Bharmour

Bharmour, formally known as Brahmpura, was the ancient capital of Chamba district, India. Situated at an altitude of 7000 feet in the Budhil valley (coord|32.26|N|76.32|E|), forty miles to the south-east of Chamba, Bharmour is known for its scenic beauty and for its ancient temples. Some of temples are believed to be existing from 10th century. As the whole country around Bharmour is supposed to belong to lord Shiva, it is popularly spoken of as Shiva Bhumi, abode of lord Shiva. Being the home of an interesting tribe of Gaddis, it is also called Gadderan.

History

Meru, the father of the first recorded prince Jaistambh in the Chamba Vanshavali was the first to settle Bharmour. He belonged to a ruling family of Ayodhya. Accompanied by his youngest son Jaistambh, Meru penetrated to the upper Ravi valley through the outer hills. He defeated the patty Ranas holding the territory there and founded the town Brahampura and made it the capital of a new state. This event is believed to have taken place in the middle of 6th century A.D..

According to one legend, the name Brahampura was in use at a still earlier period for the more ancient kingdom of Bharmour which existed in the territories of Garhwal and Kumaon, and that Maru gave the same name of Brahampura to the state that he founded with present Bharmour as his capital.

After Maru, several Rajas ruled in succession until Sahil Varman. It was Sahil Varman who conquered the lower Ravi valley and transferred the seat of government from Brahampura to the new capital he founded at Chamba. Bharmour was capital for probably four hundred years.

The original state was of very small extent and in all likelihood comprised at the most the present Bharmour sub-division i.e. the valley of the Ravi below Bara Bangahal, with its tributaries, the Budhil and the Tundah as far down as Chhatrari.

According to a local legend, the place Brahampura was older than Maru's time and as per common belief this used to be the vatika (garden) of goddess Brahamani who used to reside where her shrine now stands on the ridge at a distance of 3-4 kilometers. Brahamani Devi was having a son who was very fond of his pet choker or (birds). One day the choker was killed by a peasant and the son was shocked to death by this loose . Grief-stricken, Brahmani Devi also sacrificed by burying herself alive. The spirits of these trio dead souls started haunting the people awfully who raised Brahmani Devi to the status of deity and built her a temple. The people believe that the place was called Brahmpura after Brahamani Devi.

The legend further says that God Shiva with 84 Sidhas while on his way to Manimahesh happened to visit Brahmpura, the Vatika of the Goddess Brahmani Devi and settle there for the night. When Brahmani Devi, the presiding deity of the place saw the smoke of fires lit by the Sidhas, she felt very angry at this trespass. She came down to the place and ordered Shiva and the Sidhas to get out of the place. Shiva importuned in all his humility for allowing them to spend a night there. Goddess Brahamani condescended to their wishes. The 84 Sidhas transformed themselves in to 84 Lingas because they wished to settle there.

The Lord Shiva granted a boon to Brahamani Devi that all persons intending to go on pilgrimage to Manimahesh must have a dip in Brahmani pool. Failing this, their pilgrimage would not be acceptable to Lord Shiva.

In September 2007, the Government of Himachal Pradesh started chopper service to the temple located at an altitude of 14,000 ft.

References

[http://www.pandeyji.com/dalhousie/bharmour.cfm Guide to Bharmour]