Uttarakhand 83
ttorum is approximately six and a quarter meters square. In the
.centre is the icon of Ganga which is about half a meter high.
A little lower are the images of Laxmi, Saraswati, Annapurna,
Bhagirathi, Yamuna and Jahnavi. The Bhagirath shila (rock) on
which Raja Bhagirathi meditated is below the temple where
.shraddha ceremony is performed and oblations are paid to the
.ancestors.
About hundred and fifty meters downstream is Gauri-kund
where the Bhagirathi falls into a huge natura Itrough. It is believed
•that when Bhagirathi started flowing towards Fatal, Lord Shiva
intervened and checked. The entire site is awe-inspiring.
The system of puja and archana is quite interesting and reflects
.a great tradition.
There are some very good saints with whom I had many
•encounters particularly with the holy saint Swami Shardanandji,
Jalahari Baba and Swami Hansanand.
Trek to Caumukh
From Gangotri, most of the pilgrims, who are physically fit
and agile, proceed on onward journey to Gaumukh, Tapovan and
very few cross the high mountainous pass and descend into
Arwa valley on way to Holy Badrinath dham.
The route from Gangotri to Gaumukh is very pleasant. It has
almost no climb. As we arrive at Bhujbas, a majestic view of
Bhagirathi group of peaks confronts us. In one of my early
journeys, we had a night halt at Chirbasa. Climbers have a big
•rock at Chirbasa where many rock-climbers find time to practice
•rappling which is succeeded with campfire.
From Chirbasa we proceed to Bhujbasa where a saintly person
has built a smalt hutment to the great relief of pilgrims.
In and around Bhujbasa bhojpatra or silver birch trees grow in
abundance. The ancient rishis used to write ever its thin bark.
Bhojpatra is replaced by juniperous bush which grows in abun-
dance. These are called Thalujari in local dialect. Growing
about a feet and half in height, the bush spreads like a mesh
forming a net. The oil content in its wood is quite high and it
burns well.
Right from Bhojbasa, one can see the massive column of Shiv
I.ing rising high and opposite it lie the twin peaks of Bhagirathi,