A curse changed the fate of "Kuldhara"

kuldhara

Kuldhara is an abandoned village in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, India. Established around the 13th century, it was once a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. It was abandoned by the early 19th century for unknown reasons, possibly because of dwindling water supply, or as a local legend claims, because of persecution by the Jaisalmer State's minister Salim Singh. A 2017 study suggests that Kuldhara and other neighbouring villages were abandoned because of an earthquake.

Over years, Kuldhara acquired reputation as a haunted site, and the Government of Rajasthan decided to develop it as a tourist spot in the 2010s.

Why is a once prosperous village now nothing but an abandoned old site?

I spot two shepherd boys and for a paltry sum of Rs. 10 they narrate to me the legend and curse of Kuldhara.

In an era of powerful kings and ministers, about 200 years ago, Kuldhara was home to the Paliwal Brahmins. It was during this time that Salim Singh, the Diwan of Jaisalmer, known for his debauchery and unscrupulous tax-collecting methods, set his eyes on the beautiful daughter of the village chief. The Diwan was absolutely hell bent on having the girl and he told the villagers if they came in his way he would levy huge taxes on them.

Fearing the wrath of the Diwan, the residents of the entire village fled one dark night, leaving behind their homes and everything within them. Kuldhara was abandoned by its very own people. No one saw the thousand-odd members of the village leave. For generations now, no one knows where the Paliwals have resettled. All that is known is they cursed the town when they left – that no one would ever be able to settle down in Kuldhara again.

Wandering souls

In India's traditional land there are many such raj bursts, which are many years or even centuries later still fresh and unheard of as they used to be before. These secrets are such that the more they try to solve, they are very confused. One such Raj is buried inside Kuldhara, a small village in Rajasthan. Someone says that there is a guard of souls wandering on the land of Kuldhra for hundreds of years, then some believe that a curse has changed the fate of this place.

House of kuldhara

These Brahmins were not only hardworking but also scientifically strong, because the remains of Kuldhra clearly indicate that the houses of Kuldhra were built on scientific grounds.

Mysterious tales

But what happened that the people of the laughing 84 villages suddenly got forced to leave their homes, houses, farming and everything in just one night? The same question is linked to the mysterious Tales of Kuldhara, which is allegedly related to curse and evil spirits.

Bad eyesight of Diwan

In today's era, no one cares about anyone, but the time we are talking about here was to think about each other not just myself but time. Paliwal Brahmins who lived a happy life had a bad look on Deewan Salam Singh. Salam Singh liked a Brahmin girl and he tried everything possible to try to get it.

Threat of Salam Singh

When all his efforts failed, Salam threatened the villagers that either they would hand him over to the full moon or they would pick him up.

Destiny of kuldhara

One night all the Brahmins of 84 villages took a decision that they will vacate this village overnight but they will not allow anything to that girl. All the villages nearby, including Kuldhara, were vacant in just one night. They went on cursing this village that no one would be able to find this place, whoever comes here will be ruined.

Cruel king

There is another story related to this place, according to which Kuldhra village was inhabited by the total Brahmins, but one of the kings here was so cruel that they did not allow their people to live independently and exploited them in a respectful manner. He would beat them and keep them like their slaves.

Curse

The villagers were very upset about his movements. Everyone decided that they would leave the village and leave. On the way, he gave a curse to this village, which has not yet been allowed to settle down.

Wandering roads

This village was completely ruined, but after the ruin, it remained a popular tourist destination. But whatever tourists come here, there seems to be some strange feeling here. Someone's voice comes from the bangles and women thronging, so anyone thinks someone has passed through them.

Opinion of historians

According to historians, the Paliwal Brahmins were very rich, they had valuable gold ornaments, which they kept grazing in the ground. For this reason, when this village was empty, many people came here in the greed of gold who excavated this place and ran away with the gold which was asleep.

People disappear

Many people came here after assuming the curse on this place as a figment, but whoever stayed here for one night, he could never go back. No one got his name until he was named. Stories related to Kuldhara speak a lot about the curse of wandering souls, but Vastu Shastri has their own opinions on this subject.

Negative energy

According to Vastu Shastra, the places which have southwest angle, moisture content and water accumulation, there is increase in moisture in the south or west part of the southwest angle, due to which the flow of air is obstructed here, Energy is generated.

The evil spirits

If there is a decrease in Vastu defect in the northern angle even with the vaastu defects of the southwest angle, that is, there is a decrease in the north-east angle, such as suppression, slash or depletion of the north-east angle, etc. This increase in southwestern architecture leads to further increase. Due to all these weaknesses, negative energy generated there is sometimes given the name of ghosts or evil spirits.

GEOGRAPHY

He former village site is located about 18 km south-west of the Jaisalmer city. The village was located on an 861 m x 261 m rectangular site aligned in the north-south direction. The township was centered around a temple of the mother goddess. It had three longitudinal roads, which were cut through by a number of latitudinal narrow lanes.
The remains of a city wall can be seen on the north and the south sides of the site. The eastern side of the town faces the dry-river bed of the small Kakni river. The western side was protected by the back-walls of man-made structures.

ESTABLISHED

The Kuldhara village was originally settled by Brahmins who had migrated from Pali to Jaisalmer region. These migrants originating from Pali were called Paliwals. Tawarikh-i-Jaisalmer, an 1899 history book written by Lakshmi Chand, states that a Paliwal Brahmin named Kadhan was the first person to settle in the Kuldhara village. He excavated a pond called Udhansar in the village.

The ruins of the village include 3 cremation grounds, with several devalis (memorial stones or cenotaphs). The village was settled by the early 13th century, as indicated by two devali inscriptions. These inscriptions are dated in the Bhattik Samvat (a calendar era starting in 623 CE), and record the deaths of two residents in 1235 CE and 1238 CE respectively.