About the Book:
The present work concerns the tiny tract of Lahul in the wide perspective of the geography and history of the great Himalaya. The Pali Literature referring to the river Chandrabhaga - which originates from Lahul and its inhabitants, introduces to an important moment in the ancient history of Lahul, stating that there live Kinnaras on the banks of Chandrabhaga. Lahul is situated at the headwaters of Chandrabhaga. The river received this name at its head. Firstly its two heads were named viz. Chandra and Bhaga and the
combination of the two became the name of the main river. As against this, its former name Asikni, Vedic, was received at its last end. Of its other two names one is the earliest and the second the latest.

Contents:

Preface
List of Plates
1. Ancient Lahul and Chandrabhaga in the Himalaya
2. The Four Great Rivers of the Himalaya in Jambudvipa
3. Chanda Kinnara Játaka and the Chanda-Parvata
4. Asoka’s Mission to Suvanna-bhumi: An Ancient State in the High Central Himalaya
5. Lha-rgyas : The Song of Auspiciousness
6. Chhodpa Festival: An Ancient Mask Dance of Folk Tradition
7. Gepang: The Spiritual King of Lahul
8. Temples and Monasteries of Lahul
9. Tradition of Tantric Practices in Lahul
10. sTag-tshang Ras-pa’s Visit to Urgyan and His Hindi Conversation
11. Genealogical Lists of the Thakurs of Lahul and the Style of Writing Their Titles
12. rKyang-chhu Thang : The Meeting Point of the Territories of Lahul and Ladakh
13. Two Little Known Languages of Western Pahari Group from Kinnaur
14. Traditional Methods of Distribution of Irrigation Water in Lahul
15. Ancient Trade Routes and Wool Markets in Himachal Pradesh
16. Revenue System of Lahul and the Socio-economic Classes in sTod
17. Pungyin: A Brahminic Tradition of Ancestor Worship in Lahul
Bibliography
Index
Plates

About the Author:

Tobdan belongs to Lahul. He is interested in studying about Lahul and incidentally about the areas surrounding it in the aspects like history, culture, etc. He writes in English, Hindi and Bhoti. His works relate to Lahul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Zanskar. His last work was Spiti, A Study in Socio-Cultural Traditions (2015). He has been associated with the Peoples’ Linguistic Survey of India, Himachal. He had been member of the Governing Body of the Himachal Arts, Culture and Language Academy, Shimla.