Parasuram Kund Drawing Thousands On Makar Sankaranti

Faith Mysticism

oi-Staff

By Staff

Friday, January 16, 2009, 12:50

Makar Sankaranti that falls in the middle of January draws people for holy dips in the sacred rivers all over the country. Among the various sacred waters people take a dip, Parasuram Kund on River Lohit in Tezu of Arunachal Pradesh is more popular.

Parasuram Kund is located 13 miles north-east of Tezu, District Headquarters of Lohit District, a town which boasts of scenic surprises. The annual fair draws a large gathering to take a holy dip there.

The mythology associated with the Parasuram Kund goes as per Kalika Purana that Parasuram, the great sage washed way the sin of slaying his mother by bathing in the waters of Brahma Kund. Probably that could have earned another name for the sacred waters as 'Parasuram Kund'.

Apart from the Parasuram Kund, there are other surrounding places of pilgrimage interests. The temple of Malinithan also attracts a lot of crowd. Malinithan, located near Likhabali on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra has retained the remain of an ancient temple. Beautiful carved images like the images of Lord Surya, Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, a huge Nandi Bull are said to be excavated there in recent times.

Local tradition makes reference to the existence of a temple dedicated Rukmini. It is said that Rukmani, an Idu-Mishmi girl and Lord Krishna rested here, in the course of their elopement from Bhishmaknagar, Rukmini's father"s kingdom situated a hundred kilometers to the east, along the Brahmaputra river. The ruins of a palace of King Bhishma lived are standing evidences to support the story.

Tradition holds that the place was once ruled by one Ramachandra, whose kingdom extended from Bhalukpung on Majuli in the Assam plains.When the Ahoms invaded his capital Ratanpur in AD 1229, Ramchandra is said to have fled to Mayapur in the hills.The ruins and legends speak of the Hinduism and tribal culture association of the eastern region.

Mr R. D. Pradhan, the first Governor of Arunachal Pradesh in his recent book on Arunachal, has mentioned the links of the state to the rest of the country.Thousands are said to flock the Parasuram Kund to take a holy dip on Makar Sankaranti-AGENCIES