Continents like Asia and Europe, as well as the rest of the world, offer various experiences and destinations for travelers. One such destination is Swaswara, located on Om Beach in Gokarna, which promotes holistic living. For a stay in Shekhawati, Piramal Haveli is a recommended option. Luxury travel can be experienced at the Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa in the city known for its pilgrimages, Pushkar. Embrace the lifestyle of Lucknow with a stay at Clarks Awadh. Serolsar Lake holds the legend of Budhi Nagin and is a popular spot for visitors. In Indian culture, the first ghee made from a cow's milk after it gives birth to a calf is saved for worship, symbolizing its auspiciousness. Growing up in a family where cows are valued, I feel blessed.
Whenever a new calf is born, I have observed my mother and grandmother performing a customary practice. Intrigued by the ritual of collecting ghee in a jar and forbidding anyone from consuming it, I approached my grandmother to seek an explanation. It was during this conversation that I discovered the purpose behind collecting the first milk ghee, which is intended for Budhi Nagin in Serolsar Lake.
The story of Budhi Nagin begins in the Seraj area of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh. She was commonly referred to as Buddi Nagin and was believed to possess some of the powers of Durga Maa, who is a manifestation of Nava Durga. Buddi Nagin was married in the Suket area, which is now recognized as Karsog district in Himachal Pradesh.
Buddhi Nagin decided to visit the local water territory of the Satluj River. Before leaving, she specifically told her mother not to disturb her children who were peacefully sleeping in a basket made of husks in the kitchen. In the past, it was common for people to use husk baskets to hold their babies instead of using baby prams as we do now.
Eventually, the mother became concerned because the children had been sleeping for an extended period of time without waking up. Ignoring the advice given by Budhi Nagin, the mother decided to remove the blanket. To her surprise, she discovered 5-6 snakes hidden within it. Feeling scared, she hastily grabbed ash from the kitchen and threw it at the snakes. Startled, the snakes scattered in various directions. It is believed that they were no longer a concern after this incident.
Upon Buddha Nagin's return, she was devastated to discover that her children were no longer there. Overwhelmed with sadness, she made the decision to leave the village. In the Bhiuri village of Karsog, there remains a revered small stone idol in the house where Buddha Nagin once resided.
It is impossible to reconstruct or remodel this tiny house. Budhi Nagin departed from the house and arrived at Serolsar Lake, which is located near Jalori Pass in the Banjar Valley of Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh.
The people in this region worship Buddhi Nagin as the mother of Nagdev, who is considered to be the god of snakes. The locals believe that Nagas are connected to Shiva. Each Naga has its own designated area and village named after them, such as Chowasi Nag, Hungru Nag, and Jhakad Nag.
These villages have numerous stunning temples built in the traditional Himachali style, featuring exquisite wooden carvings. Annually, Nag Devtas, priests, and villagers gather and move around the region. The locals offer donations to the Nagas in various forms. Additionally, they partake in traditional Himachali dances known as Nati.
Situated amidst captivating fields, the lake offers a breathtaking experience. Visitors can witness the most stunning sunset and appreciate the panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains.
According to the tale, Buddhi Nagin arrived at Serolsar Lake and settled on a large stone. In the vicinity, there were 60 young girls known as Joginis or Yoginis, who were divided into groups. Some of them were heading to Shikari Devi in Mandi, while others were on their way to Jalori Jot. These Joginis noticed Buddhi Nagin sitting near Serolsar Lake and approached her, suggesting that they play a game together.
The people believed that it would be simple to overpower her due to her age. They reached an agreement that if Budhi Nagin emerged victorious in the game, she would consider this location sacred. However, if the Joginis were to win, she would vacate the premises.
During the game, one of the girls engaged in cheating, which greatly angered Buddi Nagin. As a consequence, Buddi Nagin placed a curse upon the girl, transforming her into a perpetual small bird and assigning her the duty of cleaning a small water body. This transformed bird is now referred to as Abhi Chidiya.
After winning the game, Buddi Nagin made the choice to make this place her permanent home. As she was wandering around in Serolsar, she accidentally dropped a small pot she was carrying, resulting in a lake being formed right where it fell. This is the story of how the lake came into existence.
The rock on which Buddi Nagin was seated is currently referred to as Kala Pathar.
