Tracing the history of Kullu Dussehra

KULLU, Oct 1: The Dussehra celebrations started in the year 1661 in Kullu during the reign of the then ruler Raja Jagat Singh. According ...

KULLU, Oct 1: The Dussehra celebrations started in the year 1661 in Kullu during the reign of the then ruler Raja Jagat Singh. According to Sardar Hardayal Singh, the former assistant extra-assistant commissioner-cum-superintendent, Bahadur Court of Wards and the author of `The History of Kullu Riyasat,’ some collaterals gave false information to Jagat Singh that Durga Dutt, a poor Brahmin from Tibri village, in Manikaran valley across Parvati river, had a Patha (1400 gm) of pearls with him. The Raja immediately sent his messengers and demanded the pearls but they did not get anything as the Brahmin never possessed any valuables.

Later, after a few days Jagat Singh sent a message to Durga Dutt that he should keep the pearls ready on a particular day, which he would collect on his way back form Manikaran to his capital.

When the Raja came to Tibri village to collect the pearls, the Brahmin instead of arranging for pearls or making some excuse confined all his family members inside his house and set it ablaze.

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Then Durga Dutt started cutting pieces of flesh from his body with a dagger and kept throwing them into the burning house while chanting the word lo Maharaj, patha-moti (O, King have 1400 gm pearls from me). Ultimately the Brahmin killed himself in front of Jagat Singh. The Raja was deeply moved by the incident. He was unable to eat and drink and was infected by leprosy.

One Baba Krishan Dass `Fuhari’ of Jhiri near Naggar told Jagat Singh if he would bring the idol of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya, embrace Vaishanavism and invest his kingdom in the name of Raghunathji, only then he would be liberated from the sin of Braham-hatya- the offence of killing a Brahmin.

Later, as per the historians, Damodar Dass, a disciple of Fuhari Baba, brought the idol of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya to Kullu in the year 1651. Initially, the idol was placed at Manikaran, Vashishat Haripur, Jagatsukh and Grahan villages for safety reasons. Jagat Singh invested his entire kingdom in the name of Lord Raghunath and became his regent.

In the year 1660, the idol of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of Dussehra, was installed near the royal palace. The ailing Raja got himself freed from the sin of Braham hatya soon after he took the charnamrit (water used to wash the feet of idol). He appointed Fuhari Baba as Raj Guru and donated property to Damodar Dass for his role in bringing the idol from Ayodhya. Historians believe that earlier the king and the local people were the followers of Shiva and Shakti but after the idol of Lord Raghunath was brought to Kullu, they became Vaishnavs as Raghunath is another name of Lord Ram Chandra, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu.

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Dussehra celebrations start with the `Rathyatra’ of Lord Raghunath as the idol is kept in the wooden chariot. Lord Raghunath is still the family deity of the erstwhile ruling dynasty of Kullu. Symbolic Dussehra is celebrated at Haripur, Manikaran, Thawa (Naggar) and Vashishat villages on Rathyatra day.