Tears, idle tears,

Tears from the depth of some Divine despair

Alfred Tennyson, the British poet is not the only one who wrote about Divine despairs. Centuries before him, ancient worshippers, artisans and craftsmen in the sub-continent built a stony complex that epitomizes a Divine misfortune when lord Shiva cried over the demise of his beloved wife Sati. Originally named " Katahsah " meaning Weeping Eyes or The Spring of Rainy Eyes, is said to have emerged when according to mythological  references, two tears from the eyes of Shiva fell, one in Pushkar, Ajmer, India and the other in Katas, Pakistan, generating a  pool of blue water, Amrat Kund [the sacred pool]. The place is sacred to Hindus and along with the temple in Pushkar, is considered the Eyes of Shiva. So a temple was built around it. Thousands of Hindus traveled to bathe in the holy waters of the pool of Shiva. Temple Complex of Katas is situated 135 km from Rawalpindi, 18 km from Khewra Salt Mines and 4 km from Chua Saidan Shah. Historic evidence marks the arrival of pilgrims from distant places and as a result a string of Hindu temples and monasteries spread from east to west in the area. Legend goes that lord Shiva wept over the suicide of his wife Sati. The story is described in Purana with all the beauty of a lofty Vedic verse. Another legend relates that Pandava brothers went to quench their thirst at Katasraj temple pond. Yaksha, the protector of the pond allowed them to drink water only if they would answer his questions. When four of Pandavas failed to reply, Yaksha rendered them lifeless. Yudisthithra finally defeated Yaksha with his wisdom and had his brothers revived. Katas was believed to be built by Pandavas. Al Bairuni also refers to Katas in the ancient Hindu scriptures. He mentions a glorious temple in Kitab ul Hind, and a university here. He writes about Katas as the most reverend Hindu temple after Jawalamukhi Mandir in Punjab. He learnt Sankrit, science and Vedic traditions during his stay at Katas.

Temple, shrines, bath and ruined palace at Katas whisper tales of mystery, romance and Divine tragedy to the keen eyes and eager ears. Fading pictures of gods on crumbling walls stand at the mercy of human attention. The ancient air of Katas silently witnesses torrents of change. History and culture tangle up in a never ending war of survival away from the humdrum of modern life.

Poets have told it before, poets are telling it now, and other poets shall tell this history on earth in the future.

                                                           Mahabharata (The Book of the Beginning)

Sati’s [faithful, chaste wife] suicide refers to the practice of self destruction among Hindu widows after the death of their husbands, so they don’t re marry and stay pure. They choose to die either by joining the dead husband on funeral pyre, or by committing suicide later, as Sati, the wife of Shiva did when her husband was humiliated in public by her father. Not even a pregnancy would save a woman from this fate. Death was postponed till only 2 months after childbirth. Origins of sati practice are mysterious, though both Mahabharata and Ramayana contain references to this. 1st historical reference of sati is found in 316 BC records, and the most recent one in 1987 when 18 year old Roop Kanwar, committed suicide in Deorala, Rajhistan, after the demise of her husband.

Mughals, in order to abolish this, instituted a permit system, where a woman stated she was committing suicide by her own choice. But this method remained open to abuse. In 1829, under Lord Bentink’s Regulaion, sati became illegal homicide.

Complete article published as title story in Tourism Scenario International [Pakistan's leaing tourism magazine], March 2007 issue.