PRAXIS, Issue 15 - FORGOTTEN GLORY A Tale of Two Birds and Two Fish Author - Riva Nayaju An interesting and somewhat concealed ritual, the Tantrik Puja formally ends the month long chariot festival. It is a special fire ritual termed as Manshahuti Yagya’, carried out within the premises of Batuk Bhairav Temple at Lagankhel of Lalitpur. Priests of the Ajracharya clan perform the closed room ceremony, which includes reciting purana (holy book) to a pair of sparrows and fish. The pair of sparrows are then freed to convey the message to Lord Indra, the god of rain in heaven, whilst the pair of fishes are released in the nearby Saptapatal pukhu’ (pond) for Karkat Naagraja the god of ‘Patal lok’ (hell) which is the lowest realm in Hindu Mythology, to convey the message that, “the festival of Rato Machhendranath has been completed successfully.” Hence this message reaches both the heavens as well as seven lower regions of the universe through the sparrows and fish. The significance of this sacred Saptapatal pukhu does not end with the releasing of the fish, as it also played a crucial role in maintaining the ground water table of the locality. Being filled with water from the Raj Kulo, (the royal canal) this marshy pond located next to the Ashok Stupa near the Lagankhel bus park, once served as a reservoir for numerous water spouts around Patan and is believed to have been there since 1500 years. Unfortunately today, the once glorious pond which covered a land area of 14 ropanies 10 aana and 2 paisa (7459 sq.m) has slowly vanished due to human encroachment and in its stead, stands the Namuna Machhendra Boarding School.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 05:17:42 +0000
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