I. K. Koul(Talib Kashmiri) May 1 · May 17, 2012

My dear Ashish,

That satisfies only half of your curiosity and the main problem 'Gund' still remains there. The meaning, inter-alia, of'Gund'as per Urdu-Kashmiri Firhang (dictionary)Volume-10, Page 98,is 'Halqa'( a small territorial area) and there are several places in Kashmir bearing names prefixing 'Gund' e.g. Gund-e-Ibrahim etc. I appreciate your sentiments in respect of Kashmir.....our motherland. Please keep on reading............I.K.Koul,Jammu

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Ashish Kaul · May 11, 2012

Respected Koul Sahib,

We used to live in Gund Ahalamar and was often teased by my relatives and friends in my childhood to be from a rowdy locality ( Gundae ) and I used to often think, why was the place named so. Thank so much for the information and it indeed is valued in Gold by me. I love my motherland and still yearn to go back often, inspite of the fact that i spent just 12 years of my childhood in Gund Ahlamar. I often visit Kashmir and been able to make a trip to Ganpatyar is some thing i consider is a my choicets blessing from the almighty.

Thanks for sharing this information.

Regards,
Ashish Kaul
ashishkaul13@gmail.com

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I K Koul (Talib Kashmiri) · Apr 25, 2012

( On the request of a reader/enthusiast I am posting below available historical details of Gund Ahlmar, a locality adjoining Ganpayar ):

AHALMAR GUND (Locality)
This locality is situated on the right bank of Vitasta in close vicinity of Ganpatyar near the present Nai Sadak. It derives its name from Ahalyamatha which had been established by Ahalya the wife of King Lakshman Dev who ruled Kashmir between 1273 and 1286 AD. No ancient ruins have been found here.

I K Koul
(Talib Kashmiri)
April 25,2012

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Jawahar Lal Taku · Apr 23, 2012

A very good information.

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Anonymous · Apr 19, 2012

GANPATYAR (Temple and Locality) This place is supposed to have remained the location of Shiva Vardhamanesa shrine during the reign of Sandhimat (69 23 BC), who used to visit it regularly. The traditional legend that Ganpatyar or Ganeshghat was the probable site of ancient Vardhamanesa is supported by Vitastamahatmya. According to M.A. Stein, an ancient linga had been recovered from a nearby mosque about a decade and a half before the conclusion of 19th century AD, where it had been serving the purpose of a lamp post. The walls of this mosque contained stone slabs which are believed to have been taken from the old Vardhamanesa shrine. In 1888 AD the local purohits erected a new temple of modest dimension in honour of Vardhamanesa near present Mallayar Ghat and placed the above mentioned linga in this temple. Presently, there is a stone image of Lord Ganesh at Ganpatyar and according to a local legend this image was got retrieved by some Kashmirian king when he was told in a dream that this image had drifted from Ganeshbal, located on left bank of Liddar river, a few miles before Pahalgam over a very long period and it was destined in his providence to get it recovered from the bed of the river at this very place and have it installed on the river bank, which he did as directed. The local Hindus still chant the following verse which lends some credence to the legend :
"Ganeshbal Petha Aakh Tsalithay,
Panas Anda vanda Sindhra Malithay."
It means, "You have come from Ganeshbal, with Sindhur (red lead) smeared all over your body."
The Shikhar type of dome on the present temple was got built by Dogra ruler, Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1854 AD and it is said that some pillars of old Gadadhar temple situated a short distance above on the left bank of Vitasta had been used in it. These old pillars still exist in the temple premises although other structures have been replaced or renovated since then.




Inder Krishen Koul

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