The deity of justice, known as Nyay in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state, is Golu Devta. There are many gods in India for various purposes and times of the year. For every kind of request you have, there is a deity. Recall the Visa God of Hyderabad, who fulfills your dream to obtain a visa for the nation of your choice. Or, the God of the vanquished, Khatu Shyam in Rajasthan. Rats dominate as her clan at the Karni Mata shrine, which is located close to Bikaner. Join me as we visit Almora in the Kumaon highlands of Uttarakhand in the same series. Towards Pithoragarh, a few kilometers from Almora town, lies a small but significant temple. This is Golu Devta’s temple. While traveling to Jageshwar Dham, we stopped there.
is regarded as Gaur Bhairav, an incarnation of Shiva. He is regarded as the one who constantly executes justice and rides a white horse. They claim he grants all your wishes if you ask with an unclouded conscience. He is the Kul Devta of many individuals here as well as the Isht Devta of the area. He might also be viewed as the head deity of the Kumaon region. The origin of the goddess of justice is the subject of numerous stories.
Stories about the Justice Deity
A tale links him to the Katyuri Kings, who ruled from the 7th to the 12th century CE over Kumaon, also known as Kurmanchal. He was one of the Katyuri Kings’ sons or generals, or perhaps both. He is also associated with the Chand dynasty, which came to power in the 12th century CE and succeeded the Katyuris dynasty. He is the valiant warrior who loses his life in combat in this tale. According to the most widely accepted myths about the creation of the goddess of justice, his mother Kalinka was the monarch Jhal Rai’s queen. Her fellow spouses traded him for stone upon his birth and abandoned him in the neighboring river. After being rescued by a fisherman, he returned at the age of eight on a wooden horse. He led the horse to the pond where the king’s seven queens were bathing and forced it to sip the water. He responded, “If a woman can give birth to a stone, he can ride a wooden horse,” while the queens laughed at him. When the monarch learned that his women were plotting, he punished them and installed Golu as king. Over time, the young man gained notoriety as Golu Devta and gained a reputation for justice.
Chitai Temple
A tiny temple with a great reputation is located in Chitai, close to Almora. There were several different-sized brass bells lining a broad covered corridor that led to the shrine. A red Chunri, or a little red fabric with golden borders, was used to hang them. I noticed handwritten messages hanging here and there. An arch full of bells has a massive bell hanging from it. There were more bells in the area as I approached the temple. Nonetheless, there were more written and printed pages overall. It was stuffed with written applications once it was beneath the temple’s roof.
Sanctuary of the Saints
The tiny sanctuary is decorated with vivid orange and yellow paint. A slow-moving line of people carrying offerings made its way to the sanctum. The Lord is seated on his white steed inside the sanctum, his hands clasping an arrow and a bow. It is a little Murti that supports the god’s imagery. People bow down to him, confide in him about their issues, implore him to grant their wishes, and express gratitude for all of that. I discovered that all of the bells in the temple are, in fact, wishes that have been granted right here at the sanctuary. People come and tie a new bell for their deity each time a desire comes true.
The Golu Devta Temple’s Wish List
In the simplest terms possible, this was how the common people communicated with their god. Their remarks reveal their conviction that the Devta will solve their difficulties. The majority of people write to the god in the same manner as they would a close friend. They share with him what is and is not going well in their life, as well as the reasons they are working hard and asking for his blessings. An IAS candidate, for instance, writes about the preparations he is making. He doesn’t pray to the gods to get through his tests. However, he begs for the fortitude to avoid any diversions. Another just wishes for the family’s continued happiness and well-being. A woman writes about her husband’s condition. Doctors, according to her, make horrible comments about his illness. However, it continues by saying that doctors are regular people. The world’s largest doctor is you. Please heal my spouse from his ailment. She continues by discussing how much her kids depend on their father. The letter was really heartbreaking.
Stamp papers with wishes on them beseeched the justice deity for justice. People think that if they give him their dispute documents, they would receive justice. Though there are other temples dedicated to the deity in Kumaon, this one is the most well-known. It’s like getting an introduction to the faith of the hills by visiting this temple in Chitai. People turn to him for justice in all matters, no matter how minor or large. When their dreams come true or their issues are resolved, they return to express their gratitude to him. They merely come to ask for his blessings most of the time.
