By Smita ChauhanChamoli, April 17 : In Latu Devta temple in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, neither the priests, nor the devout are allowed to see the deity.
Uttarakhand is also known as Dev bhoomi housing religious places which are full of mystery and allure, and one such temple is the Latu Devta temple in Van village in Dewal block.
About the temple:
* It is mysterious* Nagraj resides with mani* The devotees are not allowed to enter the temple and have darshan
Even the priest at the temple worships the deity with a cloth tied around his eyes and mouth so that he does not get scared by the formidable form of the god.
It is believed that the Naagraja (the serpent king in Hindu mythology) resides in the temple with a precious gem, popularly known as a ‘mani’, which cannot be seen by the common people.Locals also believe that if people see the mani, they will lose their vision due to its dazzling light.
Every year, a fair is organised at the Latu Devta temple.
As per mythology, Latu Devta is believed to be the brother of the presiding deity of Uttarakhand, Nanda Devi.
The Latu Devta temple is also the 12th stopover of the Nanda Devi Raj Jaat (holy procession) which is held once in 12 years.
Legend has it that Latu Devta welcomes and accompanies Nanda Devi on this journey till Hemkund.
The portals of the temple open only once on Baisakh Purnima.
After the portals are open, Vishnu Sahasranaam and Bhagwati Chandika ‘path’ (prayers) are organised.The portals of the temple are closed on Margseesha Amavasya.
The story of Latu Devta:
Latu Devta is believed to be the “dharma bhai” of Nanda Devi and brother-in-law of Lord Shankar.Nanda Devi is a form (aspect) of Goddess Parvati.
Nanda Devi did not have a brother.One day, she thought that if she had a brother, he would have definitely come to visit her at Kailash and brought her “bhitoli” (gifts given to a married woman).
That way, she would have got to know about the well-being of her parents also.Thinking all that, she started feeling homesick and became sad.
When Lord Shiva asked Nanda Devi why she was sad, she replied, “I am feeling homesick.I don’t have a brother, if I had a brother, he would have come to meet me and brought bhitoli and kaleva for me.”
After listening to Nanda Devi, Lord Shiva told her to make Latu, the younger son of the ruler of Kannauj, her brother.
After this, Nanda Devi thought that in this way, she will also get an opportunity to visit her parents house.
She sought permission from Lord Shiva which was granted.
Nanda Devi reached her parents’ place Riyasu and after taking permission from her father Hemant and mother Mainawati, proceeded to Kannuaj to make Latu her brother.
Goddess Durga is the Kuldevi of Kannauj.The name of the queen of Kannauj was also Maina Devi who had two sons Batu and Latu.But Maina did not have a daughter.
When Maina asked Nanda Devi the reason for coming to Kannauj, Nanda Devi told her that she does not have a brother and wanted to make Latu her brother and take him along with her.Initially, Maina said no, considering the long distance from Kannauj to Kailash.But when Nanda Devi insisted, Maina Devi agreed to her request.
Nanda Devi accompanied by Latu visited Riyasu and was happy that now she also had a brother who will come to visit her at Kailash and bring “Bhitoli” for her.When Nanda Devi left for Kailash, all the people of the area came to see her off.When Nanda Devi’s palanquin reached Van, she went to a river for taking a bath, and Latu, who was thirsty, started searching for water.
In the search for water, he entered a room where he asked an elderly man for water.
The old man told him that of the two pots kept in the corner of the room, one contained water.
Latu drank from the pot which was filled with country-made liquor.
Latu in an inebriated state created a scene and irked the villagers.
Infuriated over this, Nanda Devi ordered the villagers to tie Latu.
When Latu regained his senses, he sought forgiveness telling Nanda Devi the reason for his unruly behaviour.
Nanda Devi told Latu that a temple will be built in his name and he will be worshipped on the last day of Vaishakh.
Every 12 years, when the Nanda Devi Raj Jaat will take place, Latu will be worshipped.
Since then these customs are being observed.
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