Continents such as Asia and Europe, as well as the rest of the world, offer various experiences for holistic living. One such experience can be found at Swaswara on Om Beach in Gokarna. If you're looking for accommodation in Shekhawati, Piramal Haveli is worth considering. For luxury travel in the pilgrimage city of Pushkar, Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa is a great option. Immerse yourself in the Lucknow lifestyle by staying at Clarks Awadh. Explore the legend of Budhi Nagin and visit Serolsar Lake. In Indian families, the first ghee made from a cow's milk is saved for worship as it is considered auspicious. I am fortunate to come from a family where cows are still valued and considered an important part of our culture.
Whenever a new calf is born, I have observed my mother and grandmother engaging in a specific ritual. It piqued my curiosity as to why we gather ghee in a jar and why it is forbidden for anyone to consume from that specific jar. In search of answers, I approached my grandmother who revealed that the initial milk ghee is collected for Budhi Nagin at Serolsar Lake.
The story of Budhi Nagin begins in the Seraj region of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh. She was widely known as Buddi Nagin and was believed to possess certain powers bestowed upon her by Durga Maa, a form of Nava Durga. Budhi Nagin later got married in the Suket area, which is now recognized as Karsog district in Himachal Pradesh.
Buddhi Nagin decided to visit the local water territory near the Satluj River. Before leaving, she told her mother not to disturb her sleeping children who were resting in a basket filled with husks in the kitchen. It was a common practice for people to keep their children in such baskets before baby prams became popular.
After some time, the mother became concerned because the children had been sleeping for a long time without waking up. Ignoring the advice of Budhi Nagin, the mother decided to remove the blanket. To her surprise, she discovered 5-6 snakes inside it. Feeling scared, she quickly grabbed some ash from the kitchen and threw it on the snakes. The snakes scattered in various directions. It is believed that they were not seen again after this incident.
Upon Buddha Nagin's return, she was filled with sadness to discover that her children were no longer there. Overcome with grief, she made the decision to leave the village. In the Bhiuri village of Karsog, there remains a revered small stone statue in the house where Buddha Nagin once resided.
It is not possible to reconstruct or renovate this petite house. Budhi Nagin departed from the house and arrived at Serolsar Lake, located near Jalori Pass in the Banjar Valley of Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh.
Naga Worship
According to local beliefs, Buddhi Nagin is considered to be the mother of Nagdev, who is revered as the snake god. The people in this region associate Nagas with Shiva. Each Naga is associated with a specific area and village, which are named after them, such as Chowasi Nag, Hungru Nag, and Jhakad Nag.
These villages are home to numerous stunning temples built with the traditional architectural style of Himachal Pradesh. These temples are adorned with exquisite wooden carvings. Annually, Nag Devtas (snake deities), priests, and villagers from the surrounding area come together. People offer donations in various forms to the Nagas as a token of their reverence. Additionally, they partake in local traditional dances known as Nati, which are specific to the Himachali culture.
The mesmerizing meadows surround a lake that is situated in the middle. Visitors can experience the most breathtaking sunset and appreciate the panoramic view of all the mountains in every direction.
According to the legend, Buddhi Nagin arrived at Serolsar Lake and settled on a large stone. Nearby, there were 60 young girls known as Joginis or Yoginis. Some of them were heading to Shikari Devi in Mandi, while others were going to Jalori Jot. As they noticed Buddhi Nagin sitting by the lake, the Joginis decided to approach her and propose playing a game together.
The assumption was made that because she was elderly, they would have no trouble defeating her. A decision was reached that if Budhi Nagin emerged victorious in the game, she would consider this location as a sacred place for herself. Conversely, 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. In response, she placed a curse on the girl, transforming her into a permanent small bird and giving her the responsibility of cleaning a small body of water. This transformed bird is now referred to as Abhi Chidiya.
After emerging victorious in the game, Buddi Nagin made the decision to make this place her permanent residence. As she was journeying through Serolsar, she accidentally dropped a small pot she was carrying, leading to the creation of a lake right at that very spot. And that is the story of how the lake came to be.
The rock that Buddi Nagin was seated on is currently referred to as Kala Pathar.
The story of the Pandavas takes place during their time in exile, specifically when they arrived at Jalori Pass. At this point, they stumbled upon Serolsar Lake and decided to cultivate rice around its vicinity. According to the tale, during their rice-growing endeavor, the mythical creature Buddi Nagin made an appearance before them and eventually returned to the depths of the lake.
