Order a Sample of the Holy Water of Katasraj Pond

Katasraj · October 17, 2007

KATASRAJ TEMPLES:

Katasraj temple is a Hindu temple situated in Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has existed since the days of Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at the site. The Pakistan Government is considering nominating the temple complex for World Heritage Site status. It also proposes to spend about Rs 20 million in three phases for the restoration of the complex.

HISTORY:

Most of the temples, located some 40 km from the modern city of Chakwal in the Potohar region of northern Punjab in Pakistan, were built during the reign of Hindu kings. These several temples were built around 900 years ago or more. Although, the earliest of the Katasraj temples dates back to the latter half of the 6th century AD.

The temple was not abandoned by local Hindus when they migrated to East Punjab in 1947. It has always been the site of holy pilgrimage. Even nowadays, through an agreement between India and Pakistan, Hindu worshippers perform a pilgrimage to the temple every year and bathe in the sacred pool around which Katas Raj is built.

RENOVATION BY GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN:

In 2006-07, Pakistan decided to place idols of Hindu gods in the seven temples and restore them to their original state to attract visitors. The budget allocated for the project was Rs.51.06 million. The temple was visited earlier by India's former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani. The Punjab government decided to import idols of Hindu gods from various monuments in India to Pakistan for the restoration. A three-member archaeological team visited India to collect idols of Hindu gods.

LOCATION:

The Katasraj temples are located 40 kilometres from Chakwal District. While it takes a little effort to reach Katasraj by road - one has to go off the Moterway M2 - (Islamabad - Lahore) at KallarKhar interchange. Then follow the road to Choa Saiden Shah for 24 km. Then you can see the Katas Raj Temples on your left. It is a picturesque sight.

ARCHITECTURE:

The Katas site houses the Satgraha, a group of seven ancient temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, a few medieval temples, and havelis, scattered around a pond considered holy by Hindus. The temples at Katas are mostly constructed on square platforms. The elevation of the sub shrines seems to form a series of cornices with small rows of pillars, crowned by a ribbed dome.

The Ramachandra temple is situated to the east of the Hari Singh Haveli and is closed from all sides except for an entrance on the east. The double-storied structure has eight rooms of various dimensions on the ground floor and a staircase at the south leading to the first floor. The temple has two jharokas (balconies) that have been severely damaged.

The Hanuman temple is on the western extreme of a high rectangular enclosure with entrances on the south and the north. The temple's ceiling is undecorated, and lime-plastered. The Shiva temple is also built on a square platform. Its entrance is a recessed round arch with faint cusps and a rectangular opening to the north. Katas Raj temple complex is believed to date back to the Mahabharata era. There are stories about the Pandavas spending time there during their long exile. The lake in the complex is believed to have magical powers and supposed to be where Yudhishtir defeated the Yaksha with his wisdom to bring his brothers back to life.

LEGENDS:

Many legends sacred to the Hindus are associated with it, some of them involving Shiva himself. Legend says that the five Pandava brothers, heroes of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, stayed here for four out of the 14 years that they spent in exile.

Another legend involves the death of Shiva's wife Satti, so the story goes that when she died he cried so much and for so long, that his tears created two holy ponds - one at Pushkara in Ajmer in India and the other at Ketaksha, which literally means raining eyes, in Sanskrit. It is from this name that the word Ketas is derived. Another version of the legend mentions the two pools at Katasraj and Nainital, India.

PREHISTORIC TOOLS & WEAPONS:

Prehistoric tools and weapons such as axes and knives made of granite, and artefacts like terracotta bangles and pottery have been unearthed at the Katasraj site. The latter have been found to be similar to those excavated in Harappa, but have not been dated for want of expert opinion from abroad. The fascinating Salt Ranges have a vast archaeological treasure still hidden underground. Exploratory work that could expose evidence of an ancient civilisation here needs to be undertaken.

The Salt Ranges have also been yielding prehistoric finds. While some local experts place the fossils discovered in the period between 6000 and 7000 BC, the fact remains that they have not yet been examined by trained palaeontologists from the West. A large number of bones of the limbs and vertebrae of giant animals resembling the extinct mammoth and dinosaur, have been found at some sites. “An entire range of low mountains in the area appears to be fossilised, revealing to the naked eye layer upon layer of a variety of plants and soils,” says one writer.

THE HOLY WATER OF KATASRAJ POND:

Apart from the temples, there is a sacred pond having mythical association with Lord Shiva. It is said to have been formed from a tear which fell from the eye of Hindu God, Shiva who was desolate at the death of his beautiful wife, Sati. Ketas means "weaping eyes".

History tells that once Pandavas reached a lake and when they were about to quench their thirst, a Yaksha, the protector of the lake appeared and said that only people who answer his questions right would be allowed to drink water. The four Pandavas failed and were made lifeless by the Yaksha. Finally Yudhishtira answered all his questions and the brothers were revived. According to one legend, this dialogue happened at the Katasraj Mandir pond.

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