Dhosi Hill

Aerial View of Dhosi Hill Crater

Dhosi Hill, (also known as Pahadi Dhusran) an extinct volcano, standing alone in the North-West end of the Aravali Mountains range has temple, pond, fort and caves on the top and forest around it.

The hill is unique, for the reasons, it has all the physical features of a perfect volcanic hill with distinct crater, lava still lying on it and giving a perfect conical view from top and important because it can reveal many a facts about the initial development of Vedic Sanskriti or Sanatana Dharma, the original name of the oldest religion in the world, which at present times is called 'Hinduism'.

The hill is mentioned widely in Sanskrit Granths or Holy Books of Hindus like Brahamanas, Mahabharat, Puranas etc. Hill having physical features of an extinct Volcano, is described in epic Mahabharat that it, has features like 'three distinct hill tops', 'three perennial water falls' and housing the Ashram of revered Rishi Chyavana (for whom tonic Chyawanprash was prepared for the first time), had 'appeared' (obviously through Volcanic eruption), at the confluence of Treta and Dwapar yug [1] which happens to be within last 10,000 years.

Location

View of Dhosi Hill crater showing various structures

Dhosi Hill is located on the borders of the Indian states of Haryana and Rajasthan. The Haryana portion lies in Mahendragarh district to the south, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Narnaul on Singhana Road; the Rajasthan portion lies in Jhunjhunu district to the north.

In revenue records of the villages where the hill is located, Dhosi Hill is known as Pahadi Dhusran, ie: the Pahadi (hill) owned by Dhusars. The hill presently falls under the administration of three village panchayat, being those of Dhosi in Jhunjhunu and of Thana and Kultajpur in Mahendragarh. These villages are situated on the three waterfalls that become active during the monsoons that occur in July–August, being created from the overflow of a reservoir at the summit. The waterfalls are mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Each village also has an ancient water reservoir to augment the supply for villagers and animals.

While the ground level is about 900 feet (270 m) above sea level, the hill top is another 900 feet above the ground level.

Eruption

Lava or eruptions lying at Hill

Solidified lava is still visible on one side of the hill. According to the Mahabharata[2] the volcano erupted at the beginning of Treta Yug (9-10,000 years ago). It was described by the guru Shaunak, who had accompanied the Pandav brothers during their agyaatwas visit to the hill some 5100 years ago. The Mahabharata also describes how the hill has been revered since that time because it was inhabited by respected Rishis and Munis who contributed to Vedic Sanskrit books.

Ayurvedic medicine

Chyavana Rishi, who had his Ashram, on this hill and was cured by Ayurvedic treatment
Renovated 'Kayakalp' pond at Dhosi Hill, in which a herbal solution was prepared for Chyavana Rishi for his skin treatment

Dhosi Hill has been an important Ayurvedic centre since Vedic times because of its fertile and virgin. The Chyavana rishi ashram and temple are situated on the hill.

Chyawanprash, a paste of 46 herbs, was created/formulated here for the first time. During the Vedic period, when the rishis Bhrigu and Chyavana lived, some 9-10000 years ago, a formulation of herbal medicines was formulated for the aged and weak Chyavana by the 'Royal Vaids' or 'Raj Rishis', the twin brothers called Ashvini Kumar Brothers on Dhosi Hill. This formulation was called Chyawanprash and is still popular today. It sells in huge quantity throughout India and abroad. It is perhaps the oldest commercial brand in the world.

Kayakalp is a 'skin toning and glowing process' which made Chyavana look young, who was a case of early delivery at birth. The story is referred to in the Mahabharata, Brahmanas and Puranas. The Ashwini Kumar brothers had developed this process with the use and application of various herbs. This formulation had become very popular even among the common people of that period and has mentions in different Vedic books.

Even at present times the pond water at the hill top, is considered good for rejuvenation and Kayakalp of the body and is considered sacred. People come from long distances to take a dip in various Sarovers on different sides of the hill. The scientific reason for water to become 'rejuvenating' is that water which flows from all sides on the hill, which has copper content in it, brings dissolved herbs and tinge of copper in it. Traces of Copper in water is not only germicidal but is good for eyes, skin and digestion.

Dhosi Hill Fort

Serpentine Stairs to Dhosi Hill Crater from Kultajpur Side
Remnants of a fort built during medieval period by Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya

Dhosi Hill has remnants of a fort built by Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also known as Hemu, about 500 years ago. There are thick walls, up to 25 feet (7.6 m) high and 40 feet (12 m) wide on even the steepest slopes and top. The fort was constructed to safeguard the heritage and ashrams on the hill from frequent attacks by Muslim invaders during the medieval period. To replace the old temple a Fort like temple of Chyavana Rishi was built at the crater of the hill in the 1890s, which is 125 years old, by the Dhusars or the Bhargava Community.

