Living with Itihasa and History together

Is Itha-sa and History Synonym of each other or identical of each other each other ?

From my childhood days, we all have been hearing the words Itihasa and history and that both are synonyms but are they really the same words? 

Curious as a cat I am, so one day  I  picked up a dictionary and saw that the word History originates from the Greek the word “ἱστορία”, “Historia” which basically means knowledge acquired by investigation. Further, the Oxford Dictionary (10th edition) describes history “as the study of past events” and the same Oxford Dictionary describes Study as the “devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge”. 

Consequently, I looked up the meaning of the word Itiha-sa and to my surprise, I found the meaning of इतिहास and not Itiha-sa. इतिहास was described as “Story, fable, narrative, annals, history; tradition: — itihās-kārak, adj. & s.m. (f. -ikā), History-making; historian; narrator: — itihās-vettā, s.m. Historian, professor of history [Platts dictionary]"

I was confused, so are History and इतिहास not the same thing as History has clearly been defined as an inquiry into the past while Itihas (इतिहास) has been described as a story/ narrative and then what does Itiha-sa mean. 

On the quest to find the meaning of Itiha-sa I came across an interesting article written by Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik published by the name of "Itihasa is not a fantasy" where he has described Itihasa as “Itihasa is not fantasy; it is not history either at least not in Sanskrit….In Sanskrit, itihasa means cultural memoir and refers to the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata that connect Ram and Krishna to Vishnu, who is bhagavan, which is the closest Hindu equivalent to the English concept of God. By contrast, in Hindi, itihasa means history, a subject that considers Ramayana and Mahabharata as Sanskrit literary works, not more than 2,500 years old, composed using Panini grammar, retelling ancient orally transmitted tales, which contain cultural frameworks, such as the concepts of karma, dharma, atma, and avatara.”.[The said Article was published at https://devdutt.com/articles/itihasa-is-not-fantasy/, last accessed on July 5th, 2020].

For further reference please do see the interview of Mr. Devdutt Patnaik conducted by Mr. Akash Banerjee published under the name of Bhakt Banerjee Vs. Devdutt Pattanaik:- Hindutva Vs. Hinduism between 8.50 minutes - 9.56 minutes out of 34.23 minutes where he discusses and explains very nicely what exactly is Itiha-sa.[The said interview was published at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVigXMCw1mY&t=1370s, last accessed on July 8th, 2020]. 

Itiha-sa and Culture Memoir. 

The most interesting thing about Mr. Devdutt Patnik's article was that he made a distinction between history and Itiha-sa based on a cultural memoir. I found the word culture memoir to be most interesting because the moment the word culture and memoir are used together it becomes the collective memory of people together and at the same time personal memory of a person. 

One Man’s Itiha-sa is Another Person’s History

So does that mean one person's Itiha-sa is another person's History? For example, the Independence of India and the Partition of India was Itiha-sa for my grandfather while History for me. Likewise, the Emergency of India would be Itiha-sa for my mother and History for me or to come to a very personal level, the death of my father would be Itiha-sa for me while it would be History for my future generations. So are Itiha-sa and history two sisters/brothers bound by the same umbilical cord.

To have a more specific example let's take the example of today's Pandemic. It is only during the present Pandemic that I came to the view that yes one person's Itiha-sa is another person's History. 

For example, the moment I started experiencing the harsh and brutal lockdown which effected all strata of the society at various levels (with the marginalised and unorganised sector being hit the most), so a question arose in my mind, whether such and lockdown has happened before or whether we have faced such pandemics before. Consequently, I started to research and started an inquiry in the past to find out about the past pandemics and how the government of those times and the prominent people and common people reacted to it. 

Thus the moment I started making an inquiry into the past events and why people reacted in a particular manner, I fell into the realm of history as I started making an inquiry and analysing the past events, while when I felt and experienced the pain and curse of the pandemic I fell into the realm of Itiha-sa. It is really very difficult to establish and differentiate between History and Itiha-sa and both overlap with each other and have to be understood through the eyes of the person who is experiencing it. 

The difference between History and Itiha-sa is not simplistic and cannot be put into absolute terms or separate boxes like this is History, this is Itiha-sa in fact they overlap each other. Itiha-sa is very personal and has to be experienced by a person personally while History is based on factual evidence. Since Itiha-sa is not bound by factual limitations and parameters and tests which History has to go through it evolves through tales, stories, fables which in many cases get filtered down generations through writings and oral stories in literature, arts and various other forms. 

History is based on facts which have to be proven by evidence while Itiha-sa is based on the culture memoir and living memory of the person, which is why you see two persons of the same age and of the same generation will tell you a unique and different living memory and culture memoir their living memory and culture memoir is based on their prejudices, ideas and perceptions which is why I believe Itiha-sa is like a river who keeps meandering and changing its course and no fixed path while History has a fixed path.         

Kumbh - the highest conglomeration of people in Earth.

A few months back I visited the Ardh Kumbh held in Allahabad along with Delhi Photography Club along with a group of  12  excited individuals to see one of the biggest festivals ever to be held in the world, after all, we all had heard stories of Kumbh and the most famous being the "story of lost brothers of Kumbh". I would suggest every photographer visit Kumbh as it is a candy store for photographers, especially for street and travel photographers.

The word Kumbh literally means Pot and is one of the biggest and one of the oldest festivals of the Hindus held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik where they do not pray to any particular idol but to bathe in the rivers with the belief that it would cleanse them from their sins. It is basically a mortal attempt to rectify ourselves and cleanse ourselves from sins and wipe off our debts

Mythologically, Kumbh is a story of the churning of the ocean. As the story goes that when the churning started a deadly poison came out which Shiva drank and kept it in his throat due to which he came to known as “Neel Kantha” (Neela" = "blue", "kantha" = "throat). From the churning came out of various things which are known as Ratnas and which included various items but most important being Kumbh of immortal nectar/elixir, for which as usual there was a fight among the Devas and the Asuras for 12 days and 12 nights. It is believed that during the fight which ensued for 12 days and 12 nights a few drops of nectar fell in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik due to which the festival of Kumbh is held in these places only. Further, as per the Deva-Asura timeframe, 12 days and 12 nights mean 12 years (1 day of the Deva-Asura is equivalent to 1 year for mortals) due to which Kumbh is held after 12 years. Traditionally, Kumbh has been divided into Kumbh (which is held after every 3 years), Ardha Kumbh (which is held after every six years), Purna (complete) Kumbh is held after every 12 years and Maha-Kumbh is held every 144 years (on completion of 12 Purna-Kumbh). Among all the places Allahabad is considered to be most divine as it is the meeting point of Saraswati and Yamuna into The Ganges. 

Historically there are no exact references as to form when the Kumbh Mela started but in various travelogue and recordings by the travelers and officials of various king references of a Mela have been found which dated back from 644 Common Era but whether the referred Mela in such writings is Kumbh or not is a matter of debate. Further, it is only in the year 1870 that the word Kumbh Mela came to be known and recorded. It is the view that the Kumbh Mela (originally spelled as “Cumbha-Mela”) was originally used to be held in Haridwar only and the traditional extant Magh Mela which was held annually in Allahabad was later converted to Kumbh Mela due to various reasons and factors [Please do read the essay by the name of “Making the Colonial State Work for you: The Modern Beginnings of the Ancient Kumbh Mela in Allahabad”  written by Kama Maclean published in The Journal of Asian Studies 62 No 3 (August 2003): 873-905 and referred from the same] 

Apart from the cleansing of sins, Kumbh Mela is known for its meeting of various Akhara. Akhara is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging, and training both in the context of Indian martial artists or a sampradaya for religious renunciates in the Guru–shishya tradition. Traditionally, it is said that Akhara was established by Shankracharya in his lifetime though there is no historical proof that has been found for the same. Akharas thus became like a meeting of common minded people believing in a particular thought/belief of Hindu philosophy/thought of Hindu parampara having its own set of rules/regulations. 

