CHANDESWORI TEMPLE
Οn the northern side of the Jagmadu Pukhu (Pond) in Pimbaha: Chandeshwori Temple is located; the three storied temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandeswori of Banepa. The temple was built in 1663 AD during the reign of the king Siddhi Narsimha Malla. As dedicated to main deities, Bhairav and Bhairavi of the temple, two holes has been placed symbolic of two heads of the deities and between these two, another hole has been placed slightly above, between two holes dedicated to the god Nityeswor (dancing form of Lord Shiva). On the right wall of the temple, three holes representing goddess Harisiddhi has been installed and to the left as dedicated to Balkumari another three holes has been installed.
According to the local legend, one day, goddess Chandeswori of Banepa in disguise of human form came to observe the dance festival of Harisiddhi here which was noticed by the chief priest of King Siddhi Narsimha Malla named Gayo Baje who was also watching the festival from the same place. Gayo Baje notiched that goddess was watching the dance, hiding behind the people turning herself big while people blocked her view and small if noone blocked her. Gayo Baje thought this was no ordinary person and with his tantric powers he tied the goddess in human disguise to check who it was. Later, after completing the dance when goddess was preparing to depart, she could not move and while goddess check with her power to find out what happened to her, she came to know it had been done by Gayo Baje.
Goddess then asked Gayo Baje “Why did you tie me? Please release me.” Gayo Baje replied “You are no ordinary person. Please tell me who you are, first.” Then goddess presented herself in her orginal form. Gayo Baje said he was pleased to have sight of the goddess and wished to make her stay in his town and requested to goddess to promise that she will stay here. On accepting the request of Gayo Baje, goddess promised to stay there. Gayo Baje freed her and the temple was built for the goddess.
Jagmadu Pukhu
According to the legend in the past, the place where current pond is located, there was a meadow and late in the evening Lakhe use to come to play here which was noticed by the tantric living here named Gayo Baje. Gayo Baje is locally known as the tantric priest who thought of making pond with the help of Lakhe to solve the water problem. One evening, when Lakhe were there at their usual time to play, Gayo Baje with his tantric power captured the leader of the lakhe and said “I have noticed, you coming here to play since a long time and I would like to request you to make a pond here with the help of your team to end the water crisis”. Knowing the power of Gayo Baje, the Lakhe agreed to make the pond here which they did, within one single night. For the construction of the pond, they had collected the stone from Godawari (Place at the south of Lalitpur).
While rest of the lakhe group left before the sunrise, the leader kept working till the dawn and could not go away because of the ealier commitment he did to complete the pond. Being afraid that people will see him, he went hid under one big stone there. People still believe that, if there is no rain and water level goes down, when the stone shows in the surface, that day it will rain. This Lakhe Lohan (Lakhe stone) is situated next to the Chandeshwori Pati (rest house) in front of Chandeswori temple. Since no foundation had been laid for the pond and the stone brought from Godawari were just piled up around this pond as the wall, it is also known as ‘Jagmadu Pukhu’ in Newari which means ‘Pond without foundation’.
The water in the pond in the past has been brought all the way from Tika Bhairav through Raj Kulo (King’s irrigation) via filling it at Sapta Pataal Pukhu in Lagankhel then to Ta: Pukhu (Kumaripati Pukhu). From there, the water goes to the pond of the zoo inside then filling that pond. it comes to Palswan Puku Pulchowk. From there, the water was brought to Jagmadu Pukhu. On the south-west corner, stone-spout had been installed as the inlet for the water. People in the past used water of the pond for various utilities. It is also believed that ‘Jagmadu Pukhu’ was previously known as “Jala Mandap”.
