48 Abode ofGody
Garhwal was when Ved Vyasa wrote Mahabharata and
Skandpurana near Badrikashrama and centuries later
Sankracharya travelled the interiors of Garhwal and establi-
shed the famed Maths of Josbimath and Okhimath and the
holy Dhams of Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Kedarkhand now described as Garhwal is the birthplace of
Ganga and Yamuna, the twin holy rivers, on the banks of
which scores of holy places like Panch Kedars, Panch Badrisr
Panch Kashis and Panch Prayags are located. I had the
privilege to visit each and every place connected with our
divine tradition not once but number of times.
History
During Brahmanical period (after Vedic period), Garhwal
had come to be known as Brahmarshidesh. In Mahabharatar
Garhwal has been described as Panchaldesa. Even today,
many places are known and identified as Pandusirar
Panduakhal etc. Panch Pandavas entered Garhwal alongwith
Draupadi oa way to Swargarohini and that is why even today
numerous places are known after them and certain dance-
forms exist after the folklore of Pandavas. Such folktales are
enacted, year after year, with great gusto and fervour,
The Lakhamandal dynasty
Apart from the dynasties at Brahmapore and Govisana, we-
also find traces of ancient civilisation supported by sufficient
inscriptions at Lakhamandal across Jamuna in Dehradun
district on the Barahoti-Mussoorie road. The archaeological
finds reveal besides rich art work, the history of the two
dynasties which ruled in this part of the country. The first
dynasty belonged to about 5th century A.D. The Lakha-
mandal inscription opens with salutations to Nagendranya
(Parvarti) and proceeds to give the geneological tree of the
local dynasty as follows: