Robin Koul
Surrounded and obscured by dense Deodar trees (Himalayan Cedar), on the bank of picturesque Sanasar Lake and lush green meadows in Patnitop area there is a temple of revered Naga deity known as Baba Chounsar Ji. Legends say that he has a divine connection to the place called Pushkar in Rajasthan.
Local Legend: In the form of a rock, he appeared in the place known as Kudh (near Pantnitop Dist. Udhampur). He showed up in a dream of a divine lady and told her that he will materialize under the feet of her cow. That lady was a blessed one, not married to anyone and used to eat only one meal a day. She used to meditate and spend her time in prayers only. In her dream Chounsar Baba instructed her to accept him as her Kul Devta. After that, the lady started worshipping Chounsar Baba staunchly.
In the coming days the family members observed that their cow was not producing any milk. All the milk used to get finished before anyone goes to milk her. The rock near the feet of the cow where she was tethered started to grow big in size. Family got suspicious about the pious lady. Once her brother followed her in early morning and saw that the cow used to pour all the milk on that rock and to his surprise all of the milk was getting absorbed in that rock only, without spilling a drop here and there. He assumed that the lady was performing some black magic or witchcraft. And much to the resistance of that lady her brother put that rock on a chou (vessel in which dung is carried) with an intention to throw that rock in the river Chenab. While carrying the rock, his chou broke in two parts. The rock fell down at a place now known as Chousar, around six kms away from Patnitop. Toiling with his full efforts he was not able to move the rock from that place again. Experiencing the power of Chousar Devta, later a temple was constructed at the same place.
It is said that Chousar Baba visited many places in the areas of Pantnitop and Nashri and many a time materialized in human forms to perform his leela.
It is believed that the present day lake in Sanasar area was a fertile land in the past, where villagers used to cultivate crops. It was a hot summer day when Baba Chousar in the disguise of a sage, came to the farmers who were resting in the afternoon, after a day’s hard work in the fields. Baba asked for a fire to light his tobacco pipe. The farmers did not recognise him and in a drowsy condition berated Baba and told him to get away. Sadhu became furious and invoked a great flood in the fields. And with that all seven ploughs pulled by fourteen oxen got submerged in the water. The whole fields turned into a water body which now we see in the form of Sanasar Lake. It is said that in later times few of the submerged things from that episode were unearthed in the lower village known as Banjal in Nashri area. Some of the utensils like katora, plough and jangla were found there.
A similar story of Chausar Baba is also famous in the local areas. People believe that the temple of Chausar Naag is around fourteen hundred years old. Legend goes like; the whole area of Sanasar was known to be a fertile paddy field and a pasture land in olden times. The group of farmers used to till the land and in the afternoon they would take a break for lunch and rest without setting their oxen free. Chausar Baba used to come every day in one form or another and ask those farmers to release their oxen for a break, to let them eat their fodder and water. But are the farmers would pay no heed to him. Then one afternoon Baba Chouncer came in his original form and again asked those farmers who were having lunch to release those seven pairs of oxen. He said to them, “every day I come and ask you to have some mercy for those poor creatures but you never listen to me.” Farmers also got irritated and abused Baba ji. With that Chausar Baba also went furious and stamped his right foot on the fields. With that everything got submerged under water. Seven pairs of oxen and farmers drowned into the water and those fields turned into a lake.
It is said that around four kilometres away the pajali jungla of one of the oxen and the katora (eating pot) of a farmer were found inside a bowley (water source) which itself was formed at that time. One person found that pajali and katora and brought them home. In the night Baba Chousar came into the dream of that person and introduced himself. He also told him that from now onwards he will live there. That person was a bagat and in the morning he told about that dream to the villagers, who collectively constructed the temple for him. Since then Bandral clan became the priests of the temple, and Bhagat community took the job of Bajantri to play musical instruments like dhol, bansuri in the worship of Baba.
Yatra: Annual Yatra of Chaunsar Naag starts on one day before or after the day of Rakshabandhan (shravana nakshatra) from Banjal village. In the morning at one of the Bhandral families a bandara is organised at their home. And from there chadi yatra commences with the play of dhol and bansuri which passes through the whole village and that ancient bowley. Then yatra reaches the Sanasar temple by afternoon. Animal sacrifice is performed at the place and bandara (community meals) is organised for people. Vegetarian food is also cooked and served. This bandara is sponsored by the collective effort of the whole village. After bandara, Chowki and folk Kud dance is also performed by the local people and later everyone moves to their villages.
Once the wish of the person is fulfilled he has to come back to pay his gratitude. Also married women are not allowed to touch the deity idol.
Historical and Religious Legend: Speaking to Sri Ashok Sanasari who is a singer and performed many songs in praise of the deity, we were informed that the origin of Chausar Baba is from Pushkar Rajasthan. Pushkar, a small pilgrimage town in Rajasthan, India, is one of the oldest cities in the country. It is nestled on the shores of Pushkar Lake, which according to Hindu mythology, was created from a lotus flower dropped by Lord Brahma.
