Black and White Picture of Raja Ugar Singh of Hindur, 1840-1850 (from Archer's book on Punjab Hills Paintings) Picture the year: 1795. The foothills of the Shivaliks are tense, echoing with the tramp of armed men and the grinding pressure of regional rivalries. Down in the valleys, Raja Ram Saran Singh Handuriya of Handur (modern-day Nalagarh) is caught in a grinding political bind. For years, Handur has ridden the coattails of Kangra’s aggressive campaigns against its bitter historical rival, Bilaspur (then known as Kahlur). But looking out across his contested borders, Ram Saran Singh faces a heavier, more haunting question: Does he continue serving as a satellite to Kangra’s ambitions, or does he break away, side with Maha Chand and Bilaspur, and reclaim a fractured sense of Rajput honor? The friction between Handur and Bilaspur was rooted in continuous struggles over strategic border zones, crucial river-crossing points, and the Satgarha (seven forts) territory. Because Handur...
It has been years since I had written the original piece on the practice of Skanda worship being rather prevalent in and around North-west India. Since then, I also found a few updates that I felt were rather interesting and unique, and added to the depth of the piece. (special thanks to Aditya Sharma for somevital information shared here today). Vayu Purana and its Linkage to Balak Nath? Vigraha of Baba Balak Nath at Deotsidh The Vayu Purana gives us some hints about the origins and links of the worship of Baba Balak Nath. A shloka in the Vayu Purana (chapter 54) clearly goes as follows पप्रच्छ कार्तिकेयं वै मयूरवर्वाहनम् । महिशसुरनारीणां नयनाञ्जनतस्करम् महासेन महात्मानं मेघस्त्नित्निस्वनम् । उमामनःप्रहर्शेण बालकं छद्मरुपिणम् .... The section is essentially a discussion between the Sage Vashishtha and Kartikeya, where Vayu Deva calls Kartikeya one who has the form of a child which delights Uma, who incidentally is also known as Skanda Mata. Balak Nath is known as Bala ...