Nilbarahi Mandir : The Historical And Religious Place of Bhaktapur
Nilbarahi Mandir
Background:
There is a famous temple of Nilbarahi Mandir in Bode of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality of Bhaktapur District. Like other types of worship in Nepal, Nilbarahi is a Tantric goddess whose temple is built in the forest on a small mound in Bode. The Government of Nepal has identified 100 places with strong potential for tourism and has launched a program to develop them as tourist destinations.
Under this, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has also selected the Nilbarahi Mandir in Bhaktapur district as one of the 100 new tourist destinations to be promoted.
Introduction
There is a Nilbarahi temple in Tigani, Madhyapurthimi Municipality-3 of Bhaktapur. The temple of Neel Varahi is in the form of a temple of ordinary goddess. Inside the temple, an unobstructed window has been constructed and inside it is placed a natural stone worshiped as indigo. Although it is not a separate idol of Neel Varahi but is worshiped on natural stone, idols of various other deities can be seen all around the temple premises.
Kartik Nach
History
The establishment of this temple is believed to have taken place in the Middle Ages at a time when Tantric influence was high in Nepal. It is worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists. But their worship is done by Tantric method. The temple of Neel Varahi is in the form of a temple of ordinary goddess. Inside the temple, an unobstructed window has been constructed and inside it is placed a natural stone worshiped as indigo.
Although it is not a separate idol of Neel Varahi but is worshiped on natural stone, idols of various other deities can be seen all around the temple premises. The peak of the temple is made like a gate in the place where the symbolic stone of Warahi is kept. At first glance, it looks like a chaitya. That pattern has been made very attractive by wrapping it with metal sheets from all sides.
Importance
The journey here has been taken as the biggest pilgrimage after the tongue piercing procession of Wode area. In the Nilbarahi procession, 19 deities and deities are taken out of the main house and not danced in the procession of temples in different parts of the country.
Religious and cultural significance
In the Bode area of Madhyapur Thimi, Nilbarahi dance is not performed every year from Bhadra Ddhitiya to Panchami. In the Nilbarahi Jatra, which is celebrated for three days and four nights starting from the Persipult of Gaijatra, dances of 19 deities including Bhairav 1, Barahi 4, Kumari 4, Singh 4, Dwarpal 2 and Ganesh 4 are performed.
Historical and mythological beliefs
In the Nilbarahi procession, which is accepted as the biggest dance after the tongue-piercing procession in the Wodey area, 19 deities and deities are taken out of the main house and not danced around the temples in different parts of the country. In the meanwhile, it has been believed that the dancing deities should not eat anything, should not talk to anyone and should not sit anywhere, should not sit on the floor, cover themselves with an umbrella and should not defecate.
Natural beauty
On reaching the temple, one can enjoy the green vegetation and fresh air.
Tourist potential
Many types of dances are also performed in Bode of Bhaktapur throughout the year. There is also a tradition of dancing Neel Varahi in this process. The dance is performed the day after the full moon of Rishitarpani. During the four-day festival, 19 prominent people of the city dance. A total of 27 types of traditional instruments are played for this purpose. This dance is called Neel Varahi Pyakhan. Such dances seem to support internal and external tourism.
How to reach
It is easily accessible from Kathmandu. There is a motor road to this temple located in 3 Tigani of Madhyapurthimi Municipality of Bhaktapur.
