... is around 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Kanpur. According to the Puraans (holy scriptures in Hinduism) it is at Bithoor that Lord Brahma commenced the creation of the mankind. It is thus also referred to as Brahmavarta (seat of Brahma) and considered to be the center of Universe (Brahmaan), according to the Puraans.
Historically, Bithoor has been closely associated with the Indian rebellion of 1857 for independence. Nana Sahib, one of the leaders of the rebellion had his head quarters here, and at one point it was also home to Lakshmi Bai - the Rani of Jhansi - the most well known of all characters associated with the rebellion. Other leaders of the rebellion like Baji Rao Peshwa, Dhudu Pant, Tatya Tope were also associated with Bithoor.
On Novmber 17th we were in Bithoor. I met with two priests who performed the daily Ganga aarti at the ghat. I was told that unlike other holy places in India only Bithoor has 4 names - Utpalaranya, Brahashmatipuri, Brahmavarta, and Bithoor is the latest name. It is the most sacred of all nine aaranya mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures. According to them, in Satyug, Tretayug and Dvaparyug there were Gods and Goddesses living on the earth, however in the present Yug - the Kaliyug, Ganga is the only Goddess that is present in its visible form (साक्षात रूप ). The other Gods and Goddesses have gone to their original seats in the realms of the cosmos. They felt that it's a miracle that she is here in the visible form and that she will be here till the end of this Yug... she will not dry up... and if she does... it will be the end of life on earth...
As regards to the plight of the river in the present day, they were very concerned about the pollution and over extraction of water. It not only hurt their religious feelings but also was resulting in dwindling in the fauna population of the river especially the turtles and the fish. There was a time when people would flock to see turtles here... but now there are hardly any in the river.
Despite all that they felt that Ganga is and will always be clean, relating Ganga to a mother on who a child urinates... the mother cleans the child first and then cleans herself too... thus Ganga will always be clean and holy for us... cleaning us of our sins and also cleaning herself...
We took a short boat ride later to see the Ganga for ourselves in the area. We came across a very historic, although dilapidated men-made cave on the banks of the river. The cave led to Nana Sahib's fort and was used by the ladies of the fort to come down to the river to bathe. I truly wish the state or the central government could do something to preserve these historic monuments. Nana Sahib's fort has been closed to the public... it was actually destroyed by the Britishers who attacked Bithoor in 1857.
A bridge was being built over the Ganga connecting Bithhoor to the state capital Lucknow. The workers were standing almost in the river... the bed I mean. And of course this would be the best time to work as the water levels were really low.
The now very common feature for me to see was the use magnets to pluck coins from the river and the use of the river bed - for sure very fertile - for seasonal crops. However, this time I also learned that this use of river bed as land is very risky for farmers. These farmers, who are also seasonal doing other stuff in other seasons, spend a lot of money to buy seed to cultivate, but every once in a while the water from the dams and barrages is released and it inundates the land leading to crop loss and with that their livelihood for the season. How sad...
Historically, Bithoor has been closely associated with the Indian rebellion of 1857 for independence. Nana Sahib, one of the leaders of the rebellion had his head quarters here, and at one point it was also home to Lakshmi Bai - the Rani of Jhansi - the most well known of all characters associated with the rebellion. Other leaders of the rebellion like Baji Rao Peshwa, Dhudu Pant, Tatya Tope were also associated with Bithoor.
On Novmber 17th we were in Bithoor. I met with two priests who performed the daily Ganga aarti at the ghat. I was told that unlike other holy places in India only Bithoor has 4 names - Utpalaranya, Brahashmatipuri, Brahmavarta, and Bithoor is the latest name. It is the most sacred of all nine aaranya mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures. According to them, in Satyug, Tretayug and Dvaparyug there were Gods and Goddesses living on the earth, however in the present Yug - the Kaliyug, Ganga is the only Goddess that is present in its visible form (साक्षात रूप ). The other Gods and Goddesses have gone to their original seats in the realms of the cosmos. They felt that it's a miracle that she is here in the visible form and that she will be here till the end of this Yug... she will not dry up... and if she does... it will be the end of life on earth...
Slide Show (please use arrows to scroll)
As regards to the plight of the river in the present day, they were very concerned about the pollution and over extraction of water. It not only hurt their religious feelings but also was resulting in dwindling in the fauna population of the river especially the turtles and the fish. There was a time when people would flock to see turtles here... but now there are hardly any in the river.
Despite all that they felt that Ganga is and will always be clean, relating Ganga to a mother on who a child urinates... the mother cleans the child first and then cleans herself too... thus Ganga will always be clean and holy for us... cleaning us of our sins and also cleaning herself...
We took a short boat ride later to see the Ganga for ourselves in the area. We came across a very historic, although dilapidated men-made cave on the banks of the river. The cave led to Nana Sahib's fort and was used by the ladies of the fort to come down to the river to bathe. I truly wish the state or the central government could do something to preserve these historic monuments. Nana Sahib's fort has been closed to the public... it was actually destroyed by the Britishers who attacked Bithoor in 1857.
A bridge was being built over the Ganga connecting Bithhoor to the state capital Lucknow. The workers were standing almost in the river... the bed I mean. And of course this would be the best time to work as the water levels were really low.
The now very common feature for me to see was the use magnets to pluck coins from the river and the use of the river bed - for sure very fertile - for seasonal crops. However, this time I also learned that this use of river bed as land is very risky for farmers. These farmers, who are also seasonal doing other stuff in other seasons, spend a lot of money to buy seed to cultivate, but every once in a while the water from the dams and barrages is released and it inundates the land leading to crop loss and with that their livelihood for the season. How sad...
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