Traditionally there were 4 Sampradays of Akharas- (a) Shaiv- believers/followers of Shiva (b) Vaishnav - believers/followers of Vishnu (c) Advait – Also known as Eka Dandi (wandering renunciate carrying single stick) (d) Udasi Akhara – who is said to be followers of Shri Chand, son of Shri. Guru Nanak. With the advent of times the Akharas slowly trained themselves in the use of weapons and martial art for their defense and were used by many kings throughout history especially during the British Rule. 

Extract from the essay “Making the Colonial State Work for you: The Modern Beginnings of the Ancient Kumbh Mela in Allahabad” written by Kama Maclean published in The Journal of Asian Studies 62 No 3 (August 2003): 873-905, it has been mentioned that the in the late 19^th century there was presence of “(1) (Maha) Nirbanis, (2) Niranjanis and Junas, (3) Bairagis (comprising Nirmohi, Digambar and Nirbani subsects), (4) Choota Panchayati, (5) Bara Panchayati and Bandhawa Hasanpur and (6) Nirmali and Bindrabani (Benson 1882)………”. 

In the present times, many of these Akharas still exist and various sub-sects of these Akharas have developed and grown and established themselves as Akharas. In modern times there are about 13 Akharas which are regulated by Akhil Bhartiya Parishad. 

From ancient times one of the basic thoughts of Hindu philosophy is the churning of ideas and this used to happen when the various Akharas of various thoughts used to meet each other in Kumbh Mela and there was this churning of ideas but sadly that does not happen anymore and later they turned militant in nature, especially during the East India Company Rule. 

Now in the present day sadhus who come to the Kumbh Mela is more of a show and it is very hard to determine that as to who is the original and fake. 

In the Hindu philosophy there are various schools of thought, philosophy and one of the thoughts was that the truth of life can be achieved by total renunciation of life by leaving and sacrificing of all material objects and thoughts which includes removing their clothes and smearing ash all over the body and are known as Naga Sadhus. Smearing ash over the body has a very literal meaning as ash in Hindu philosophy signifies death/rebirth, so it is the belief that by smearing ash over their body they have been reborn as a new person and left their material life. Another aspect is  to kill their sexual desire and for that, they insert various objects through their private parts (genitalia) to show that there is no desire left in them and they have left all type of desires which the material world expects them to fulfill.

One of the characteristics of Kumbh Mela is the institutionalized procession of sadhus which was allowed by a convention established by the British on three bathing days over the period of the mela which is Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasaya and Basant Panchami and that these sadhu processions are an attraction for ordinary pilgrims who seek their audience (darshan) [Please do read and refer the essay by the name of “Making the Colonial State Work for you: The Modern Beginnings of the Ancient Kumbh Mela in Allahabad”  written by Kama Maclean published in The Journal of Asian Studies 62 No 3 (August 2003): 873-905]. As has been mentioned an essay by the name of “Making the Colonial State Work for you: The Modern Beginnings of the Ancient Kumbh Mela in Allahabad”  written by Kama Maclean published in The Journal of Asian Studies 62 No 3 (August 2003): 873-905, “The established bathing order of the Akaharas at Allahabad Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela in the late 19^th century was (1) (Maha) Nirbanis, (2) Niranjanis and Junas, (3) Bairagis (comprising Nirmohi, Digambar and Nirbani subsects), (4) Choota Panchayati, (5) Bara Panchayati and Bandhawa Hasanpur and (6) Nirmali and Bindrabani (Benson 1882). The order has been disputed, particularly by the Bairagis, but only renegotiated a small number of times since, such as 1906 after a riot among the Bairagis sect, after which the order of the Bairagis (subsects) was reversed on different bathing days. Sadhu processions continue to be vexed with disputes……………..see Llewellyn 1999 and Nandan 2002”. Till date, nothing much has changed and till date there are disputes and fights regarding the bathing order of the Sadhus.   

Kumbh is a place where people come not only to wash their sins and of their ancestors but also to seek blessings of the sadhus and to visit the various akharas but to pray at the Prayag.  Of all the various and innumerable prayers (meeting/confluence point of various rivers) of India, the Prayag which is situated in Allahabad is considered to be the most important and the most pious one. The prayag which is situated 

in Allahabad is the confluence of Jamuna, Saraswati (dead river - does not exist anymore) into the Ganga and people come to bathe in the Prayag and to cleanse not only their sins but the sins of their ancestors by offering prayers and bathing in the Prayag.

