The sacred hill of Dholavira

Hari AUM Sat Tat, Jai Guru Datt!!!

I am beginning photo blogging after a long break after my travels all over India. Couldn't think of a better pic than this one as a starter.
In the middle of great Rann of Kachh, which was referred as Vrann of Kukshi Desh in Ramayana, there is an isolated hill called Bhanjan hill. Named after one of the Navayogi called Kurubhanjan Narayana, their set of Nine Yogi had given rise to a number of faiths in ancient world like Navanatha the founder fathers of Natha cult in India, Navayogi of Thirunavaya in Kerala, Navanarasimha in Andhra Pradesh, Nineveh in ancient Sumerian religion, Nabi Wali songo in Malaysia. Of course, in today's world when faith has become more of a mode of identity politics rather than a path to understand self beyond our ego and body, such deep sources of our commonalities can't be seen any more than poetic imagination.

Referred for their deep discourse with King Janak in Bhagawad Puran, the Navayogi have almost been forgotten except for their reincarnation in form of Navanatha saints who popularized Yoga in the dark period of Kaliyuga. For Natha cult, Guru Dattatreya who had been referred as Idris in Sufi circle and Hermes Trismegistus in Semitic culture has been the Adiguru from whom all Guru Shishya Parampara originated. Every single Guru Shishya Parampara in Bharat (including Sikhs) has deep respects for this master of the masters who had actualized the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra in himself. 
Here on the edge of Dholavira, a makeshift temple has been constructed dedicated to Guru Dattatreya, whose presence is felt in the Bhanjan hill in the background.

 But since that sacred hill is in middle of the vast Rann of Kutcch in the Indo-Pak borders, even locals struggle to get permission to visit it. Coming here, I can't help not feeling veneration for Adiguru Dattatreya  who had been the centre of veneration of the residents of Dholavira, the most prominent port town of Saraswati civilization.
 Am hopeful that a new Bharat which is proud of its roots which get back to receive the grace of the biggest source of its Guru Shishya Parampara...
Jai Guru Datt

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The great Rann of Kachh has a deep history of an ancient sect of NavaYogi which has completely disappeared from Bharat today. Rann of Kachh referred to in Ramayana as Vrann of Kukshi Desh, is believed to be created when Sreeram directed his arrow intended to punish Varuna up in this direction.  The ruins of Dholavira, the biggest port town of ancient Saraswati cvilization referred to by archaeologists as Harappan culture, may this region a subject of special curiosity for people interested to dig in the Bronze age past of the country. In Pauranik traditions which attributes far deep past to an era called SatyaYuga, one can't help skip the reference to a great master called Adiguru Dattatreya. Known to be the teacher of Asura like Prahlada, controversial king like Kartaveerya and  Rishi like Harita, he is noted for the most non-partisan attitude in the political affairs of humans. In the Semitic Sufi world, he is called as Idris.  Though his worship is quite popular in Mah...
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