Krishna Dharajiya There has been a heated debate over Kakbhushundi Lake since many years about its authenticity. Whether Kakbhushundi Lake of Uttarakhand or Kakbhushundi Lake of Nepal belongs to epic character Shri Kakbhushundi Maharaj of ancient Vedic times….!! This post unveils and specifies mystery behind the real facts.
Who was Kakbhushundi?
Kakbhushundi is one of the characters of Ramcharitmanas written by Saint Tulsidas. He is considered as a revered Sage and excellent narrator of Ramayana of ancient times as per Hindu mythology.
‘Kak’ means Crow.
He’s an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and was the first being to narrate the Ramayana to any creature of world…! Even before Saint Valmiki and Saint Tulsidas….! Kakbhushundi is also a Chiranjeevi (immortal). It is said that the place he resides at, stays safe from Kaliyuga effects….!!!!
Story of Kakbhushundi
As per the mythological story – In one of the Kaliyuga of previous Kalpas (aeons), Kakbhushundi was born as a Shudra in Ayodhya. He was a great devotee of Shiva in that birth. But the disrespect that he showed towards his Guru in Ujjain led to curse of taking 1000 births by Lord Shiva. Due to humble prayer and sincere apology by his Guru, Shiva excepts him from pain of birth and death in these 1000 cursed births. Shiva blessed him with intact memory of past life devotion in all further lives.
After going through partially mitigated 1000 rebirths, he was born as a Brahmin. He starts getting into the devotion of Rama. Once due to some repeated anti-arguments, angry Sage Lomash curses him to turn into crow once again. But soon, the sage realized the after adversity of his anger..! And as a part of light weighting his sudden curse, he recalls the Brahmin crow and blesses him with ability to travel through time. Thereafter the transformed crow flies to Badrinath mountain regions for living.
Adhyatma Ramayana
When Kaliyuga of a Kalpa is over, a new cycle of the nature starts and fresh aeon arises. The crow (kakbhushundi) being blessed with ability to time travel was able to survive that apocalypse.
Once at the start of such new aeon, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati sat with purpose on a mountain range near Badrinath biosphere (today known as Neelkanth Mountain). Lord Shiva was narrating the story of Lord Rama of recent aeon to Mother Parvati. The Ramayana narrated by Lord Shiva to Devi is known as Adhyatma Ramayan. Meanwhile the cursed crow was present there and was silently listening to his first birth’s God, Lord Shiva.
Shiva being unaware of his presence continues narrating whole Ramayana to Devi. After completion of the story he realized that besides Parvati, a crow had witnessed to his blissful preaching. Lord Shiva blessed the crow (a devotee of his, in previous birth) with Liberation through Devotion of Lord Rama.
Shiva’s Blessings
Shiva preached him the stories of Rama as per his wish. Thereafter, his love and devotion for Rama starts and decides to live his life further in physical form of crow. As in this form itself he came to know about the Rama. Kakbhushundi became an ideal narrator of the events of life of Lord Rama.
Shiva blessed him with the ability to travel through time and recreate the story of Ramayana. Shiva gifted him with a boon to stand outside of time. Meaning as where the nature’s cycle repeats itself in different aeons. So he was able to see Ramayana played out eleven times & Mahabharata sixteen times with varying results. It is said that whenever Lord Rama incarnates on earth in different ages (Kalpa), Kakbhushundi flies and shifts to Ayodhya…! To watch the child plays of Rama. And his devotional love thus satisfies…!
Kakbhushundi and Garuda Talk
Once in Tretayuga, Lord Rama and his younger brother Laxman were hypnotized by Naagpaasha thrown by Meghnad, son of Raavan in battle of Lanka. Garuda (the vehicle of Lord Vishnu) arrived there to dismantle the effects Naagpaasha, on request of Lord Hanuman.
After the work done, Garuda felt doubtful about inefficiency of Lord Rama in saving himself. So he went to Sage Narad with an intention to know the mystery behind this incident. Narad sends Garuda to Lord Shiva for answer. Lord Shiva in return sends him to Kakbhushundi.
Sage Kakbhushundi was narrating Ramayana to crows and other birds on a lake in Himalayas at that time. Garuda arrives and listens to the story of Ramayana from revered sage satisfactorily. The conversation of Garuda with Kakbhushundi can be read here, as mentioned in Ramcharitmanas.
(The seven questions asked by Garuda to Kakbhushundi are nicely mentioned in our Vedic scriptures. They are much helpful for present scenario. You must read or listen to it if possible. I found a useful link of those seven question conversation here.)
Widely Claimed Two Kakbhushundi Lakes
According to scriptures and legends, Kakbhushundi Lake is the location where great Sage Kakbhushundi recites Ramayana to Garuda. Also it is a place where Shiva finds solace after death of Sati. There are two lakes which claims to be as original Kakbhushundi Lake relating to sage Kakbhushundi.