Since the Kumbh (depending on the nature of Kumbh) is considered to be one of the most pious time due to astrological constellations, bathing and praying during the Kumbh in the Prayag of Allahabad becomes the most auspicious of all times. Of all the days Mauni Amavasya is considered to be the most auspicious day for bathing and offering prayers in the Prayag and due to this reason, people from all over India come and stay during this time so that they can come and bathe during this time in the Prayag and for this,  they are ready to stay under nature and endure all the hardships. 

Traditionally and till date the Kumbh Mela is known for its commerce and trade of all kinds whether it be the priests or traders Not only will you find the astute businessmen/traders but you will also find business and services from all kinds giving their service. 

In the end, I can only state that you cannot explain Kumbh as it has been experienced and seen how faith moves people and what all hardships the people are ready to face to face just to get that one dip so that they are able to fulfill their duties to their ancestors and how this cycle keeps on repeating for ages.

Trip to Nasik……..

A few days back in the month of September 2018, I travelled to this beautiful city among the Vindhyas Range of Western Ghats.

Nasik City.

It was after ages, I travelled in a train by the name of Dadar express, which travels from Amritsar to Dadar Station, Mumbai, a distance of more than 2000 km. As I was travelling from one breadth of India to another extreme of India I could see the beauty of India which only a train experience can give and show the beauty and diversity of India. The travel through Madhya Pradesh was quite something but for me most interesting was the lyrical names of the stations in Madhya Pradesh like Khandwa, Chadni, Hosagnabad, maybe, for this reason, Madhya Pradesh was one of the largest centres of Hindusthani Music. Coming back to my train travel, I must mention to you it was quite surprising from me that a train which travels for more than 2000 km does not have a pantry car and we had to rely on catering provided at different stations.

After finishing my work for which I came to Nasik and having a lot of time to spare, I decided to visit the famous Panadaveni Caves or known as the Nasik Caves and it was one of the reasons of going to Nasik. Panadaveni Caves are a group of rock-cut caves which belong to the genre of Indian rock-cut architecture. 

Entry to  the Rock Cut Caves.

The Pandaveni Caves or known as Pandu-Lena Caves/Pandava Caves /Trirasmi Caves is a group of 24 rock-cut caves in the North and North – East direction and is located in the North Face of the Trirasmi Hill (8 km from the Nasik City) and were donated to Theravadin and Mahayana Sects of Buddism by various rulers like the Satavahana Kings, the Kshatrap Nahapana, the Abhir Kings and by various merchants and common people. The said caves have been estimated to be built during the 2^nd Century AD/CE and were said to be discovered/first described by Captain James Delamaine in 1823.

Carvings on the monutain,

Royal Buddha.

Enough with the discussion about the history of the caves as the beauty of the Caves lies in seeing and experiencing the majestic caves and the beauty of the caves and the levels of Art which Indian Art had reached. Just to give you a perspective consider a mountain from which mere caves have not only been cut but highly artistic and intrinsic and detailed various figures of Buddha have been cut which are continuing to mesmerize and astonishing centuries later and communicating us their ideas, beliefs centuries later without any tagline.

Buddha as a royal figure. 

Intrinsic Carvings

Apprecitng in SIlence.

As they say “God Lives in the Detail”, you just have to appreciate the beauty of the artistic and intrinsic and detailed artwork like the mudra of Budhha or as to how Buddha is sleeping. You just have to appreciate the detailing work of the panel where Buddha is giving Sermon and the way the artist has taken detailed care of the posture of Buddha and just think that, all of this highly artistic detailed work has been done with no reference material except the stories which were passed from generation to generations and it raised the question that why we cannot reach that detailing when we have such access to reference work. Seeing and experiencing the highly artistic detailed work it reminded me of the words from Mona Lisa Movie, “Art is not required to be liked or appreciated but it is required to be considered” and that it demands our silence.   

Carvings on the rock cut temple.

