ZTttarakhand 47
jsequently sent to Landsdowne Cantonment where a separate
.unit was established. Their skillful soldiery brought them to
the forefront and in 1901 a new Battalion was created and
.named 39th Garhwal Rifles. During world war I of 1914 for
:this uncommon courage and valour Naik Darban Singh Negi
-was honoured with the highest insignia —Victoria Cross. The
jiext was Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi of 2nd Bn. Garhwal
Jtifles. Many more followed afterwards.
The legend
It may appear surprising to some readers that the name of
,a holy land should be applied to the Himalayan province of
<jarhwal, yet there in no difficulty in proving the claim to the
title. The great shrines of both the leading deities of modern
India, Shiv and Vishnu, the active partners in the Hindu triad
•or, trinity, are situated within its bounds, and these places,
Kedarnath and Badrinath, are the supreme objects of
pilgrimage to devout Hindus beyond all Tirthas or holy places,
either at Benares, Gaya, Prayag or Puri. The mountain
^fastness, which are believed to be the dwelling place of Siva
.and Vishnu, are regarded as sacrosanct, and more merit is
obtained by the long and toilsome journey to the snowy peaks
than to any other of the numerous centres of pilgrimage
throughout India. The very sight of everlasting snows is^aid
to bestow sanctity and bliss; nay, it is written in the
;Skandpurana—"He who thinks of Himanchal, though he
should not beheld him, 'fe greater than he who performs all
worship in Kashi (Benares). In a hundred ages of the gods
I could not telf thee of tne glories of Himanchal. As the dew
' tip by tt|e:niorning sun, so are the sins of mankind by
of the ITimanchal:" •
According**" to Purarias", the early inhabitants were either
Asuras or Nagas and1 Painkhanda (Badrinath Dhatn) was the
'kingdom of legendary demon king* J Hiranyakashyap and
"Yodhipur (present Joshimath) was his capital. Leaving aside
-the hypothetical stories about the divine kings and queens, we
have ample evidence of men and women who lived and
'meditated here on the divine heights of Himalayas. The most
remarkable and momentous incidents in the history of