Introduction

Golu(ग्वेल) devta is a popular deity in the state of Uttarakhand in India. He is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. Golu is believed to be the guardian deity of the Himalayas and the incarnation of Gaur Bhairav. He is also known as the god of justice and is worshipped for his ability to bring about justice in society.

 

Incarnation of Gaur Bhairav

Gaur Bhairav is a fierce and wrathful manifestation of Lord Bhairava. Bhairava is a Sanskrit word which means "terrible" or "frightful". Bhairava is also known by various other names such as Kala Bhairava, Asitanga Bhairava, and Krodha Bhairava.

Gaur Bhairav is depicted as a black man with four arms. He has a third eye on his forehead and is usually shown holding a trident, a drum, and a sword. He is sometimes also shown with a human head in his hand. Gaur Bhairav is said to be the guardian of the north-west direction.

Golu Devta is considered to be an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav (Shiva), and is worshipped all over the region. 

The story of Golu devta

According to legends, Golu devta is the only son of King Jhal rai (झालुराई). His mother name is Kalinka. King Jhal rai was a kind hearted and very righteous king of Champawat. He had seven queens but didn't have any son. He started worrying about not being able to continue his lineage. 

One day the king met Jyotish who told him to do penance for Bhairav. After hearing this, the king pleased Bhairav ​​by doing severe penance. Bhairav came in front of him asked him the reason for penance so King Jhal rai Said, you all know: I have everything: Seven queens too: but i do not have any childrens. Hearing this, Bhairav ​​said that you are a brilliant and liberal king but there is no happiness of children in your part But if you have pleased me and asked for the boon of a child, then I will not disappoint you and I myself will take birth of your child but you will have to get married. The king was very happy to hear this and asked that who would be the lucky woman from whose womb you would be born. Bhairav ​​said that you will know yourself when the appropriate time comes.

The eighth wife 'Kalinka'

Then after many days the king went for a hunt. After hunting the whole day, he asked for water from the soldiers, but they already went out of water so all soldiers went in different directions to find water for king but no one returned. After waiting for a while king himself went to find water. As he was searching he saw a his soldiers fainted near a pond. He was very thirsty so he diceded to drink water first. As he was about to  drink water he heard a voice 'Wait this pond mine: You can't take water from this without asking me, they all did the same mistake'.

When the king looked in front, a very beautiful woman was standing there. The King explained her that I am Jhalurai, the king of Champawat, i came to the forest for hunting and was thirsty for water so i sent my soldiers to find water. After hearing that the woman said my name in Kalinga, the sister of Panchdevas, then she said how can I trust that you are really the King. Jhalurai said tell me how can I prove myself. She saw two buffaloes fighting there and then said -just free those two fighting buffaloes then I will believe that you are the King of Garhi Champawat.

The king tried but could not separate them and accepted defeat, after that the woman herself went and separated those buffaloes. Seeing this,The King was very impressed.

Then Panchdeva came there and the king proposed to marry to Kalinka. The Panchdevatas were impressed by the greatness of the king so they agreed for their marriage.

Birth of Golu devta

After some time Kalinka got pregnant. But not everyone was happy after listening this news. All seven wives of King got very jealous and decided to kill the child. They lied to Kalinka that a Jyotish said if you watch your child at the time of his birth he will die. When the time of delivery came they put a blindfolded Kalinka and switched the child with a blood stained rock(सिलबट्टा). They made up a story that you have given birth to a stone instead of a child, and left the child to die under the feet of the cattles in the Gausala. But the child did not even got an scratch and was drinking cow's milk. After that all the queens put him in a heap of salt but that salt turned into sugar. After that in the middle of scorpions but he survived again. When they couldn't understand anything then they locked him in a box and threw him in the Kali river.

After seven days and seven nights the box reached Gauri ghaat where it got caught in fisherman's net. His name was Bhana. When Bhana opened the box he saw the baby inside and was overjoyed because he had no childrens. So Bhana decided to raised him as he was his own child. Since he was found in Gauri ghaat he named him Goria.

The king and queen were completely broken and cursing their fate. As time passed, Goria grew up. One day he came to know in his dream that King Jhal Rai was his real father and all that the seven queens had done to him. He also realised that he is the incarnation of Bhairav.

After finding out the truth he asked his father (fisherman) for a horse so that he could go to Champawat but his father was not that rich so he instead gave him a wooden horse.  But Goriya who was incarnation of Bhairav made that wooden horse alive and left for home. In his way back home he saw those seven queens sitting beside the Kali river so he turned his horse back to wooden and asked them- get out of way my horse is thirsty. After hearing that the queens started laughing and made fun of him saying 'how can a wooden horse drink water'. Goriya replied- 'just like a queen can give birth to a rock, my horse can drink water'.

Which made the queens angry and they took him to the King complaining about his rudeness. The king said the said thing that a wooden horse cannot drink water to Goriya, then Goriya explained everything to king that I am your son and these queens tried to kill me when I was little. He also talked about the time when King impressed Bhairav and talked to him, which made the King believe him. 

Then he put those seven queens in prison and later on became the King.

He used to travel his whole kingdom in his white horse and give justice to his people. And later became Ista dev.

Golu devta temple

Golu devta (ग्वेलज्यू) is the Ista dev of many people so there is a temple in almost every village in Kumaun region. Mainly there are two big temples located in Almora, and Ghorakhal.

Chitai Golu devta temple

Chitai Gwel is the most famous Golu devta temple people from all across the world come there and it is believed that if you write your wish in a letter and leave it there Golu dev will complete it.It situated on the Pithoragarh Highway, eight kilometers away from Almora. 

Whenever someone's wish is fulfilled, they offer a bell there. There is an idol of Golu Devta holding a bow in one hand and sitting on his white horse.

Ghorakhal Golu temple

This temple is located near Nainital. Just like Chitai temple people write their wishes in a paper and offer a bell. It is also known as Bell temple. It is said if a newly wedded couple go there, their bond will never break.