Chaith - Prayer Hall. 

Another reason, Pandu-Lena Caves/Pandava Caves /Trirasmi Caves is the depiction of the transformation of Buddha from a rudimentary figure to royal figure or a saint figure. For a number of years after the death of Buddha, Buddha was never depicted in any human form but with the passage of time and was depicted only through certain forms, images and shapes. With the advent and the passage of time, when Buddha started being depicted through very simple rudimentary figures having no crown/jata or halo but again with the passage of time when royalty started accepting Buddhism, Buddha started being depicted as a saintly figure having a crown/jata and halo. The Pandu-Lena Caves/Pandava Caves /Trirasmi Caves are from that time period when not only Buddha has been accepted as the saintly figure but there has been mixing of other features from the local stories/mythology in the Buddism thought.

Apart from the Pandu-Lena Caves/Pandava Caves /Trirasmi Caves, there is also the Trimbakeshwar or Tryambakeshwar, an ancient Hindu temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Kalaram Temple, but sadly no pictures are allowed. Seriously, someone this practice that you cannot photograph the old ancient temples has to be stopped.  

As, I was leaving Nasik, something just crossed my mind that Nasik has been for some reason one of the most important places in Indian subcontinent and is also a very ancient place as it has mentioned in the Epics of India and played a very important role in the Freedom Movement of India and the Dalit Movement of India. Geographically, one of the main rivers of India, the majestic Godavari River which starts as an underground and crosses about 8 states and then joins in the Bay of Bengal and is one of the main sources of irrigation starts in Triambakeshwar area (which is considered part of the Nasik region and is about 35 km from the Nasik city). Myth logically, it is said that Ram, Sita and Laxman in the Panchavati area of Nasik City when they were exiled for 14 years and that Sita was abducted from there, which was one of the turning points of the Epic Ramayana and it is also said that Hanuman was born/conceived in the region of Nasik. Nasik also has the famous “Kalaram Temple”, where Ram, Sita and Laxman are in black in colour. Further, the Trimbakeshwar or Tryambakeshwar, an ancient Hindu temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas is situated in Triambakeshwar area (which is considered part of the Nasik region and is about 35 kms from the Nasik city). One of the unique features of Jyotirlingas is situated in Triambakeshwar is that inside the Jyotirlingas are three faces embodying/representing Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra. Historically, it is where the famous rock-cut caves known as Pandaveni Caves.  is situated which was built in between the 1^st century – 2^nd century BC.  Nasik also played and continues to play a very important role in the Dalit movement of India, which dates back to 1930 and the most famous being the “Kalaram Temple Entry Satyagraha, At. Nasik (1930-1934)” for the right of Dalit to enter Hindu temples. At present Nasik also continues to be of the centres of Dalit movement and farmland movement in India like the historic walk of 25,000 farmers from the Nasik region to the city of Mumbai in the month of March 2018. Nasik is also the birthplace of Dadasaheb Phalke, one of the pioneers and greats of Indian Cinema (more specifically in Triambakeshwar).  

Just a note that I was leaving Nasik via a superfast train which stops at mere 4 to 5 stations does not have any pantry. The Indian Railways should come up with a uniform policy that trains which go for more than 1000 km should compulsorily have pantries.  

Garli Trip - Monolithic Rock Cut Temple of Masroor- Kangra Fort with Delhi Photography Club

A few months back I along with the 12 travel companions of Delhi Photography Club,  went to a quiet town by the name of Garli which is about 420 km from Delhi along with to Monolithic Rock Cut Temple of Masroor and the Kangra Fort in a tempo driver. As per our schedule and itinerary which was decided by Mr. Virender Shekhawat, the owner of Delhi Photography Club (http://www.delhiphotographyclub.com). 

We left at about 10.pm with the plan to reach Garli by early morning if the roads are in good condition. To our good luck, the roads were in excellent condition and we reached Garli well before time which gave us ample time to rest to meet the demands of our trip. On our journey to Garli, we also crossed the famous Nangal Dam on the Beas river. 

