Lava Naga
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (Retd.) |
Lava Naga (लव नाग) was a renowned prince of Kashmir. He was ancestor of Ashoka.[1] Historical Lov Nag spring is in Anderbug.
Variants
- Lav Nag
- Lavnag
- Lohnag
- Loh Nag
- Lov Nag
- Raja Lov (the settler of Lolab)
- King Loh (the settler of Lolab)
Jat Gotras
History
Rajatarangini[2] mentions that Lava was a renowned prince of Kashmir. He had a vast and powerful army under him, and probably carried on many wars with his neighbours. It is said of him that the noise of his army made his people sleepless, but lulled his enemies to long sleep (death). He built the town of Lolora which, it is said, contained no less than eighty-four lacs of stone-built houses. Nothing more is said of him than that he bestowed the village of Lovara in Ledari on Brahmanas before his death. He was succeeded by his son Kusheshaya, who was a powerful prince. He bestowed the village of Kuruhara on Brahmanas. His son Khagendra, who succeeded him, was a valorous and patient king. He destroyed many of the Nagas, who were his enemies. He founded the villages of Khagikhuna and Musa.
Legend about Lav Nag
Another legend refers to the discord between King Loh and Kashyap Rishi. Once Raja decided to perform a havan and called Kashyap Rishi as the brahmin. As Kashyap Rishi blew the conch-shell, Raja shouted ‘aavhan’. Kashyap Rishi shouted back ‘Visarjan’. Raja Loh protested strongly. The rishi told him, ‘It is my right to perform havan. How dare you do it’. Havan remained inconclusive.
The place where havan was performed there is a spring, named Lohnag or Lavnag, one km from Kashyap Rishi’s samadhi. This beautiful spring with crystal-clear water is shaped like a Pranali and is three-feet deep. Water comes out from the western end of the spring. The spring is 10 ft x 10ft in dimensions.
Lavnag has remained historically important, Gulab Singh soon after conquering Kashmir visited it. He sanctioned a land grant of 113 canals for the upkeep of spring. His pet pujari, Pt. Gash Bhat, grand father of late Prasad Bhat was in his company when the Dogra King visited the place. Shav Ratangeer, an ascetic, who used to stay at Durganag temple, came to Lav Nag and stayed at this place for 18 long years.
There is no specific day for puja at this historic spring. On the western side of the spring is a Chinar with four branches, Chakrabooni. It is a very old Chinar. Recently the Chinar was burnt. The platform around the spring has been cemented and the spring connected to a water reservoir.
Ref - http://ikashmir.net/pilgrimage/lolab.html