1- Kakbhushundi Lake : Uttarakhand
There is a lore of every crow flying to this lake at end of their life – To Die….!! This high altitude lake lays in the Badrinath region of the Garhwal Himalayas, near to Valley of flowers and Hemkund Sahib Trek. In Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, an UN world heritage site.
Kakbhusundi Lake is located at an elevation of 5,300 meters approximately. It is one of the high altitude lakes in the Indian Himalayan region showcasing wild colorful flowers. The lake surrounds barren mounds in the lap of myriad snow clad peaks. The Hathi Parvat at an elevation of 6,730 meters is one of the most prominent out of all other high mountains peeking at the horizon. The lake enchants majestic view of Nar-Narayan, Neelkanth and Chaukhamba peaks.
Two massive sporadic shaped rocks lies on edge of Hathi Parvat. Local says they are hidden forms of Kak (crow) and Garuda (Eagle) doing intellectual exchange on the issues and mysteries of universe. However, another shape depicts the crow as truly being a taken in Brahmin from Ayodhya. This lake also surrounds with land that grows an auspicious and rare Brahma Kamal.
2- Tilicho Lake : Nepal
Tilicho lake in Muktinath region of Nepal is also known as Bhushundi Sarovar. It is a lake of water melting from glaciers Annapurna and Thorung mountains. The south of Tilicho loom the icy ramparts of the Annapurna, carved by glaciers which plunge down to the lake itself. Tilicho Lake Trekking is one of the most attractive trekking destinations in Nepal. It passes through some of the most prominent places in Annapurna region with highlight of the trek being Tilicho Lake (4920m) itself.
Its surrounding regions are full of incredible view of breath-taking Himalayas, lush green hills, wide meadows and traditional villages of Buddhist community.The lake is located near ‘Mukti Chhetra’, which literally means ‘place of liberation or salvation’. The central shrine of Sri Muktinath is one of the eight most sacred shrines for Hindu Vaishnavas. Also known as Svayam Vyakta Kshetras.
The Muktinath Temple is a Shakti Peetha. Scripts narrating the importance of this temple are also available in Vishnu Purana with Gandaki Mahatmya. The Mukti Chhetra is equally important for Buddhism as well. Tibetan Buddhist tradition states that Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, meditated at Muktinath – on his way to Tibet.
Authenticity Behind Actual Kakbhushundi Lake Resolved
It is said that Lord Shiva and his family are the real owner of Badrinath Biosphere. The Kakbhushundi lake of Garhwal region was the place where Lord Shiva narrate Adhyatma Ramayana to Devi Parvati and the cursed crow was witness. As we know that Neelkanth Parvat of Badrinath range also means by name of Lord Shiva.
Very few know that, the place was so beautiful that Lord Vishnu asked for this place from Lord Shiva…! And thereafter Badrinath Dham came into existence. Lord Shiva shifted to Mt. Kailash thereafter with his ganas. Even the Narnarayan Peak were named after the penance of Lord Vishnu Incarnations NAR and NARAYAN. Moreover incidents are found in Ramcharitmanas which depicts Kakbhushundi Lake to be in Annapurna mountain region – which is in Nepal.
My Opinion
Kakbhushundi lake of Uttarakhand is a place where the cursed crow was blessed to be a Yogi by Lord Shiva and named as Kakbhushundi thereafter. It is the place where a crow turned into a Yogi by listening to Ramayana recited by Lord Shiva. That is why it is termed as Kakbhushundi lake where he was partially born as a Sage…! Where he found liberation in nectar of Name of Rama. That is the reason why it is said that every crow flies there to die. To find liberation at a place where their ancestral crow found liberation too. That could be a blessing from Lord Shiva given to Kakbhushundi for their upcoming generations. Just like we go to Kashi for finding Mukti at the time of death…!!!
Also Tilicho Lake is in Muktinath region of Nepal. It’s a place where Shiva find Solace after death of Sati. That place is near to Mount Kailash. After the Badrinath region being taken over by Lord Vishnu, Sage Kakbhushundi have had shifted to revered Mukti chhetra near Gandaki river. (Even today, Gandaki river is said to be connected with Siddhas, Yakshas and Kakbhushundi)… Back to the place of his Lord…, The Lord Shiva…!!! There, on the bank of Bhushundi Sarovar (Tilicho Lake) he would have narrated the Ramayana to Garuda in Tretayuga during Rama-avtar. Thus,
Kakbhushundi Lake of Uttarakhand is the place where Sage Kakbhushundi heard Ramayana from Lord Shiva in starting of Kalpa (aeon)
and
Tilicho Lake of Nepal is the place where Sage Kakbhushundi narrate Ramayana to Garuda in Tretayuga.
_*_
Love & Light
Krishna
