My New Published Book GOSAINKUNDA:NATURE,CULTURE and HISTORY

Foreword

-Dr.Ramesh K. Dhungel

I read through the manuscript of the book Gosainkunda: Prakiti,itihas and samskriti (Gosainkunda: nature, history and culture) by Subash Acharya “Aagaman” and found it to be of interest for two major reasons: (i) it encompasses information relating to Gosainkunda, extracted and gathered from published sources, oral traditions and the data collected from the field and (ii) the study is the first guide book of this kind that has synchronically reviewed the published sources relating to various aspects of Gosainkunda, one of the most venerated and interesting Himalayan natural pilgrimage centers of Buddhist, Hindu and shamanistic spiritualists of Nepal, Tibet, and India.

Acharya’s work is appreciable because it is being published at the height of Nepal’s difficult period in its history caused by the growing ethnocentric trend in politics and the consequent disorder in socio-religious harmony historically maintained in the country from the earliest antiquity. If we study the historical and cultural phenomenon related to pilgrimage centers of Nepal, we find religious and cultural equilibrium characterized by the existence that is enhanced by such spiritual centers. Unfortunately, a good number of activists lamented with ethnocentric, regional, and particular political and religious interests are putting their efforts to shift the delicate balance and intentionally destroy this age-old tradition of socio-cultural harmony in Nepal. At this juncture, there is no doubt that the studies like the one by Subash Acharya can be instrumental to avoid the socio-cultural misunderstanding created by the activists with vested political and communal interests. I believe, Acharya’s book has been successful in bringing into light the harmonious importance of Gosainkunda to various ethnic and religious communities of Nepal, Tibet, and India. Nepal is one of very few places in the world where people of different ethnic origin gather together in one particular pilgrimage center for worship, pray, and celebrate their practices and traditions. In some occasions, they also perform and celebrate spiritual activities and festivals commonly together. Gosainkunda is one of such pilgrimage centers where Hindu, Buddhist, Bon and the Shamanistic practitioners of other streams go for pilgrimage and perform their spiritual duties according to their own traditions and beliefs.

It is interesting that most of the pilgrimage centers of this kind in Nepal are not seem to have a single text or guiding principle prescribed for paying homage, worship, and celebration of religious festivals. Thus, priests, shamans and general public of different spiritual beliefs are free to use their respective traditions while performing religious activities in and around pilgrimage centers of different geographic locations. However, because of the lack of proper historical and cultural knowledge of our harmonious society and the growing tendency to ignore the historical root of our cultural coexistence, we have been misguided by the mischievous agendas of both internal and external destructive elements causing Nepal to spiral towards civil war. In order to maintain the cultural harmony and social unity in ethnically diverged Nepal, this is the exact time that intellectuals and citizens with capacity, courage and wisdom must be very active in studying the nature of our deep-rooted cultural values and educate people by bringing into light the reality of our past. It can be expected that multidisciplinary or synchronic studies of prominent centers of cultural and religious importance such as this one can play an important role in maintaining socio-religious harmony in the country. Thus, in order to save Nepal from the danger of possible self destruction, studies of this kind has been an essential task for scholars and members of civil society who are committed to maintaining social harmony.

Although the main objective of the book is not intended to produce a disciplined research report, it has undoubtedly brought together information covering multiple aspects of the region from various sources. It covers the study of topography, geography, history, religion and cultures of the region and the destination pilgrimage center of Gosainkunda. The etymological description of the geographical names of Gosaikunda in Sanskrit, Tibetan, and local dialects of Tamang and Gurung (pp. 3-5) is one of the most useful aspects of the book. Similarly, the brief description of tangible cultural heritage of the pilgrimage destination of Gosainkunda and those located in different routes is also an important aspect of the book. However, it seems that the study can benefit from supplementary technical and historical details in the description of temples, monasteries, and sculptural arts.

