Uttarakhand Devbhoomi is a holy land steeped in many layers of Indian history, religion, spiritual aspiration and culture. It is an old land testified by Palaeolithic stone tools, rock shelters, megaliths paintings, inhabiting by humans since prehistoric times. Archaeological remains also proved that the land was a popular place for ancient Vedic practices.
Uttarakhand is surrounded by the Himalayas, and covered by forests. The land inspired seers, holy men and many saints because of its spiritual insights and serenity where they found direct realisation of the universal soul. Those seers wrote thousands of text on the human aspiration to find the ultimate truth. This is the land where wisdom put her first step before it ventured to other parts of the world, whose soil is sanctified with great sages and seers of all time. Innumerable temples and religious fervour testified the authenticity of this land, and through its people.
Since time immemorial Uttarakhand has been beckoning countless people from all over the world for its religious and spiritual opportunities in various pilgrimage routes whether it is in
Badrinath or Gangotri glacier, the true source of holy river Ganges. Uttarakhand has proved time to time that religion is not just confined to temples and synagogue, and you can approach it through various ways whether you want to explore it in wilderness or rediscover yourself through trekking expeditions in the Himalayas. The life blood of this land is indeed continuing within its spiritual ambition.
Religious History of Uttarakhand
Aside for prehistoric evidence of Uttarakhand, there is very little knowledge of history of Uttarakahnd. Early scriptures described certain tribes inhabited the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, among them the prominent were Akas, Kolmunds, Nagas, paharis, Hephthalites (Hunas), Kiratas, Gujjars and Aryans. Paharis were the dominant tribe in the reigions until Rajputs and Brahmins overruled them around 13th century.
Present day Uttarakhand was also served as retreats for Rishis (seers) and Sadhus. According to Hindu mythology Sage Vyasa scripted Mahabharata (the longest epic in the world) here. The first major dynasty was Kuninda in the 2nd century B.C who practiced an early form of Shaivism. According to the relics of Ashokan dynasty it is evident that Buddhism made inroads in this region, and also Hindu cult worships like shamamism practiced here for a long time. Nevertheless, due to heavy influence of Shankaracharyaadvaitya philosophy and other Brahmanical methods, Uttarakhand remained a dominant place for orthodox Hindu worshipping.
Seat of Ancient Holistic Science Yoga And Ayurveda
Thousands of years ago sages and seers found the holistic practice of physical and mental well-being of humans through Ayurveda and Yoga. It is quite an astounding fact that even after thousands of years before the birth of Christ those therapies are revisited in the world in the form of ethics of healthy living and mental calmness. The whole world is adapting gradually the natural version of life in the name of Yoga and Ayurveda, and these age old sisters of ancient science are creating ripples in the world of modern medicines.
Both
Ayurveda and
Yoga have shared a philosophical commonness and therapeutic ways of cure and purgation methods as well. The similar attitudes of these sciences have a common goal – balance of body and mind. The basic Ayurvedic fundamental of healthy life is being followed in various parts of Uttarakhand since ages. Every year thousands of travellers and spiritual aspirants come to visit the place for learning Yoga and other ancient exercises. Yoga and Ayurveda are complementary to each other. The approach of healthy living can only possible fully if the system works in two legs – Yoga and Ayurveda.
