196 Abode of Gods
in the valley of Gori. There is no doubt that the valley of Gori is
Jauhar in which Millam is situated which had considerable
population and commanded large trade with Tibet. Hirodotus,
the Greek writer, also mentions the city of Kaspatyuris in the
extreme north *ewhere men are sent forth to procure gold".
This legendary ant gold 'Paipilika' was collected till recently
at Karanprayag. Thus the ancient Katyuri kingdom can also
be placed somewhere nearby.
As regards the woman ruler, it is known that the only woman
heir of Kartipura was married by Krnakpal of Gujirat in 17th
century A. D. and later on he shifted to Katripur and called him-
self eSuvarna gotrf because his land delivered gold.
During this period of history, in the lower hills, prevailed the
kingdom of Govisana which has been identified by M. Julien as-
Kiu-Pi-Shwang-Wa of Huen Tsang which has been described by
him as a town of two and half miles in circumference and was-
full of Stups and temples. This capital town was somewhere
near present Kashipore.
Considering the history of Kumaon and Garhwal as taken from.
internal sources, it will be well to refer to the evidence of the-
Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Huen Tsang, who in 634 A. D. passed
through northern India, and has left an itenerary of his travels-
giving most important and relevant facts regarding the condition.
and tradition of the country.
Huen Tsang's account shows both Buddhism and Brahmanisiu
were flourishing side by side, and apparently are on fairly friendly
terms, in the Himalayan region. Buddhism in the Himalayas;
was suppressed when Shankara came into limelight.
Contemporary religious points in Uttarakhand
The traditional beliefs continue to hover over the minds of Hindus:
of high Himalayas but with the change of time a stance of moder-
nity has entered in their faiths. The age-old fanatic cults and belief
in the pastoral gods and goddesses is dying. In fact, even',
amongst the Bhotias of northern Indian borderland, the age-old
customs and religious beliefs are just disappearing and its place
is being taken by more sophisticated and modernised Hindu
beliefs.
It is interesting to note that Bhotias have been left, ever sincer