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Charikot
and Dolakha |
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About
the Area: Dolakha Town - Bhimsen Temple at Dolkha |
One of the major attractions in the town of Dolakha is the Bhimsen Temple.
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| The main statue featured in the temple is the god Bhim. The statue is known to sweat and it is considered to be a bad omen for the people if it sweats on the left side.
Other temples in the near vicinity include Kalinchwok Temple, Kali Temple and Tripurasundari Temple, where devotees assemble during the festivals of Chaitrastami and Durga Puja. |
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Only the priest of the temple is allowed to have a glimpse of the image of the Goddess.
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principle deity of Dolakha is Bhimsen, a deity beloved of merchants
and renowned for his great strength. Bhirmen the deity in fact has a personality
that is borowd from Bhima one of the afore-mentioned Pandava princes.
The
actual temple of Bhimsen reputedly owes its origin to the fact that
Bhimsen himself appeared and fiercely objected to the fact that tibetan
traders were cooking food on the site of what is now the temple. Thus deferring
to the God's anger, the towns-people built him a temple on that spot. |
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The
temple houses not an image but a lingam surrounded or entwined with a chain
of gilded snakes. This effigy is, of course, more typical of the Shiva cult but the pantheistic tradition of the Nepalese, as all-embracing as
they are varied, accords to the Gods all kinds of intricate relationships
one with the other and it is not unusual to find a lingam in a temple dedicated
to Bhimsen. As if to cement the relationship with the Pandava princes,
to the left side of the temple is an image of Draupadi, the wife
of of the five brothers. The stone porchway is decorated with on image
of the messenger of the Gods, the winged Gaorudo, the Mercury of Hinduism.
A small chariot which is used to ccarry the image during festivals lies
in the forecourt and inside this are several clubs, a larger one being
propped up outside. The club is the traditional weapon fo Bhimsen. Inside
to the bit of the Bhimsen symbol itseif, is a small image of Kunti-mother
of the Pandavas.
This
temple could indeed date right back to the 7th century when trade with
Tibet flourished and there was every reason to propitiate Gods who looked
after merchants. It is not unlikely that princesses of Nepal have worshipped
at this temple before travelling on to Tibet for marriage with some prince
of the High plateau, at a time when Tibet had kings but not God-Kings.
In
Dolakha also one can trace the origin of the cult of the Tripuresundari
Bhagavati who here is referred to as the mother of Bhimsen.
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| Dolakha:
Chariot and stupa |
Dolkha:
Bhimsen Temple |
Dolkha:
Bhimsen Temple |
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