Continents such as Asia and Europe, as well as the rest of the world, offer different experiences and opportunities for holistic living. One such place is Swaswara, located on Om Beach in Gokarna, where individuals can embrace a holistic lifestyle. For those seeking accommodation in Shekhawati, Piramal Haveli is a recommended option. The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa offers luxury travel in the city of Pilgrim's, Pushkar. Clarks Awadh provides an opportunity to experience the vibrant life of Lucknow. Serolsar Lake holds the legend of Budhi Nagin, making it a fascinating destination. In Indian families, the first ghee made from a cow's milk after giving birth to a calf is considered sacred and is saved for worship. I feel fortunate to have been born into a family that still values cows as an integral part of our culture.
Whenever a new calf is born, I have observed my mother and grandmother performing a ritual. I became intrigued and decided to inquire about the purpose of collecting ghee in a jar and why it is forbidden to consume from that specific jar. I approached my grandmother for an explanation, and she revealed that the initial milk ghee is collected for Budhi Nagin at Serolsar Lake.
The story of Budhi Nagin originates from the Seraj region in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. She gained special abilities from Durga Maa, a form of Nava Durga. Budhi Nagin later got married in the Suket area, which is now known as Karsog district in Himachal Pradesh.
Buddhi Nagin decided to visit the local water area of the Satluj River. She explicitly told her mother not to disturb her children while she was away. Her children were peacefully sleeping in a basket made of husks in the kitchen. It was a common practice for people to use husk baskets as cribs for their babies before baby prams became popular.
After some time, the mother became concerned because the children had been sleeping for a prolonged period without waking up. Ignoring the advice given by Budhi Nagin, the mother decided to pick up the blanket. To her surprise, she discovered 5-6 snakes hidden within it. Filled with fear, she hastily grabbed some ash from the kitchen and threw it at the snakes. Startled, the snakes scattered in various directions. It is believed that they were not seen again after this incident.
After Buddha Nagin returned, she felt immense sadness upon discovering that her children had left. Consequently, she made the decision to depart from the village. To this day, a small stone idol is revered in the residence where Buddha Nagin resided in the Bhiuri village of Karsog.
The house is in such a state that it cannot be reconstructed or refurbished. Budhi Nagin decided to leave the house and made his way to Serolsar Lake, located near Jalori Pass in the Banjar Valley of Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh.
Naga Worship is a practice where people worship Buddhi Nagin, who is considered to be the mother of Nagdev, the snake god. The inhabitants of the area believe that Nagas are connected to Shiva, the Hindu deity. Each Naga has their own designated territory and village, which are named after them, such as Chowasi Nag, Hungru Nag, and Jhakad Nag.
In the villages mentioned, there are numerous temples built in the traditional Himachali architectural style, featuring exquisite wooden carvings. Annually, the Nag Devtas (snake deities), priests, and villagers gather to tour their surroundings. The villagers make offerings to the Nagas in various forms, while also showcasing the local Himachali dance form known as Nati.
Situated amidst captivating grasslands, the lake offers a picturesque setting where visitors can delight in breathtaking sunsets and marvel at the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains from every angle.
According to the tale, there was a woman named Buddhi Nagin who arrived at Serolsar Lake and settled on a large rock. In the vicinity, there were 60 young girls known as Joginis or Yoginis, who were divided into two groups. Some were heading to Shikari Devi in Mandi, while others were going to Jalori Jot. While passing by Serolsar Lake, they spotted Buddhi Nagin sitting there. The Joginis approached her and proposed playing a game together.
They believed that it would be easy to defeat her due to her age. A decision was made that if Budhi Nagin emerged victorious in the game, she would consider this place sacred. Conversely, if the Joginis were to win, she would depart from this location.
During the game, one of the girls engaged in dishonest behavior, which greatly angered Buddi Nagin. In response, she placed a curse on the girl, transforming her into a permanent small bird and assigning 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 permanently stay in this place. On her way, she was holding a small pot. While wandering in Serolsar, the pot accidentally slipped from her grasp, leading to the sudden formation of a lake at that exact location. And that is the story of how the lake came to be.
The rock where Buddi Nagin was seated is currently referred to as Kala Pathar.
Pandava Tale
Following their banishment, once the Pandavas arrived at Jalori Pass, they stumbled upon Serolsar Lake. They decided to cultivate rice in the vicinity of the lake. According to legends, Buddi Nagin appeared before them and then returned to the lake.
The Pandavas retrieved the statue of her from the lake and placed it outside of the lake. They constructed a small shrine for her on the shores of the lake. Over the years, it has undergone multiple renovations. The present temple is the fourth one after being refurbished.