Acharya’s book is overwhelmed with historical, touristic and geographic information. This study can be labeled as the semblance of published and unpublished Hindu, Buddhist and other literary and archival sources written in Sanskrit, Nepali, Newari, and Tibetan. A considerable space in the book seems to have been occupied by information relating to the Malla rulers and Newar society’s deep-rooted historical, cultural and spiritual linkage with Gosainkunda. The Newari sources collected and used by the author have supported the notion that the Buddhist Newar community’s involvement in the spiritual activities in Gosainkunda is higher than the Hindu Newars. However, the intensity of the veneration shown by the the Malla rulers towards Gosainkunda is always worth mentioning even though they were the followers of the Sanatana Hindu tradition.The touristic information included in the book is useful material for those who would like to plan a pilgrimage to Gosainkunda. Acharya’s book provides information without omission of any essential information. These include details of different routes to Gosainkunda, information regarding lodging, fooding, required clothing, and health related supplies to be taken by both pilgrims and tourists.The narrative presented by the author relating to the management aspect of the pilgrimage site can also be considered quite useful for those who intend to know about Gosainkunda in general or are planning a visit. This includes information relating to local organizations, government units and individuals involved in managing festivals.

I strongly believe, the book can play an important role in providing a better understanding of Gosainkunda and promoting its tourism industry as well as supporting the maintenance of socio-religious harmony in Nepal. Similarly, we can also expect that this type of study may also help to understand the unique Nepali tradition of unity that helped establish pilgrimage centers like Gosainkunda between Hindu, Buddhist, and shamanistic practices throughout the country. I congratulate the author for his successful endeavor. I also would like to extend my best wishes to the author and hope that he would be able to produce many more disciplined academic books in the years to come.

Cultural Historian and Coordinator, Himalayan and Buddhist Studies
Research Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
(US visit-Columbus, Ohio, July 5, 2010)

Back View of Cover

Comments on Gosaikunda: Nature, Culture and History

- Prof. Prem K. Khatry, Ph.D.

Prologue
A post-graduate student of Journalism, Subash ‘Agaman’ is known to me for about five years when he came to me for an article to be published in a journal on his native Rasuwa, a mountain district north of Kathmandu, on the Langtang Himalayan Range, to be precise. Then there was no news about him or his activities and his native Rasuwa. Now, after this gap of five years he appeared and to find him with this rather bulky volume on the nature, culture and history of Gosainkunda.

Located in the mountain on the district Gosainkunda is a pilgrimage site associated with the name of Shiva, one of the highly adored Hindu Trinity. It was more so when Agaman-ji asked me to write this review-cum-introductory chapter in English. It has been a challenging task for me because, first of all, it is a voluminous work; then it is a mixture of several themes around the main theme – the history and culture of Gosainkunda. Doing a synopsis of the entire book is thus a time consuming and challenging. I accepted the offer and took the challenge because by doing so I could also explore the importance of the holy site through the writer’s narration. Then I also thought it is a task worth accepting because the nature and culture of Rasuwa in general and Gosainkunda in particular have been the chosen destination of foreigners – from trekkers to the researchers. So, for those who may not have access to the literature on natural and cultural repertoire of the holy lake and the surroundings because of the language barrier, this preface might be of some help. I sincerely hope this brief outline of the book may serve some purpose in this direction.

In the foreword the writer says – he was inclined to highlight on the multi-dimensional importance of the famous pilgrimage Gosainkunda. This place located in the high mountainous region has played a source and inspiration of cultural unity amidst diversity. So, he further adds that at a time when the country is likely to face cultural erosion on the fabric of social and cultural harmony and unity and head toward instability a concerned effort to highlight on the social and cultural history and natural aspects of the place and the highly integrative feature of the famous site frequented by the Hindus, Buddhists, Shaministics, Lamas and a host of other creeds and groups would demonstrate the presence of religious tolerance and highly assimilative nature of our culture.
The book has a very comprehensive content. For example, there are altogether 39 chapters or units. Roughly, these units can be grouped into the following categories:
1. Geo-cultural landscape on the way to Gosainkunda
2. Trip to Gosainkunda – information the major attractions, facilities and features
3. Nature and Culture of the famous Gosainkunda Fair
4. Gosainkunda Fair and participation of several religious faiths
5. Gosainkunda and ethnicity
6. History of Gosainkunda – the Malla and the Shah rulers
7. Gosainkunda in media and literature
8. Conclusion and recommendation for the improvement of the holy site of Gosainkunda

