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Abstract
The central Himalayan region is demarcated by two major rivers namely Tons (Tamas) a tributary of Yamuna on the western side and Kali river in the eastern side. It is surrounded by Nepal in east, Himachal Pradesh in west, Tibet in north and Uttar Pradesh in south. This region had contacts with adjoining areas and far flung areas of the subcontinent thorough the means of pilgrimage. Central Himalayas house some of the major and remotest tīrthaswhich developed in the early medieval period. However the written history of the region started in 3rd century BCE with the Kalsi rock edict of Emperor Aśoka. The presence of edict suggests that this region was the periphery of Mauryan Empire which practiced Buddhism. However in the coming centuries this region came under the subordination of various dynasties including Guptas. It was by the time of Gupta’s that brahmanism was promoted in the region. After the fall of Gupta Empire, Katyūrī rulers who were feudatories of Guptasrose to power. These indigenous rulers ruled from Kartikeyapura in the Kumaon region from approximately 8th to 13th century CE and promoted brahmanical religion in the region with full vigour. Thus the period from 3rd century BCE to 13th century CE saw crystallisation of this region as the cradle for intermixing of various cults and traditions as well as emergence of this place as a tīrthacentre. Though preference and royal support was always extended to brahmanical cults and the period from c. 2rd century CE to 13th century CE saw influx of sages as well as lay people who worshipped the Puranic deities.