Pandava Tale
While in their period of banishment, the Pandavas arrived at Jalori Pass and stumbled upon Serolsar Lake. They decided to cultivate rice in the vicinity of the lake. According to the narrative, Buddi Nagin appeared before them and then retreated back into the lake.
The Pandavas removed the Murti of the goddess from the lake and placed it on the shore. They constructed a small temple for her near the lake. Over time, the temple has undergone several renovations. The present temple is the fourth one to be built after these renovations.
Visitors to the Budhi Nagin Temple in Mandi and Kullu region have a tradition of offering ghee. Budhi Nagin, who is considered the mother of all Nag Devta in the area, had a great love for cows. Therefore, people bring ghee as an offering to her. It is believed that when the ghee is poured inside the temple, it is magically transported to the center of the lake where Budhi Nagin is believed to reside.
On special occasions, locals bring large amounts of ghee to the temple and lake. Once a year, the Nagdevas from the area come to visit Budhi Nagin. These special occasions are determined by the local priests.
The temple cannot be visited during the winter because it gets a lot of snowfall.
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There is a lack of knowledge regarding the exact depth of Serolsar Lake, making it a mysterious aspect of the natural phenomenon.
Here is another intriguing tale. A Brahmin and his family were out for a leisurely walk near the lake when he accidentally fell into the water. Despite their efforts, his family was unable to rescue him. Surprisingly, after a period of three years, the Brahmin miraculously returned from the lake. However, he made a solemn promise to Budhi Nagin, a mysterious serpent-like being, that he would keep her existence a secret from everyone.
His relatives persistently inquired, "Where did you disappear to?" and "How did you manage to survive?" Eventually, the Brahmin spoke honestly. He revealed that when he fell into the lake, he descended to its very depths where he was rescued by Buddi Nagin. According to him, she resides in a magnificent golden palace beneath the lake's surface. It was there that he witnessed her engaged in the activity of churning curd, and he also noticed numerous containers filled with milk.
After revealing the truth, he immediately passed away. The residents of the village gathered at the lake and encountered strange occurrences. It was deduced that Buddi Nagin desired for the lake to remain undisturbed and maintained in a pristine state. The lake is consistently immaculate, with not a single leaf present within its waters.
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Jalori Pass is located in the Banjar Valley of Kullu district, adjacent to the Suket area of Karsog. It serves as a connecting route between the Kullu and Shimla districts. The pass was constructed by the British for the purpose of accessing Kullu.
Jalori Pass is situated at an elevation of 2000 meters. During the winter season, it is inaccessible as it gets blocked by a significant amount of snowfall. Banjar Valley, located in the Kullu district, is a unique and less-explored place for tourists to visit.
The Kullu district is split into three primary valleys, namely Tirthan, Banjar, and Sainj Valley. The journey to Jibhi through Jalori Pass is a scenic drive surrounded by thick deodar trees.
The Anni district of Kullu, located between Jalori's pass and Shimla, is famous for its apple orchards. Visitors can admire the stunning view of these orchards during the season.
Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Take a break and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Himalayas by going on a hike. The serene and picturesque Serolsar Lake, located in Jalori Pass, is the ideal destination for a 5 km hike.
Hiking in this area is quite simple, as you only need to walk in a straight line through a thick forest of deodar and banyan trees. The hike offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, and the sunset from this vantage point is truly remarkable.
Each season follows a unique path, and during summer, this path is filled with vivid colors as Moses plants decorate the tree trunks. Additionally, you can encounter some of the most uncommon types of plants and animals, such as rare herbs, medicinal plants, and untouched wilderness.
Here are some tips for your travel plans. If you're looking for affordable accommodation near Jalori Pass, you'll find plenty of homestays available. Additionally, camping options are also available in the meadows of Jalori Pass. Getting to Jalori Pass is convenient and hassle-free.
Pallavi Thakur has authored this post as a contribution to the IndiTales Internship Program.
In this article, we learn about Bhuira Jams, an enterprise started by women living in the mountains. We also discover the temples from the Pandava era located in the Karsog Valley of Himachal. Additionally, the article highlights the places to visit in Tirthan Valley, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The reader expresses their excitement to visit these places after being inspired by the blog. They thank the author for publishing such articles.
It's fascinating to learn about the customs and heritage related to ghee!
Corinne, a name or
I found this blog to be quite enjoyable, particularly the narrative about Budhi Nagin.
Please refrain from leaving a comment. I would like to save my name, email, and website on this browser for future comments.
In my own words:
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