The book opens with the narration of the famous Hindu Puranic (Classical) story of the ‘Churning of the Ocean’. According to the story once the gods and demons happened to come together in a bout to churn the all pervading Ocean in order to bring the valuable bounty from the bottom. They used Basukinaga as the rope. But as the Destiny would have it they first brought the valuable of all kinds to the surface and hustled and bustled for the possession of these items. As they continued with the churning spree continued with strong force, suddenly there was the flood of kalakuta poison gushing through. Quickly it spread all over the world and posed a serious danger to all the living beings. All the gods then stopped the churning work and sat down to pray to Lord Siva who in no time sensed the emerging danger that could sweep the entire Creation into annihilation in a brief few seconds and decided to take action at once. Then he suddenly began to drink the entire stock of poison to relieve the divine and the mortal worlds from possible danger. As a result, the part of his throat where the poison was accumulated turned blue. Further, Siva felt like eating fire so he headed towards the cold country, the Himalaya, to satiate his thirst. As he saw no water around even after his long trip, he stopped at the bottom of Mount Dharma and pierced the surface of the mountain with his mighty weapon Trishula, the Trident. Lo and Behold! Cold water began to gush out from the mountain. Siva drank and drenched to his heart’s content. The water later accumulated in a valley that is now called Gosainkunda, or the ‘Pond of the Chief or the Master.’
At the end of the main text, the writer presents some suggestions for the improvement of Gosainkunda. For example:
First of all, in the light of the historical, natural and cultural significance, the urgent need is to extend the drivable access road to the holy site of Gosainkunda after Dhunche, the last stop so far.
Second, the concerned agencies could also explore the possibility of installing a cable car with the financial participation of the people of Rasuwa. The existing road also needs qualitative improvement to make it an all weather road.
The government must allow more lodges and rest houses to function to cater for the need of more pilgrims. But such facilities must not be allowed to come and function in the close vicinity of the lake in order to save its beauty.
There is an urgent need of rest, toilet and washing facilities. There is also need to clean the trail on timely basis as the littering is the problem now.
There are also very steep places where there is a need to have railing, steps etc. in order to protect the travelers.
Conclusion
In the concluding part the writer emphasizes that
the special feature of the holy site – Gosainkunda – is the extraordinarily clean, pure and captivating color of the water.
the water is the main attraction of this site, for people make hard effort to make this trip to the site to take a dip into the holy water.
Several improvement plans have been prepared and submitted to the concerned agencies but these files often times remain stuck at this desk or the other.
This lethargic tendency will only delay the urgent task of implementing the reform and improvement plans.
The cash offering should be made transparent and meaningfully used
The importance of the multi-faceted significance of the trip to the holy site must be properly and adequately publicized
There can be provision for a small ‘tax’ or donation for the improvement of existing facility for the pilgrims and preservation of the site,
A fresh management to continue the ‘yoghurt’ and ‘leaf umbrella’ offering tradition for the pilgrims is to be installed
It is also essential to study the several inscriptions located in various site to provide knowledge of history and also for the improvement of the site
In order to publicize the importance of the holy site, a website could be installed
Similarly, a documentary could also be made to publicize the importance of the site
The Fair Management Committee should collect suggestions from the pilgrims and should implement the improvement plans based on these suggestions
With special focus on these suggestions Gosainkunda should be given priority to promote it as a tourist destination.

The Appendix
This part of the book has several documents – inscriptions, other historical documents, literary works dedicated to the holy site, list of bio-botanic assets such as plants, insects, birds, etc., many of them in tabular form. This has made the book not only an interesting reading but also reliable and scientific. The historic documents compiled and included in the text help the students and readers of history understand the importance of the holy site of Gosainkunda and its fairs.
The most remarkable collection in the book is the series of photographs taken to show the site from various angles and perspectives.
Thus, the book is an excellent scientific document compiled by a young native scholar committed to do everything possible to promote and preserve the holy site of Gosainkunda. The district of Rasuwa is so close to the country’s capital, Kathmandu, yet is so less knows despite the fact that its natural beauty and cultural richness is beyond explanation. With Langtang Himal, Chilime Hydropower, invaluable minerals such as mica, precious stones, ethnic minority such as the Tamang and their culture, and the Gosainkunda holy site, the district of Rasuwa is a place worth visit, study and publication.

Finally, this monograph is one important step in this direction and this will surely draw the attention of many readers, development workers, travel-tourism agencies and other concerned agencies and local partners for development.