Garli is situated in Himachal Pradesh and was a major business community for the Sood clan during the 19th century who came from Rajasthan with various professionals and established a trading township in various articles, with teak being the most prominent and established a very successful business community/center or a commercial hub.  The richness and status of what may have been the commercial hub can be understood from the mansions which they built which are still existent today.

Apart from the mansions, another thing that attracted me was the greenery of the place which has become non-existent for urban dwellers. Another unique feature for me was the number of girl schools in this small place and after doing some research I came to know that the Sood Clan had specifically established not only boys school but girl schools early for promotion and education and those schools are still running. So  Corporate Sociable Responsibility before the word was even discovered. For me was the most attractive was sitting in the verandah of an old guest house where we were staying (Naurang Yartri Niwas, an old private guest house turned into a hotel ) was just silence and remembering the words of Simon and Garfunkel " Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again.................". Not to forget the fireflies which made me remember Rabindranath Tagore Song which is one of my favorites "O jonaki, ki shukhe oi daana duti melecho (Little Firefly, how happily    you open out those wings.)"

As you walk down the streets of Garli, you get a quintessential feel of a small town which is slowly disappearing away like a man reading a newspaper on a lazy afternoon or a lady making an embroidery.

Lazy Afternoon. 

For street photographers, it is a gold mine because the type of images and type of composition you can do you can hardly do it in a place in an urban place and not only that like a photographing a local bakery shop in the early morning hours or the local barbershop which the hub of news.

As you walk down the lanes of Garli, you will also feel a touch of melancholy on seeing the beautiful mansions which are in most cases inherited or the people residing in those houses left as the old business slowly gave way to the new modern business. With the advent of modern business and the destruction of old business the community slowly moved away from Garli and what was left was the brilliant and beautiful haunting architectural mansions. 

Oh, what secrets I hold in these walls.

Do I need to say anything else?

With the advent of heritage tourism, the descendants of the Sood clan are again trying to build up the place as heritage village though a lot of work has to be done. The beautiful architectural mansions are at present being inherited by generations of caretakers. The main attractive features of Garli town as I said earlier are the beautiful architectural mansions and the beautiful silence of the town.

Beas River,

About twenty to twenty-five kilometers from Garli are the Ghats of the beautiful and destructive river Beas (one of the five rivers if Punjab which originates in Kullu and later joins Sutlej). As you reach the place, the antiquity of the place can be understood by the classical temples of which are still standing the test of time. 

Carving inside the temple - when Urdu was not frowned upon

The next day after having delicious and stomach filling breakfast we left for Monolithic  Rock Cut Temple of Masroor which is about 35 - 40 km from Garli. The Monolithic  Rock Cut Temple of Masroor is said to be built in the 8th Century C.E and built in the Nagar Temple Style of North India. Though most of the temple has been destroyed in the devastating Kangra earthquake of 1905, it has been partially restored but it is our tragedy that most of the temple complex has been destroyed. It is left for us to wonder that what majestic must have been these temples must have been in its time.  As is the specialty of all the Classical Hindu Temples, is the intricate carvings or the detailing work which is present in the walls of the temples. 

Intricate carvings at a wall of the  Monolithic Rock Cut Temple of Masroor.

Intricate carvings at a wall of the  Monolithic Rock Cut Temple of Masroor.

Kangra Fort. 

After our visit to the majestic Monolithic  Rock Cut Temple of Masroor, we decided to proceed towards our last destination in the trip, the Kangra Fort which might be only of the few forts in India which were never captured. To say the truth the size of the fort intimidated me, it is massive. As per the information provided through the information provided in the Fort, Muhammed of Ghazni overpowered the Fort in 1009 CE. Given the strategic position of the Fort, various attempts were made by the Tuqhlaqs and Sher Shah Suri but no one could capture the Fort. Though Jahangir captured the Fort for a brief period of time, the Fort was ultimately captured by Ranjit Singh and then passed over to the British.   

View from the Kangra Fort.

Now that we had completed our trip we somehow forced ourselves in the bus to again move towards Delhi leaving the serene and beautiful sights and move towards Delhi but we all knew in our heart that though we are leaving the place we are taking back memories and which will remain with us forever and with the hope that we will come back to this place again.