Walter Hamilton writes in The East Indian Gazetteer in 1828:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In Hindoostan there are four rivers which were once much dreaded by religious people. It was forbidden even to touch the waters of Carmanasha, to bathe in the Caratoya (a Bengal river called Curvatya in the maps), to swim in the Gunduck, or to cross the Attock.
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downloadable google book link
So he mentions 4 rivers which Hindus avoid: Karmanasha (east-UP &Bihar), Churvatiya (Bengal), Gandak (Bihar & Nepal), and Attock (now Pakistan). In fact river Karmanasha is also mentioned in similar reference in a famous Hindi literary work 'Karmanasha kee haar' (Defeat of Karmanasha)
Any idea? Any more information? What is the background of why people avoided crossing or swimming in these rivers?
at another place:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sher Shah's father, Hassan Khan Sur, got the Jagir of Sasaram. Later Baler invaded the area in 1529 and <b>has mentioned Hindu superstitions about river Karmanasha</b>. In 1537 the old Shahabad district witnessed advancement of Humayun and his subsequent conflict with Sher Shah at Chausa. Later the district of Shahabad (which includes present Kaimur district also) was included in Akbar's empire.
In 1758, Shah Alam during his conflict with Lord Clive of East India Company, went to Durgawati and <b>with the help of local Zamindar Pahalwan Singh crossed the Karmanasha River</b>. Subsequently Pahalwan Singh succumbed to comply and live on the latter's terms. In 1764, the old Shahabad district witnessed conflict for supremacy and the English became absolute masters of the area after defeating Siraj-ud-daula in the battle of Buxar.
http://www.indianngos.com/districts/kaimur_about.htm
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So what was the mystery? Is the belief still prevalent?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In Hindoostan there are four rivers which were once much dreaded by religious people. It was forbidden even to touch the waters of Carmanasha, to bathe in the Caratoya (a Bengal river called Curvatya in the maps), to swim in the Gunduck, or to cross the Attock.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
downloadable google book link
So he mentions 4 rivers which Hindus avoid: Karmanasha (east-UP &Bihar), Churvatiya (Bengal), Gandak (Bihar & Nepal), and Attock (now Pakistan). In fact river Karmanasha is also mentioned in similar reference in a famous Hindi literary work 'Karmanasha kee haar' (Defeat of Karmanasha)
Any idea? Any more information? What is the background of why people avoided crossing or swimming in these rivers?
at another place:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sher Shah's father, Hassan Khan Sur, got the Jagir of Sasaram. Later Baler invaded the area in 1529 and <b>has mentioned Hindu superstitions about river Karmanasha</b>. In 1537 the old Shahabad district witnessed advancement of Humayun and his subsequent conflict with Sher Shah at Chausa. Later the district of Shahabad (which includes present Kaimur district also) was included in Akbar's empire.
In 1758, Shah Alam during his conflict with Lord Clive of East India Company, went to Durgawati and <b>with the help of local Zamindar Pahalwan Singh crossed the Karmanasha River</b>. Subsequently Pahalwan Singh succumbed to comply and live on the latter's terms. In 1764, the old Shahabad district witnessed conflict for supremacy and the English became absolute masters of the area after defeating Siraj-ud-daula in the battle of Buxar.
http://www.indianngos.com/districts/kaimur_about.htm
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So what was the mystery? Is the belief still prevalent?