Essay On Kumaon

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Folk gods of Kumaon:
Himalayan mountains in the Hindu religious texts have been called the seat of the great Kailash Parvat which is the abode of Shiva and Shakti. They therefore are the principal deities of the people. Though the people of Kumaon are principally the worshippers of Shiv and his consort Shakti, the belief of the people of Kumaon in demons and sprites is strong. Therefore the tradition of the worship of folk deities is popular. Every family has its own local family god who is revered.
Ghantakarn:
Also known as Ghandyal he is principally worshipped by the lower classes. The name literally means “one who has bells in his ears” or simply “bell eared”. Believed to be a curer of cutaneous diseases, he revered in the form of a water-jug. His images are usually placed at the gates of temples as he I believed to be the …show more content…

He imitates sounds of animals like buffalos and wild-pigs and cries out to anyone who can hear him. At other instances he may take up the guise of a religious mendicant. He often frightens people and possesses them making them ill.
Goril:
Also known as Gwall or Gol, he, according to legend, was the son of a Katyuri king who was brought up by a fisherman, but later discovered. Famously known as the God of Justice, he is a very popular deity whom people visit in order to seek justice for the wrongs done to them.
Chaumu:
Chaumu is the god of cattle to the people of Kumaon. Common folk pray to him to protect their animals. He is worshipped particularly in the Jhulaghat Pancheshwar region in Pithoragarh district.
Nirankara:
As the name itself suggests, Nirankara is a formless deity who is ardently worshipped by the Doms. He is a god who does not require animal sacrifice and can be easily appeased by the offering of rice pudding or kheer. It is believed that he can incarnate in the form of a man as well as that of a woman. He is worshipped to avoid and rid one of demons.
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