There is a pervasive belief that the Pandava brothers went for a trans-Himalayan pilgrimage up to the Yakshdesha, also known popularly as the Kailasha-Manasarovara region or Swarga (ultimate abode of the Kailashapati Mahadeva and other gods and goddesses). The question relating to the connection between the Panchapandavas’ activities in the Kaushiki River Valley civilization areas and the Terai of Eastern Nepal is very important for the tracing of the spiritual circuit concerning the Mahabharata.
The Kaushiki River Valley region of Nepal used to be known as one of the most significant peaceful and popular areas for high meditation (tapobhumi) for sages, scholars, yogis and hermits during and prior to the battle of the Mahabharata. The name Koshi or Kaushiki itself has connection with the name of Rishi Kushika, whose hermitage is said to be located at the confluence of River Koshi and its tributary. Both the great epics Mahabharata and Ramayana describe the importance of Varahakshetra and the Kokaa-Saptakoshi confluence as the favored place for peaceful meditation and hermitage. The Mahabharata Adi Parva clearly mentions Sage Vishwamitra’s Ashrama (72-30) located at the bank of the River Saptakoshi near Varahakshetra. According to Valmikiya Ramayana Rishi Vashishtha, Rishi Vishwmitra also had his hermitage in this spiritual place. It is believed that Rishi Ritik’s wife and Rishi Vishwamitr’s sister Satyawati had taken the form of the River Saptakoshi after their untimely deaths. Thus, Rishi Vishwamitra took the decision to settle at the bank of the Saptakoshi in loving memory of his sister. It is also possible that Rishi Richik had his hermitage in the same area.
