Nuwakot Kala Bhairav

Namaskar,
Welcome to the Nuwakot Kala Bhairav Mandir!
One of the famous and historical temples of Syangja district, Nuwakot Kala Bhairav Mandir which is located in ward no. 2 of Phedikhola Rural Municipality carries religious and historical beliefs as well as the confidence of the residents. Situated on a hillock towards the south of the center of Phedikhola, this temple is a 5 km drive from the Phedikhola main market. This temple is situated at a height of 1665 m above sea level. The total area of Nuwakot Kala Bhairav is spread over Phedikhola Rural Municipality Ward No. 2 and Putalibazar Municipality Ward no. 5. Naturally very scenic, the hill ranges including Annapurna,
Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, etc., can be seen from the area of this temple.

History of the Temple:
Based on the copper plates found during the research of the archaeological department, it is believed that the temple was founded by the descendants of Jain Khan, the ancestor of the Shah dynasty king of Pallo Nuwakot. According to the research of Historian Rajaram Subedi, King Bhupati Shah (Bhakti Khan), who was the heir of King Ajay Singh (Mincha Khan) built the Nuwakot temple and the idol of Kala Bhairav was installed. To run this temple in a better way, the king arranged for Guthi and arranged for regular worship.
In 1842 B.S., Nuwakot State also fell into the “Bishal Nepal” and Nuwakot State lost its existence. The temple was also losing its importance slowly. In 1903 B.S., the temple was rebuilt when this place was named Pallo Nuwakot after declaring this place as the headquarters of the district. All religious faiths that had been overshadowed were reconstructed. Walls made of mud and mud were built around the temple and worship was started again. Due to the increasing importance of Bhairav, devotees from far and wide have started coming to worship Kala Bhairav.
But again in 2020, B.S. Putalikhet was declared as the headquarters of Syangja district. Along with Nuwakot, Kala Bhairav was overshadowed, and its importance degraded slowly. On seeing the form of Kala Bhairav directly, children used to get frightened. It is found in history that is the reason why the idol is covered with stones and mud and put as a mound.

Structure of the Temple and its Reconstruction:
Before 2068 B.S., the structure of the temple was smaller than the current one. The temple has been reconstructed and given its present form due to the devotion and activism of the local residents. According to the inscription found in the temple, the reconstruction work of the temple was started on 29 Magh, 2066 B.S., on the day of Shivaratri. The completion of the reconstruction work and the inauguration of the temple was done on 26 Falgun, 2068 B.S. Renovated in modern style, the temple is built in pagoda style. In the form of an idol the original stone is kept in the sanctum sanctorum on which the head of Bhairav has been kept and along with Bhairav the idol of Shankar has also been installed. The original door of this temple is turned towards the east, while the top of the temple has a brass dome and the temple complex is very attractively decorated.

Daily Worship Rituals
As usual in this temple daily pooja is done by the main pandit. ‘Rot’ is also offered to Kala Bhairav. ‘Rot’ is a thick roti that is offered to Kala Bhairav as the main prasad which is offered in the measure of one “Mana” (Nepali measurement system) of rice flour.
It was also found during the investigation of this temple that since the construction of the temple, King Bhupati Shah had made Brahmins with the surname Timalsina of Modgalyagotri and that these Brahmins had been conducting regular worship. But at present, since the Timalsina family is settled and engaged in other professions, they are currently conducting Puja with Aryal as the main Brahmin.

