back when the Naga will put the gold coin in the milk container. Son adhered to the instructions of his father strictly. And the Naga Deity kept the gold coin in the container every day. This kept going for a few days until the seed of greed got germinated in the heart of the young Brahman. He wanted to capture the whole treasure of the Naga. Next morning when Naga finished his milk and put the coin in the bowl, with the sound of clinking, the boy turned back and killed Naga with the Darati (sickle) hidden under his cloth. At the same moment the sky turned black. It started raining with thunder and lightning in the sky. A cloudburst occurred in the mountains and the Govandpura started sinking down. Lightning struck the Brahman son.
Brahman, though at a far place, had an intuition that something terribly wrong had happened at his home. He started running towards his place and after reaching found the Naga and his son dead. He repented and asked the deity to forgive him and stop the landslide. Nothing happened. But by God’s will, that time those Seven Brahmans from Mansar were returning back from the Yatra and saved the people, by sacrificing their lives. Priest Govinda did reparation with severe penance for years. Then once in his dream Naga Cleu came and said he had forgiven him and Govindpura. He said to priest Govind, to worship him at his place and promised to give the boon of rain when the locals will need for their crops. Still to confirm that Naga has forgiven him, the Brahman broke a branch of Deodar tree and planted it upside down. He prayed that if that Naga deity had forgiven him that tree would grow. People around the place called that tree “Ulta Deor”. Yatra to the holy place is also conducted around 15 to 30 May according to the local calendar annually. The shrine of Cleu Nag Devta is situated on top of a mountain in Madhani village surrounded by a beautiful dense pine forest. There is an establishment of an ancient stone Idol in his shrine which is kept open to air surrounded by stones. Also one can visit the shrine of Trikhaddey Wali Mata just at the foot of the Cleu Nag Devta shrine towards the left flank of the mountain.
Conclusion: It is the need of the hour to keep alive the traditions and customs which our ancestors have taught us. In this modern materialistic life we are running away from our ethnic identity. Who we are and what our ancestors did for us has to be remembered, and that should be the reason of pride for all. It is the responsibility of people who believe in the sacrifice of those Brahmans, to maintain the sanctity of their temple premises. Shouldering the responsibility we can help to construct a more elaborate temple for those Brahmans. Also sharing their legend to our young generation will help to inoculate the values of our traditions and rituals in their young blood. Jai Mansar Devta! Jai Ramban!
