Ancient Lahul - The Kinnaraland in the Himalaya

About the Book Some ancient Pali works mention that there lived Kinnaras and Kinnaris on the banks of river Chandrabhaga. The river Chandrabhaga originates in Lahul. This name was given to the river at its head. It has a vedic name as Asikni which it received at its end where it joins with river Sindhu. Kinnaras are an ancient people who lived in the Himalayas. Scholars have identified the people of Kinnaur, an area situated adjacent to Lahul, as Kinnaras. The Kinnauri language has affinities with some languages of Lahul and that of Malana in Kullu. These people may be presumed as living in the area since ancient times.

About the Book Some ancient Pali works mention that there lived Kinnaras and Kinnaris on the banks of river Chandrabhaga. The river Chandrabhaga originates in Lahul. This name was given to the river at its head. It has a vedic name as Asikni which it received at its end where it joins with river Sindhu. Kinnaras are an ancient people who lived in the Himalayas. Scholars have identified the people of Kinnaur, an area situated adjacent to Lahul, as Kinnaras. The Kinnauri language has affinities with some languages of Lahul and that of Malana in Kullu. These people may be presumed as living in the area since ancient times.

Tobdan (1944) belongs to Lahul, Himachal Pradesh. He is interested in studying about Lahul on the subjects like History, Languages, culture, etc. of the area. Incidentally his studies include the areas surrounding it viz. Spiti, Kullu, Zanskar, etc. He writes in English, Hindi and Bhoti and is author of more than a dozen books on history, language, culture, etc. His earliest work is History and Religions of Lahul (1984). His latest work is Ancient Lahul and Himalaya (2021). His works include those on Malana, Kullu, Spiti, etc. He has been the editor of the Volumes on Himachal Pradesh both in Hindi and English of the Peoples' Linguistic Survey of India and the General Editor was Dr. G.N. Devy. He has been member of the Governing Body of the Himachal Arts, Culture and Language Academy, Shimla.