Dunagiri
Encyclopedia
Dunagiri is a historic area in Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand
in India
at 29.82306°N 79.44833°E. Approximately 400 km (248.5 mi) from Delhi, a cluster of six small villages forms the place that is variously known as Dunagiri, Drongiri and Doonagiri. 116 such villages combine to form the Development Block of Dwarahat
, which falls under the District of Almora
. Ancient forests and pristine landscapes define the area which has been a favorite haunt of mystics, writers, philosophers and poets over the millennia. Located at a height of 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level, Dunagiri is famous within Kumaon for its temple of Shakti
– known here as Dunagiri Devi
.
Dunagiri also has a distinctive importance in cultural history of India. Ancient history and folk-lore related to Dunagiri tells us it has been regularly visited by Rishi-Munis of India who established their ashrams here in the midst of nature. Ashram
of Garg Muni was at Dunagiri after whom river Gagas is said to have been named. Sukhdev Muni’s ashram (son of sage Ved Vyasa) was also here, at a place now known as “Sukh Devi”. In the epic Ramayan, during Treta Yuga (prior to 3100 BC), when Lakshman was hit by the arrow of Indrajit
, Hanuman
saved his life by bringing divine herb sanjivani from this mountain which was then known as Drongiri or Dronagiri. During their period of anonymous travel, the Pandavas of Mahabharata
took shelter at Dunagiri. Pandukholi is said to be the place near Dunagiri where they stayed for a period of time. Pandav’s Guru Dronacharya also did tapasya (devout austerity) at Dunagiri. Dunagiri is mentioned in Manas khand of Skanda Purana
. Dunagiri Devi
is described as Mahamaya Harpriya (Manaskhand, 36.17-18).
In Creation, one can wonder if the element of Shakti
is primary or that of Shiva
? Is it right to emphasize Prakriti or should it be Purusha
? Is it to be known as feminine or masculine? Questions of such nature are answered in Shwetashwet upanishad
in the context of Dunagiri’s twin peak-heads. In fact, this Upanishad
is believed to have been inspired/composed at Dunagiri itself. The fourth chapter of Shwetashwet upanishad, pondering on divinity, takes inspiration from Dunagiri’s twin natural peaks (one can see the twin rock pieces inside Dunagiri temple as well). Hence Manaskhand of Skandpuran bestows Dunagiri with the title of Brahm-parvat (Divine Mountain). Among all the Shakti
temples of Kumaon
, Dunagiri is counted amid the most ancient ‘Sidh Shaktipeeth’, as a primary ‘ugra’ (intense) ‘peeths’ - called ‘Ugra Peeth’. This shaktipeeth in its essence has been influenced over time by Shaiva, Vaishnav and Shakt practices.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
at 29.82306°N 79.44833°E. Approximately 400 km (248.5 mi) from Delhi, a cluster of six small villages forms the place that is variously known as Dunagiri, Drongiri and Doonagiri. 116 such villages combine to form the Development Block of Dwarahat
Dwarahat
Dwarahat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India.-Geography:Dwarahat is located at . It has an average elevation of 1,510 metres .-Demographics:...
, which falls under the District of Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
. Ancient forests and pristine landscapes define the area which has been a favorite haunt of mystics, writers, philosophers and poets over the millennia. Located at a height of 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level, Dunagiri is famous within Kumaon for its temple of Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
– known here as Dunagiri Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
.
Dunagiri also has a distinctive importance in cultural history of India. Ancient history and folk-lore related to Dunagiri tells us it has been regularly visited by Rishi-Munis of India who established their ashrams here in the midst of nature. Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
of Garg Muni was at Dunagiri after whom river Gagas is said to have been named. Sukhdev Muni’s ashram (son of sage Ved Vyasa) was also here, at a place now known as “Sukh Devi”. In the epic Ramayan, during Treta Yuga (prior to 3100 BC), when Lakshman was hit by the arrow of Indrajit
Indrajit
Indrajit or Meghanatha , a warrior mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana, was the son of the Lankan king Ravana. The word 'Indrajit' literally means the 'conqueror of Indra '....
, Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
saved his life by bringing divine herb sanjivani from this mountain which was then known as Drongiri or Dronagiri. During their period of anonymous travel, the Pandavas of Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
took shelter at Dunagiri. Pandukholi is said to be the place near Dunagiri where they stayed for a period of time. Pandav’s Guru Dronacharya also did tapasya (devout austerity) at Dunagiri. Dunagiri is mentioned in Manas khand of Skanda Purana
Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapurana, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text is devoted mainly to the lilas of Kartikeya , a son of Shiva and Parvati. It also contains a number of legends about Shiva, and the holy places associated with him...
. Dunagiri Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
is described as Mahamaya Harpriya (Manaskhand, 36.17-18).
In Creation, one can wonder if the element of Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
is primary or that of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
? Is it right to emphasize Prakriti or should it be Purusha
Purusha
In some lineages of Hinduism, Purusha is the "Self" which pervades the universe. The Vedic divinities are interpretations of the many facets of Purusha...
? Is it to be known as feminine or masculine? Questions of such nature are answered in Shwetashwet upanishad
Upanishad
The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, are variously referred to as the principal, main or old Upanishads...
in the context of Dunagiri’s twin peak-heads. In fact, this Upanishad
Upanishad
The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, are variously referred to as the principal, main or old Upanishads...
is believed to have been inspired/composed at Dunagiri itself. The fourth chapter of Shwetashwet upanishad, pondering on divinity, takes inspiration from Dunagiri’s twin natural peaks (one can see the twin rock pieces inside Dunagiri temple as well). Hence Manaskhand of Skandpuran bestows Dunagiri with the title of Brahm-parvat (Divine Mountain). Among all the Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
temples of Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
, Dunagiri is counted amid the most ancient ‘Sidh Shaktipeeth’, as a primary ‘ugra’ (intense) ‘peeths’ - called ‘Ugra Peeth’. This shaktipeeth in its essence has been influenced over time by Shaiva, Vaishnav and Shakt practices.