SHRINGI RlSHI OF SERAJ

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 The divine spirit of Shringi Rishi reigns supreme not only in its native land in Seraj but its influence has also reached far and wide in adjoining areas of Mandi and Suket. On the down-hill projection of Lamba-Lambri peak (3250 metres) lies Sakiran Tibba, the sacred seat of the god. Here, every year in May, a great yajna is held, when large number of devotees converge to pay audience and speak to lum through us "gur" (oracle) about their problems. The event is followed by a local fair held at Banjar(Kullu), now a sub-divisional headquarters of Seraj. It was the great yajna performed by Shringi Rishi in the Tretayug that blessed Raja Dashrath of Ayodhya with four sons, Lord Rama being the eldest. So, the Devta's association with Raghunathjee of Kullu is obvious. Shringi Rishi is not only worshipped in Kullu-Seraj but he has also a number of shrines in Ayodhya, Alwar (Rajasthan) and in the south. It will be of interest to reproduce a para from Shankaracharya's travels in quest of guru, authored by Prem Lata under the title 'Mystic Saints of India'. "One day, Shankara fatigued by the oppressive heat sat to rest under the shade of a tree. While he was resting he saw a pool in which tiny frogs were jumping. They appeared to be troubled by the heat. Shankara was astonished to see a black cobra with his hood spread out with the obvious intention of shielding the baby frogs from the burning sun. He was wonder-struck to see a snake whom nature had meant to feed on frogs, acting as a king guardian to them. Near this pool there was a hillock, the sides of which had steps to climb. Shankara went up and found a lone hut in which an ascetic hermit was sitting. On questioning him Shankara learnt that it was the hermitage of Shringi Rishi. All living creatures, even those who preyed on each other, lived there together peacefully. Pleased with the place he resolved to establish his first Math here. Later he gave concrete shape to his determination and inaugurated the Shringi Math here (in Mysore near Tungabhadra river).



 In October 1938, the people of Seraj witnessed one oft he greatest shows of colour and gaiety, when late Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala visited Banjar on one of his pleasure trips of Sojha and Kullu. The Maharaja and his entourage were accorded a rousing reception by teeming multitude of people with traditional fanfare and rhythmic beats of local bands in the accompaniment of village gods. It was a unique moment of excitement that the Maharaja alighted from his royal carriage and walked down on foot for a distance of 2 km to the rest-house. The Maharaja was so much impressed with the memorable reception given to him on this occasion that next year a special invitation to Shringi Rishi was sent through an emissary with a request to visit Chail, the summer capital of his State. The people availed of this opportunity as a gesture of goodwill and honour. In June 1934, Shringi Rishi with devta Markandya, Bhagwati Bala Sundri, Pandrik of Panjain (Mandi), Bhagwati of Shamshi (Kullu) whose Kardar (manager) was a Muslim and Sangam Mahadev of Kullu reached Chail via Luhri and Kufri. Reminiscent of a Mini-Dussehra, the festivities lasted for a week. The people enjoyed the royal hospitality which they had never enjoyed before. Costly presents were given to the visiting devtas according to their status and at the time of departure travelling allowance to each participant was paid in cash. Shringi Rishi's authority is also recognised by the Malanees. The deity would visit Hamta and Malana after an interval of every twelve years. The Malanees would take care of all traditional protocol on his visit. They would take out the image of god Jamloo and his paraphernalia out of his vaults to greet the god and would extend every king of village hospitality to the people accompanying him. On the last day, a bara-khnna would be hosted by Shringi Rishi to theMilaneses. This revives the belief and faith of the people in their gods as the visit and ceremonies performed on the occasion cast a long-lasting spell in their minds. They feel that some supreme power has descended from the stairs down to the sacred soil of Malana. 




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