TRIPURA MAHADEV(NEPAL) – NEGLECTED TREASURE OF TRIPURESHWOR
Tripura Mahadev temple is one of the most important pilgrimages for the natives as well as for the outsiders coming from different parts of the country.
Tripura Mahadev temple is one of the most important pilgrimages for the natives as well as for the outsiders coming from different parts of the country. Though, known to the people at large as a pilgrimage, it is rarely looked at as an important heritage site well worth preservation. This temple was originally established in the Nepali year of 1875 Bikram Samvat during the Rana regime. Though autocratic in nature, during the reign of the Ranas, many contributions have been made in adding and strengthening the heritage of Kathmandu. The whole Tripureswor heritage constructions were largely done by the Ranas. Tripura Mahadev temple, a temple devoted to the Lord Shiva of the Hindu myth, is among them. This temple was built by Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari in the name of her husband King Rana Bahadur Shah for his eternal bliss and for the good of the nation. Her prayers can still be seen along with her beautiful bronze sculpture in a seated position on a pillar which stands on a tortoise. This shows her devotion for her husband and the nation. A symbolic phallus of Lord Shiva, called Shiva Linga, was made and put in the temple in BS 1877, which can be termed as the official year of its establishment. This temple is the most important temple after The Pashupatinath temple, and fair numbers of devotees visit here every morning and evening. Devotees and pilgrims come in mass during special occasions and festivals. This temple can actually be called as a mini Pashupatinath, where rituals of the dead could also be done but with time, the ritual has been stopped. Entering the main temple in the centre where the linga resides, you are surrounded by four significant mini temples of Bhagawati and Bishnu in the north and Ganesha and Surya towards the south. A stone sculpture of the great bull of Lord Shiva sits perched on a pillar towards the west, and behind it is another tall pillar supporting a bronze bull, which is a recent construction. These four deities along with Shiva make up a bond of five, which is a well known and respected Hindu myth.
This extraordinary temple has been severely affected by the great earthquake during the early 1900s. The preservation and renovation of the temple was done by Judda Shamser, a figure in the Rana time. However, after the end of Rana autocracy, the temple was neglected more and more over time, and is in a critical situation. The present government ahs taken a very good initiative in renovating the once ruined temple. The renovation of the temple is in its finishing stage, but the surrounding temples and artifacts still remain to be polished, and work is underway. Soon, a fresh version of the antique piece will allure more visitors.
Walking down the small trail from the southern gate of the temple, towards the bank of the river Bagmati, more and more relics and artifacts unveil. The place is a treasure not yet discovered and is buried with the slums, ghettos and the stinking flowing sewage beside it. Each and very step unfolds small monuments, and richly carved temples.
Another significant temple is the temple called Bam Bikateswor temple. It is the temple established by Bam Bahadur Kunwar, younger brother of the greatest Rana ruler Janga Bahadur Rana. He built in the BS 1907, when, Janga Bahadur Rana was on foreign visit and he was made the running Prime Minister for the time being.
There are other small parks and monumental zones around the place. One of the monuments is in a Muslim architecture, but is actually a Hindu temple. The perfect blend between Hindu and Muslim architecture is one of a rare kind. Wandering beside the river, thinking of its as a place twenty years back, with clean water, and historical buildings, monuments, green parks and precious temples, it could have been a paradise beyond words. Today the place is a garbage sit, where precious gems are hidden.
Tripura Mahadev temple is one of the most important pilgrimages for the natives as well as for the outsiders coming from different parts of the country. Though, known to the people at large as a pilgrimage, it is rarely looked at as an important heritage site well worth preservation. This temple was originally established in the Nepali year of 1875 Bikram Samvat during the Rana regime. Though autocratic in nature, during the reign of the Ranas, many contributions have been made in adding and strengthening the heritage of Kathmandu. The whole Tripureswor heritage constructions were largely done by the Ranas. Tripura Mahadev temple, a temple devoted to the Lord Shiva of the Hindu myth, is among them. This temple was built by Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari in the name of her husband King Rana Bahadur Shah for his eternal bliss and for the good of the nation. Her prayers can still be seen along with her beautiful bronze sculpture in a seated position on a pillar which stands on a tortoise. This shows her devotion for her husband and the nation. A symbolic phallus of Lord Shiva, called Shiva Linga, was made and put in the temple in BS 1877, which can be termed as the official year of its establishment. This temple is the most important temple after The Pashupatinath temple, and fair numbers of devotees visit here every morning and evening. Devotees and pilgrims come in mass during special occasions and festivals. This temple can actually be called as a mini Pashupatinath, where rituals of the dead could also be done but with time, the ritual has been stopped. Entering the main temple in the centre where the linga resides, you are surrounded by four significant mini temples of Bhagawati and Bishnu in the north and Ganesha and Surya towards the south. A stone sculpture of the great bull of Lord Shiva sits perched on a pillar towards the west, and behind it is another tall pillar supporting a bronze bull, which is a recent construction. These four deities along with Shiva make up a bond of five, which is a well known and respected Hindu myth.
This extraordinary temple has been severely affected by the great earthquake during the early 1900s. The preservation and renovation of the temple was done by Judda Shamser, a figure in the Rana time. However, after the end of Rana autocracy, the temple was neglected more and more over time, and is in a critical situation. The present government ahs taken a very good initiative in renovating the once ruined temple. The renovation of the temple is in its finishing stage, but the surrounding temples and artifacts still remain to be polished, and work is underway. Soon, a fresh version of the antique piece will allure more visitors.
Walking down the small trail from the southern gate of the temple, towards the bank of the river Bagmati, more and more relics and artifacts unveil. The place is a treasure not yet discovered and is buried with the slums, ghettos and the stinking flowing sewage beside it. Each and very step unfolds small monuments, and richly carved temples.
Another significant temple is the temple called Bam Bikateswor temple. It is the temple established by Bam Bahadur Kunwar, younger brother of the greatest Rana ruler Janga Bahadur Rana. He built in the BS 1907, when, Janga Bahadur Rana was on foreign visit and he was made the running Prime Minister for the time being.
There are other small parks and monumental zones around the place. One of the monuments is in a Muslim architecture, but is actually a Hindu temple. The perfect blend between Hindu and Muslim architecture is one of a rare kind. Wandering beside the river, thinking of its as a place twenty years back, with clean water, and historical buildings, monuments, green parks and precious temples, it could have been a paradise beyond words. Today the place is a garbage sit, where precious gems are hidden.
posted by Upadhyay @ 8:15 AM
<< Home