PURAN BHAGAT's WELL

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

What appears to represent a man-made well or natual sacred pit in the royal garden of Raja Sulivan (ca. 8th - 12th century AD), is associated with the legend of Puran Bhagat and the magician / saint Goraknath (Gorakhnath) at the village of Karol (note 1) near Puranwala (note 2), 8 km from Sialkot (note 3). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend (note 4): The young, supposedly barren queen of the old Raja Sulivan, who defeated Vikramaditya, made improper proposals to Puran, the son of Sulivan. He refused to yield to her and she, consequently, brought false charges against him. These the king confirmed. Puran was then put to death, his hands and feet being cut off, and his body was thrown into a well in Karol. A yogi brought Puran back to live and restored his hands and feet, and Puran became a Kanphata Yogi. BRIGGS, G W (1938 / 1973: 187, 188 note 2, 239) refers to STEELE, F A (1917:Tales of the Punjab.- London, page 235) who is said to narrate how Puran Bhagat was kept prisoner in the well fo twelve years before he was restored by Goraknath and became himself a famous Kanphata yogi famous from Afghanistan to Bengal, and one of the most famous saints of the Punjab. twelve years before he was restored by Goraknath and became himself a famous Kanphata yogi famous from Afghanistan to Bengal, and one of the most famous saints of the Punjab.