The Story goes like this. When Brahma ji organised a yagna in Pushkar all gods were invited there. In the Yagna Sawarswati mata got angry on Brahma ji and cursed that the Nag Chousar would get killed as he was in charge of security there.
Lord Brahma and his Yajna: It is believed that Brahma ji himself selected this place for the temple in Pushkar. The temple was constructed by sage Vishwamitra after Brahma’s Yagna. Later on, Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher, renovated the temple.
According to the Padma Purana (Hindu Scripture), there was a demon Vajra Nabha (Vajranash in another version) who was harassing people and also killed the sons of Lord Brahma. The Lord got angry and killed the demon with his weapon i.e. lotus flower. During the fight, three petals from Lord Brahma’s lotus fell on the earth. The lotus petals fell on the ground at three places, creating three lakes: the Pushkar Lake or Jyeshta Pushkar (greatest or first Pushkar), the Madya Pushkar (middle Pushkar) Lake, and Kanishta Pushkar (lowest or youngest Pushkar) lake. The largest one is called Jyeshtha i.e. Pushkar Lake. Pushkar – “Pushpa” means flower and “Kar” means Brahma’s hand.
According to the legends, Lord Brahma wished to perform a sacrifice (yajna) to cleanse from the act of killing. He decided to perform the yajna at the same place where the lotus petal fell i.e. Pushkar Lake. To perform his yajna peacefully without being attacked by the demons, he created the hills around the Pushkar – Ratnagiri in the south, Nilgiri in the north, Sanchoora in the west and Suryagiri in the east – and positioned Devtas and Nagas there to protect the yajna performance. Lord Varaha (incarnation of Vishnu) also acted as a protector of the yagya. (One will also find Varaha Temple near Pushkar Lake)
Brahma was to perform the Yagna with his wife Savitri (Saraswati). At the designated time of yagna, goddess Saraswati was late as she was waiting for her companions (goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Indrani). As per the Hindu tradition, a man cannot perform a Yagna without his wife. And the time was so auspicious that Brahma ji didn’t want the moment to pass. Lord Brahma, therefore, asked Lord Indra to find a suitable girl who can sit by his side as his wife and complete the Yagna. Indra soon found a milkmaid’s daughter (Abhira/ gujjar), she was then purified by passing through the body of a cow (cow is considered to be pure & the mother of all the gods). Lord Shiva, Vishnu and other gods certified her purity and named her Gayatri – the goddess of milk. Gayatri is also known as the goddess of Vedas. Lord Brahma married her and completed the yajna with his new consort sitting beside, holding the pot of amrita (elixir of life) on her head and giving ahuti (offering to the sacrificial fire)
When Saraswat arrived, she saw Gayatri sitting at her place, next to Brahma; she got very angry. Furious goddess Saraswati cursed Brahma that he would never be worshipped, but then reduced the curse permitting his worship in Pushkar. Agitated, Saraswati/Savitri then cursed god Indra (lord of heaven) that anyone can easily beat Indra in a battle. She cursed Vishnu that he will suffer the separation from his wife when he will incarnate as a human (Rama). Savitri also cursed the Agni dev that who-so-ever will officiate the yagya will be poor. She also cursed the Naga chief of the area that he will not be able to protect his area and vanish in the Naga Parwat. She then went away to Ratnagiri hill and became a part of it by emerging as a spring known as the Savitri Jharna (stream); a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati/Savitri in her honour exists there. From Brahma Temple, you can also see the Sarasvati Temple on the top of Ratnagiri hills. She is described to be still seating annoyed and enraged in her shrine on the highest hill in Pushkar, while Gayatri afraid of Savatri’s wrath sits at a lower hill at the other end, the eastern side of the lake
Endowed by the powers of yajna, Gayatri diluted Savitri’s/ Saraswati’s curse, and blessed Pushkar to be the Teerthraj, the king of pilgrimages. Indra would always retain his heaven and would never lose control over heaven, Vishnu would be born as the human Rama and finally unite with his wife/ consort and the priests who performed yagya would become scholars and be venerated in society. For the Naga Chief she instructed to go to the northern mountains and blessed him that he will be revered by the local people as their deity.
Naag Chousar used to live on the Naga Pahar (Snake Mountain/ Nagaparvat) near the site of the legendary Naag Kund, a sacred water source which is believed to have existed atop its slopes.
The local deities form an integral part in the life of the population of Ramban. Although, the elements of modernity have touched the ways of life of people, their faith and culture stand still strong to brace its negative effects. The faith of people and association of clans to the deities like Baba Chounsar has made this possible. Jai Baba Chounsar! Jai Ramban!
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