Guys, the Magars from Gandaki region can very well relate this thing with me. Did anyone observe the temple or Mandir formation in Gandaki region.
The temple here is normally open, there is no roof on top. I don't whether its because of lack of budget or some religious reason. Somewhere, I have read that its because that its influenced by Mongol culture. As they say, the reason of no roof is to have direct connection of the divine diety with the heaven itself.
Exactly, behind the main temple there is small enclosed area of another god. This I am specially talking for Syangja region.
There is one kotghar. Apart from that there are other minor gods in the temple compound. One of them is Bhuyar/Bhayar god. As per my research I have found that its actually a Bhume means Mother Earth, I don't know how realiable is this information. I have found this small information on Bhuyar god which I am sharing below.
"We should emphasize first and
foremost that the name Bhume is itself Nepalese, derived from the sanskrit bhû,
bhûmî. This goddess is neglected by the Hindi of high caste, whereas she is
central to the Magar. This paradox has two possible sources: the Magar might
have identified one of their principal goddesses with a minor Hindu deity by
virtue of a common relation to the earth, conferring an unusual importance on
the latter. Or they might have constructed a divine being on the basis of Hindu
concepts, as the result of a new-found need to defend their rights to the earth
in the face of the Hindu invaders. The second hypothesis seems more likely,
since there is no trace of a Magar earth goddess before Bhume. Even in the
regions where the Magar retained the use of their original language (such as in
Palpa, Syangja, or in the Kham country) and where, consequently, some of the
gods have Magar names, the earth goddess is called by Nepalese terms, such as
Bhume, Bhuyar, or Bhayar. Furthermore, even if the Magar themselves once had an
earth goddess of their own, the renaming of this deity would indicate a change
of identity, given the importance of a divinity's name."
There is this another interesting article I have found on Kot Mandir:
"The Shaktipiths of the Gandaki Praswan area seem to be inspired by Magar culture. Which the Khas Aryans have adopted. Based on Magarati or Magarat religion philosophy or doctrine, the Magarat state had established Magar Shakti Peeths, Kots, and Dewals in different places and arranged for Magar priests. The Magar priests developed their tantra mantras. There are still Magar priests of Maski Rana, Saru, Thapa, Aslami, Pulami Thar in those Shakti Peeths and devotees of all castes like Brahmins, Chhetri Newars are still receiving Tika Prasad from the hands of Magar priests.
Alamdevi, Manakamana, Gorkha Durbar, Kaski Kot, Budasubba Dharan, Lamjungkot, Musikot, Bhirkot, etc. There are twenty-five places with Shakti Peeths, Kots, or Dewals based on the natural religion philosophy of the Magars since ancient times. Devotees of all castes and ethnicities have had a deep faith in Magar priests and their mantras since ancient times. This order is still the same today. This is a precedent for the Magar community reaching the pinnacle of civilization in ancient times. There have been many invasions, encroachments, repressions, but the religion and culture of the indigenous Magar tribes have not been completely eradicated by any system of government or state power. Could not be eliminated"
What's interesting here is many of this dieties are not actually related to mainstream Hindu gods. Though, I know that there was already a Kuldevta or Devi in South Asian region before Aryan bring their Vedic culture with them. Today, in India many such local deities has incorporated in main stream vedic culture.
Or, Is there a possibility that Kali Gandaki region was influenced by Vedic culture since ancient time.
Whatever it is but one thing I am definite is these kot temples are somehow related to our own Magar culture & history. We need more detail research on it.
No comments:
Post a Comment