The Pandavas retrieved the statue of her from the lake and placed it outside of the lake. They constructed a small temple for her along the shores of the lake. Over the years, the temple has undergone several renovations. The present temple is the fourth one following the renovations.
In the Budhi Nagin Temple, people offer ghee as a tribute to Budhi Nagin, who is regarded as the supreme Nag Devta in the Mandi and Kullu region. Budhi Nagin had a great love for cows, which is why visitors bring ghee to her temple. According to belief, when ghee is poured inside the temple, it is believed to flow directly to the center of the lake where Budhi Nagin resides.
Individuals carry numerous kilograms of clarified butter, known as ghee, to the temple and lake. Once a year, all the serpent deities, known as Nagdevas, from the surrounding area come to visit Budhi Nagin during specific and significant events. These special occasions are identified and foret
During the winter season, the temple remains closed because it receives a significant amount of snowfall.
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There is a lack of knowledge regarding the exact depth of Serolsar Lake.
In this story, there is a mysterious event that unfolds. A Brahmin, accompanied by his family, was taking a leisurely walk near the lake when he accidentally fell into the water. Despite his family's efforts to rescue him, they were unable to do so. Surprisingly, after a span of three years, the Brahmin reappeared, seemingly emerging from the very same lake. It was revealed that a mystical creature known as Budhi Nagin had saved him but requested the Brahmin to keep her existence a secret
His relatives persistently questioned him, "Where did you go?" and "How did you manage to survive?" Eventually, Brahmin told the truth. He explained that when he fell into the lake, he descended to the bottom and was rescued by Buddi Nagin. He mentioned that she resides in a magnificent palace made of gold within the lake. Brahmin also observed numerous containers of milk while he was there, as she was in the process of churning curd.
After he revealed the truth, he met his demise. The residents of the village gathered at the lake and witnessed peculiar occurrences. It was deduced that Buddi Nagin desired for the lake to remain undisturbed and maintained in a pristine condition. In reality, the lake is consistently clean, without a single leaf present within its waters.
Discover the captivating beauty of India's most stunning lakes as we take you on
Jalori Pass is located in the Banjar Valley of the Kullu district, adjacent to the Suket area of Karsog. It is a pass that serves as a connection between the Kullu and Shimla districts. The pass was constructed by the British with the purpose of establishing a route to reach Kullu.
Jalori Pass is situated at an elevation of 2000 meters. During the winter season, the pass is not accessible because it gets blocked by a significant amount of snowfall. Banjar Valley, located in the Kullu district, is known as an unconventional tourist spot.
The Kullu district is split into three primary valleys: Tirthan, Banjar, and Sainj Valley. The journey to Jibhi through Jalori Pass is a scenic route adorned with thick deodar trees.
The Anni district of Kullu can be found towards Shimla, starting from Jalori's pass. Anni is renowned for its apple orchards, and visitors can appreciate the stunning sight of these orchards during the season.
Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of urban living? Rejuvenate your spirit by embarking on a trek in the majestic Himalayas. A captivating 5 km hike to the serene Serolsar Lake, nestled in Jalori Pass, awaits you, offering the ideal escape into nature.
Hiking in this area is a relatively simple and straightforward experience, as you can simply walk in a straight line through a thick forest filled with deodar and banyan trees. The hike offers a picturesque view of the surrounding mountains from every angle, allowing you to fully appreciate the beauty of the landscape. Additionally, the sunset seen from this
Each season has its own unique journey, and in the summertime, nature comes alive with vibrant colors, like Moses on tree trunks. It's also a season where you can encounter some of the most uncommon types of plants and animals, including rare herbs, medicinal plants, and untamed wilderness.
Tips for Traveling
You can find numerous affordable homestays in close proximity to Jalori Pass. Additionally, there are camping options available in the meadows of Jalori Pass. Accessing Jalori Pass is quite convenient.
Pallavi Thakur wrote this post as a requirement for the IndiTales Internship Program.
This blog post discusses Bhuira Jams, a business started by women in the mountains. It also mentions the temples from the Pandava era in the Karsog Valley of Himachal and highlights places to visit in Tirthan Valley, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The article received positive feedback from a reader who expressed their motivation to visit and experience the beauty of Indian culture and tradition. They thanked the author for publishing such articles and encouraged them to continue.
It is fascinating to learn about the customs and heritage related to the usage of ghee.
Dear Corinne,
I found this blog very enjoyable, especially the part about Budhi Nagin's story.
Please refrain from commenting. I would like to save my name, email, and website for future reference on this browser.
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