Reference:
Shailendra Shrestha; Chandeshwori Temple Conservation Committee
Jagmadu Pukhu: Jewel of Lalitpur; Visitors Handbook
चण्डेश्वरी मन्दिर, जगमदु पुखु
जगमदु पुखुको उत्तरतर्फ चण्डेश्वरी मन्दिर रहेको छ| यो मन्दिर बनेपाकी प्रसिद्ध देवी चण्डेश्वरी देवी प्रतिको आस्थासँग गाँसिएको छ| तीन तले प्यागोडा शैलीमा निर्मित यो मन्दिर सन् १६६३ सालमा राजा सिद्धिनरसिंह मल्लको पालामा निर्माण भएको थियो| किम्बदन्ती अनुसार, तान्त्रिक गुरु गयो बाजेले आफ्नो तन्त्र सिद्धि विद्याद्वारा चण्डेश्वरी देवीलाई यहाँ राखेका थिए पनि भनिन्छ|
मन्दिरमा भैरव र भैरवी देवताहरुको प्रतिकात्मक रुपमा दुईवटा प्वालहरु बनाइएको छ| ती दुईवटा प्वालहरुको ठिक मास्तिर बीच भागमा नाटेश्वर देवताको रुपमा बनाइएको अर्को त्रिकोणात्मक प्वाल देख्न सकिन्छ| यसका साथै, मन्दिरको दाहिने भित्तामा हरिसिद्धि देवीका रुपमा राखिएको तीनवटा प्वालहरु छन् भने मन्दिरको बायाँ भित्तामा बालकुमारी देवी समर्पित अरु तीनवटा प्वालहरु देख्न सकिन्छ|
चण्डेश्वरी मन्दिर, कसरी यहाँ स्थापना भयो भन्ने बारे एउटा प्रचलित किम्बदन्ती छ| किम्बदन्ती अनुसार, हरिसिद्धि नाच हेर्न, मान्छेको रुप धारण गरि चण्डेश्वरी देवी बनेपाबाट यहाँ आउनुभएछ| नाच हेर्ने क्रममा देवीको छेवैमा गयो बाजे रहेछन्| भिडले नाच छेक्दा चण्डेश्वरी देवीले आफूलाई ठुलो रुपमा परिणत गरेर नाच हेरेको र नाच नछेकिंदा पहिलाकै अवस्थामा रहेर नाच हेर्दै गरेको कुरा नाचिकै रहेका गयो बाजेले विचार गरेछन्| कुनै साधारण व्यक्तिले त यसो गर्न सक्दैन भन्ने भएपछि गयो बाजेले देवीलाई तन्त्र सिद्धि विद्याको सहायताले बाँधिदिएछन् | पछि, नाच सकिएर घर फर्कने बेला सबै जना फर्किए तर देवी जान सकिनन्, किन भन्ने विचार पुर्याउँदा आफू बाँधिएको रहेछु भन्ने कुरा थाहा पाएपछि देवीले, गयो बाजेलाई आफूलाई छोडिदिन अनुरोध गर्नुभयो| तर, गयो बाजेले “तपाईं साधारण मानिस त होइन| आफू को हो भन्नुस?” भनेपछि, देवीले आफू चण्डेश्वरी देवी भएको र बनेपाबाट हरिसिद्धिको नाच हेर्न यहाँ आएको कुरा बताउनुभयो| यो थाहा पाएर गयो बाजेले देवीलाई प्रणाम गरेर, आफू धन्य भएको ठानी त्यहिं बस्न आग्रह गरेछन्| देवीले त्यो अनुरोध स्वीकारेकाले, पिम्वहालमा चण्डेश्वरी मन्दिर बनाएर चण्डेश्वरी देवीलाई त्यहिं स्थापना गरिएको भन्ने किम्बदन्ती प्रचलित छ|
जगमदु पुखु
जगमदु पुखु: भन्नाले जग नभएको पोखरी भन्ने बुझिन्छ| यो पोखरीमा ढुंगाहरु हालेर जग नबनाई बनाएको पोखरी भएकाले यो पोखरीलाई नेवारी भाषामा जगमदु पुखु: अर्थात् जग नभएको पोखरी पनि भनिन्छ| पहिलेको समयमा यो पोखरी रहेको ठाउँमा चौर थियो जहाँ लाखेहरु आएर खेल्ने गर्दथे| गयो बाजेले यो देखेर लाखेहरुलाई नै प्रयोग गरेर तत्कालीन समयमा त्यस क्षेत्रको पानीको समस्या समाधान गर्न पोखरी बनाउने निर्णय गरे| लाखेहरुले गयो बाजेले पोखरी बनाइदेउ भनेको अनुरोध स्वीकार गरेर पोखरी बनाइदिए| पोखरी नजिकै चण्डेश्वरी मन्दिरको छेउमा पाटी नजिकै ढुंगा रहेको छ, जसलाई लाखे लोह भनिन्छ| किम्बदन्ती अनुसार, पोखरी बनाउने क्रममा लाखेहरुको नाइके उज्यालो हुँदा सम्म पनि पोखरी बनाउने काम गरिरह्यो| जसपछि, मान्छेहरुले आफूलाई देख्ने हुन् कि भन्ने पिरले ऊ एउटा ठुलो ढुंगामुनि लुक्न गयो| सुख्खा याम पानी नपरेर वा अरु केहि कारणले ढुंगा देखियो भने पानी पर्छ भन्ने जनविश्वास रहिआएको छ|
सन्दर्भ
दिपना शर्मा ; नेवारी भाषा अनुवादक; नेपाल भाषा अनुसन्धानकर्ता
शैलेन्द्र श्रेष्ठ: तनाफ होमस्टे
