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| The Song of Taushi no more in our hearts | | | Bhushan Parimoo
The song of the river ends not at her banks but in the hearts.Same is the case of holy Taushi. Especially in those whom she nurtured motherly regularly without fail. Ungrateful we have become unlike our elders. Who took every care over centuries to ensure to keep it healthy to amuse themselves of its soothing music its flow carried along. Taushifinds mention in various Puranas as well as in Kalhana's Rajatarangini is the modern River Tawi which flows below the Jammu Hill in the broad ravines it has cut through ages bygone. Descending from the holy Mount SudhMahadeva, Taushi is the vital artery in the heart of Dogra Land. According to the legend, two princes Jambu and Bahu migrating in the hoary past fromAvadh to the Dogra Land settled here and founded on the Taushi bank, the cities of Jambu and Bahu after their very names. .Raja Jambu Lochan after avenging the defeat and killing of his brother Raja Bayu Lochan at the hands of Raja Chander Has defeated and killed him.Raja Jambu defeated Has and killed him. After that a search for a better place to rule from of a strategically suitable place was of dire need. In the pursuit Jamu Lochan struck a divine occurrence at the bank of Taushi/Tapi/ Tabi which later is well know as Toah/Toi/Tawi . In scorching Sun a loin and deer quenching their thirst from same pond facing each other. That was the deciding factor divine driven to select the spot for his capital. Regretfully, the cruel hand of Time wiped the city of Bahu. In order to preserve the name of the great founder he founded the Bahu Fort at the bend of the Taushi river and build a temple there dedicated to Goddess Kali. The legend and lore of Tawi finds mention even in the contemporary history of Jammu. In the days bygone, reportedly, one of the muscled scions of the Dogra Dynasty, Raja Mal Dev vanquished his opponent on the banks ofTawi by throwing a big boulder, picked up from the bed of the river, at him. Having slained his adversary in the manner by the use of the huge rock, RajaMaldev in an act of chivalry and to earn his indegenous weapon a recognition among his people, he carried the huge rock rolled up in his heavy arms and brought it up the pebbly slopes and stony ramps to the main city for the view and admiration of his people.
After bringing the stone up, he put it down at a place now famous as Kalijani, a locality in the heart of the city. Ever since, to the present times, the stone, enclosed in a modest iron enclosure has gained the status of a temple. The iconic monument of chivalrous show of strength and religious belief among theJammuites is famous by the name Mal Dev da batta meaning Maldev's Rock
History informs us that Maharaja Pratap Singh along with the retinue of his queens came to bathe in Taushi. On every auspicious occasion be it beBaiskhai, Holi Depaawali of Sankranthi Puranmashi Maaseeya etc Rani would come down from palace to Taushi for ablution seeking blessing for welfare of the state. A underground secret passage from under Gole Garh in Mubarak Mandi jammu open on right side of Peer Khou Built to keep tradition and faith sentiments in mind specially keeping in need to facilitate a safe passage at the hour of need Maharani and her routine for bath on auspicious occasion. And also for other rituals. It still exists deserted in a dilapidated condition due to neglect and not in use any more. whispering passage carries many nostalgic memories. .A dip was must for every one forobulation and seeking blessings..And so too Maharaja Gulab Singh, the Founder of the state, would take a dip in its holy water every time there occurred a solar eclipse. On such occasions he meditated on its bank and gifted richly to the poor.
Taushi is witness to the rise and fall of kingdoms, bloody wars and factional upheavals. Memories of woes and weals, of pain and pleasures lie buried in its bosom like precious treasures. The valiant Dogra Kings after all their attainments have found peace by merging with the Eternal on the holy bank ofTaushi. And so too have the Dogra Ranis found their last resting solace in thesamadhis consecrated at the Jogidvar cemetery on its bank.
For drink, bath, crops and life's many wants, for winning the spiritual merits and divine grants, for fostering good values and morals, the Dogras have for ever solely lived on the gifts of Taushi. Robbed of the blessings of TaushiJammu indeed would turn into an inferno of wilderness and a land of drearyKhads and boulders. Without the boons of this holy river, Jammu would indeed be like a widow or an orphan.
--(Jammu based environmentalist can be contacted on [email protected]) |
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