Festivals:
Throughout the Navaratri period, Brahmins worship in this temple and the Ranamagars sacrifice and assist in the worship. It is the custom of the priests of the Regmi thar throughout Navdurga to stay in the Kalika temple only after offering sacrifices and playing the Nagarchi Baja (Nepali local musical instrument). But during the time of Chaite Dahsain, they stay in Kalika temple only for a day after reciting Chandi. The priests of the Aryal surname worship at Kala Bhairavthan during the whole Bada Dashain period. Pandits surnamed Gautam and Pokharel recite Veda and Chandi throughout the decade at the Kala Bhairav temple, while Marasini Pandits recite Chandi throughout the time of Bada Dashain at the Chandithan temple.
Kala Bhairav is also known as “Bhairav Kalika” where the tradition of giving Panchabali (offering sacrifices to five items) has been going on. Here, the sacrifices of He-Buffalo, Chicken, Sheep, Goat, and Ash Gourd are offered. On the day of Bada Dashain and Chaite Dashain, this temple is particularly crowded. On the day of Saptami of Bada Dashain, it is a tradition where Magar priests to
enter this temple with flower petals in a “Doli.” Especially, since people believe that their heart’s desire will be fulfilled, the arrival of devotees coming to this temple to fulfill their wishes is also in abundance.
While other dates are celebrated by performing pooja rituals and offering sacrifices, it is forbidden to offer sacrifices throughout the month of Shrawan and Magh, Ekadashi, Aunsi, Shivaratri, Krishna Janmashtami, Janai Purnima, Sohra Shraddha and Buddha Purnima. Due to the strong belief in Kala Bhairav, devotees come from far and wide to worship and pay obeisance. It is the belief of the
locals and devotees that the desire of the heart will be fulfilled by worshipping this Kala Bhairav which is also worshipped as the form of Shaktipeeth.

Circumambulation of the temple with Symbolic Flag:
On the ninth day of Dashain, it is customary to circumambulate the Kala Bhairav Kalika, Chandi and Sunkeshari temple near Kala Bhairav temple by playing the nagara with the participation of main Priest, Magar priest, chairman and members of the temple management committee as well as local devotees. On the same day, the symbolic flag placed in Kalikasthan temple is circumambulated around the
Bhairavsthan temple and placed there as well as worshiped by offering sacrifice throughout the day. After the day ends, it is again placed on the same location of Kalikasthan Temple.

Myths and Legends:
Believed to be the wrathful form of Lord Shiva, the Kala Bhairav, it is said that it originated mysteriously in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Shah. Although there is no concrete evidence for this, it has been the belief of the residents.

Naming of Nuwakot:
In 1510 B.S. then King Ajay Singh (Mincha Khan) founded Nuwakot which was historically, politically, and strategically important at that time. On the one hand, Harihar Singh (Khancha Khan) ruled the state by establishing opinions in Bhirkot, Satau, Gahrau and on the other hand, Ajay Singh (Mincha Khan) established a new state and ruled the state. That place started to be called “Nayakot”
because Ajay Singh brought a new state into existence. Eventually, the name of the state began to be called “Nuwakot” via Nayakot.
About the naming of Nuwakot, according to the historian Shiromani Baburam Acharya, only the original kingdom established at Bhirkot, which the king had given to his younger son Mincha Khan among the new settlements commissioned by King Surya Khan, came to belong to the eldest son, Khancha Khan. Mincha Khan built a fortified “kot” there to make it the capital of his new state. It is believed that after the name of the same fort (Kot), the name of this state later changed from “Nayakot” to “Nuwakot.”

Conclusion:
Kalabhairav Temple is an important cultural heritage of Phedikhola. Earlier, King Mincha Khan had made arrangements to protect the temple by making a Guthi. Now, the locals have formed a temple management committee and are looking after it.
Since this temple has its own religious and historical story, it is the responsibility of all of us to protect it. In recent times, Nuwakot Kala Bhairav in Syangja district has been developing as a Shaktipeeth with great significance from religious, archaeological, historical, and tourist points of view.

References:
Ha. Me. Narkaaji Gurung and his wife, Prem Kumari Gurung; Head, Shree Nuwakot Bhairav Temple Management Committee, Nuwakot
Shiva Kumar Gautam; Secretary, Shree Nuwakot Bhairav Archaeological Management Committee, Nuwakot
Principal Dil Bahadur Chhetri; Nuwkaot Kala Bhairav Smarika