All weather stairs in stone and lime plaster are constructed on Kultajpur and Thana sides of villages. The way from Dhosi village and pony track from Thana village are damaged at present. Stairs from Kultajpur side are the most comfortable means of going to top of hill. Stairs are wide and one can relax on them at places. Journey gives a good view of villages in neighbourhood and distant Aravali ranges. During Monsoons, one gets to pass through clouds as well.

Chyavan Rishi temple

The Chyavana Rishi temple on top of the hill has Shekhawati paintings in the Garbhagrah of the temple, a basement which can be used as a 'Dharmshala' (Resting place) for pilgrims. Among other structures on the hill is the renovated 'Chandrakoop', where the 'Raj Rishis' had prepared a solution for the treatment of Chyavana Rishi for his skin ailments. An ancient well for the supply of water for drinking and other purposes exists on the top of hill which is recharged by seepage and percolation of water from adjoining reservoirs which are charged by the rain water on the hill.

Haryana Government is now providing drinking water at the hill through mechanical uplifting from village Thana side located on the base of the hill.

Shiv Kund and Sanskrit Sansthan

Shiv Kund Complex at Dhosi Hill, which also had a Sanskrit Vidyalaya
Shiv Kund' Sarovar at Dhosi Hill

Halfway up the hill from the Kultajpur village side, on the south, is a reservoir known as Shiv Kund. This is filled from the reservoir at the summit. Shiv Kund had an operating Sanskrit Vidyalaya next to it until three decades ago. Aside from this, the hill had facilities for 'continuous recitation of Vedic richas' on the hill, thus giving the hill a name 'Richic Parvat' as described in the Mahabharata. Shiv Kund, the temple and other structures around it are managed by a community trust of the local Mittal community.

Summit sarovar

Plaque of Birla Brothers at the Dam Sarover on 'Dhosi Hill'
Sacred sarover for pilgrims atop Dhosi Hill

An ancient sarovar (reservoir) that stores rain water for bathing of pilgrims has existed at the summit of the hill for centuries. The stored water carries some rejuvenating properties and treatment for skin ailments. The water in the reservoir becomes herbal and also cupric because of the quantity of copper in the hill and growth of rare herbs in large quantities.

The reservoir becomes silted over time and is desilted at regular intervals. In 1944, the industrialist Birla brothers, led by G. D. Birla, who hailed from nearby Pilani village, arranged for the reservoir to be desilted and constructed a proper concrete dam on the site to increase the storage capacity. This was done in the memory of their father, Raja Baldev Rai Birla. A plaque is put on the Dam to this effect which states that reservoir could be used for bathing by all shades of Hindu pilgrims, including Sanatani, Harijan, Arya Samaji, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. This plaque shows that there was no caste barrier to use of the facilities.

In 2003, the reservoir was desilted by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, a NGO based in Delhi and Haryana.

Parikrama

Water reservoir on the Northern parikrama route of Dhosi Hill

Those visiting the hill on pilgrimage have performed a parikrama (circumambulation) of it since the time of Shaunak. The 8–9 km parikrama track includes some portions of which are damaged because of landslides.

Cave on the route of parikrama, which provides shelter to pilgrims

There is a cave on the parikrama route. Here Chyavan performed tapasya (deep meditation) for years. It provides shelter to pilgrims undertaking parikrama in case of heat and emergencies.

Temples and Religious Melas

Chyvan Rishi Temple on Dhosi Hill constructed by Bhargava community in the 1890s
Ancient Shiva Temple on the levelled surface of the hill

Apart from Temples at Shiv Kund, halfway to top of hill from Kultajpur side, there are several temples on the crater portion of the Hill. Most prominent among them is Chyvan Rishi temple built by Bhargava community. There is a Shiva temple on the crater, a Devi temple on the hill top, a Rama Temple next to the Royal Guest House and some small set ups. Different temples attract devotees on different days, but generally devotees visit all temples.

Several Melas take place on the Hill on various festivals and special days. On 'Somvati Amavasya' day lots of people assemble at the hill for a holy bath on the Sarovers at the hill. As per the map available of the period of the 1890s, there were separate Ghats for women known as 'Janana Ghats' but now they are abandoned.

Routes to the crater

There are four routes on the hill that lead to the crater.

The hill provides tourism opportunities to various categories of tourists. Students get to know about an extinct Volcanic Hill with distinct crater, conical hill, solidified lava and variety of herbs on not very old soil. Religious tourists will find ancient caves and Ashram of Chyawan Rishi on the Hill which has a walk from base to Hill top of 30 minutes to one hour depending on how fast one moves.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shree Mahabhartai,Van Parvai,shaloks 7-20, Geeta Press Gorakhpur, p.1300
  2. ↑ "Van Parv, Shalok No. 14". Mahabharat. Gita Press. p. 1308.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhosi Hill.

Coordinates: 28°03′39.47″N 76°01′52.63″E / 28.0609639°N 76.0312861°E