At the Budhi Nagin Temple, people have a tradition of offering ghee to Budhi Nagin, who is considered the mother of all the Nag Devta in Mandi and Kullu region. This tradition stems from Budhi Nagin's fondness for cows. When visitors come to her temple, they bring ghee as an offering. It is believed that when the ghee is poured inside the temple, it magically finds its way to the center of the lake where Budhi Nagin resides.
Individuals carry numerous kilograms of ghee to both the temple and the lake. Once a year, all the Nagdevas from the area come to visit Budhi Nagin on specific events, which are foretold by the local priests.
During the winter season, the temple is not open for visitors because it receives a significant amount of
Discover the top 10 books that delve into the wonders of the Himalayas.
There is a lack of knowledge about the exact depth of Serolsar Lake, making it a mysterious feature.
Here is an intriguing tale filled with mystery. A Brahmin and his family were enjoying a leisurely walk near the lake when the Brahmin accidentally fell into the water. Despite their efforts, his family was unable to rescue him. Surprisingly, after a span of three years, the Brahmin returned from the lake. The reason behind his unexpected return was his encounter with Budhi Nagin, who made him promise to keep their encounter a secret from others.
His family kept persistently questioning him about his whereabouts and how he managed to survive. Eventually, the Brahmin confessed the truth. He explained that when he fell into the lake, he reached the bottom where he was rescued by a snake named Buddi Nagin. Buddi Nagin resides in a magnificent golden palace beneath the lake and is known for churning curd. The Brahmin also mentioned that he saw numerous containers of milk during his encounter with Buddi Nagin.
Immediately after he revealed the truth, he passed away. The residents of the village arrived at the lake and witnessed peculiar occurrences. It was deduced that Buddi Nagin desired for the lake to remain undisturbed and maintain its cleanliness. True enough, the lake is perpetually pristine, devoid of even a lone leaf floating within its waters.
Discover the enchanting beauty of India's most stunning lakes by reading more about
Located in the Kullu district, Jalori Pass is a pass that connects the Kullu and Shimla districts. It is situated in the Banjar Valley, adjacent to the Suket area of Karsog. The British constructed this pass in order to have a route to enter Kullu.
Jalori Pass is situated at an elevation of 2000 meters. During the winter season, the pass remains inaccessible as it is blocked by large amounts of snowfall. Banjar Valley, located in the Kullu district, is a less explored tourist spot.
The Kullu district is split into three primary valleys, namely Tirthan, Banjar, and Sainj Valley. On the way to Jibhi, there is a scenic road called Jalori Pass that is lined with thick deodar trees.
The Anni district of Kullu can be found on the way from Jalori's pass to Shimla. Anni is famous for its apple orchards, and visitors can admire the stunning sight of these orchards during the season.
Are you feeling tired of living in the city? Reestablish your connection with the natural world by going on a hike in the Himalayas. A stunning 5 km hike to the Serolsar Lake, located in the Jalori Pass, is an ideal choice for you.
Hiking through the dense jungle of deodar and banyan trees is a straightforward and manageable activity. The hike offers a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the mountains and an incredibly stunning sunset.
Each season has its own unique trajectory; summer's trajectory is filled with vivid colors, like Moses on the tree trunks. Additionally, you can observe some of the most uncommon types of plants and animals, such as rare herbs, medicinal plants, and untamed wilderness.
Tips for Traveling
If you're looking for affordable accommodation near Jalori Pass, there are plenty of homestays available. Additionally, you can also opt for camping in the meadows of Jalori Pass. Rest assured, Jalori Pass is easily reachable for travelers.
Pallavi Thakur wrote this post as a participant in the IndiTales Internship Program.
This blog post discusses Bhuira Jams, an enterprise run by women from the mountains. It also mentions the temples from the Pandava era located in the Karsog Valley of Himachal. Additionally, it highlights the places to visit in Tirthan Valley, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. The author of the comment expresses their enthusiasm to visit these places and experience the beauty of Indian culture and tradition. They thank the author for publishing such articles and encourage them to continue doing so.
It is fascinating to learn about the customs and heritage associated with ghee!
Corinne x could be interpreted
I found this blog to be highly enjoyable, particularly the captivating tale of Budhi Nagin.
Please refrain from commenting. Remember to save your name, email, and website in this browser for future comments.
In the code snippet, the element with the ID "ak_js_1" is being accessed using the `getElementById()` method. It is then being modified by setting the attribute "value" to the current time in milliseconds using
Get updates by subscribing to our newsletter. Check out our most popular articles, including "Ancient Kashmir: Exploring the 10th Century with Ashish Kaul" and "Holistic Living at Swaswara, Om Beach in Gokarna." Discover the beautiful Purkhauti Muktangan, a tribute to our ancestors. Experience a luxurious stay at the Grand Dragon Hotel in Ladakh. Explore the garden city capital of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Silvassa. Don't forget to check out other blogs for more interesting content.
