KATHMANDU: Reconstruction of the Jayabageshwari temple has been carried out against the Protection of Traditions and Ancient Monuments Act. Former priest of the temple Mrityunjaya Karmacharya said that the tradition of covering the Lokeshwar Shivalinga on the west-south side of the temple was shown due to the pressure of the locals.
The temple damaged by the 2072 BS earthquake is being demolished and rebuilt. The temple is being rebuilt after the three found another structure inside the temple. During the excavation, Lokeshwar Shivalinga was found on the foundation of the temple. The locals had put pressure to rebuild the Shivalinga visibly. ‘Pashupatinath’s Jyotirlinga was also found later. If Jyotirlinga is worshiped outside, why shouldn't those who are found here be kept outside? ', Said Chhatrananda Vaidya, chairman of the Jayabageshwari Toll Reform Committee.
According to Karmacharya, who is also the coordinator of the Jayabageshwari Temple Reconstruction Support Committee, Brahmayani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Barahi, Indrani, Kauberi and Chamunda are the forms of Ashtamatrika. ‘This is the Shivalinga under the Ashtamatrika,’ said Karmacharya, ‘it is kept invisible. But here it was shown by pressure. 'He says that keeping the Shivalinga in secret has tantric significance. "Shiva has been deprived of power because he has eaten everything," said the staff.
Showing a Shivalinga is also contrary to the Protection of Ancient Monuments Act. Advocate Sanjay Adhikari said, "Showing the gender to be covered is not only against the tradition, it is also against the law." The Shivling was found six feet below the foundation of the temple. Now the Shivalinga is shown inside the 'arch' and covered with it. Karmacharya claims that Garo was also weakened while constructing the 'arch'.
Earlier, the temple was made of mud. But the Pashupati Area Development Fund had estimated the cost to be made by Chuna Surki. However, member secretary of the fund Pradip Dhakal said that the fund is now being rebuilt from the ground up. Karmacharya also said that attention has been paid to maintain the quality of soil. The Jayabageshwari temple, one of the main Shakti Peeths of Pashupatinath, is considered to be of Lichhavi period. The main feature of this temple is the paintings here.
When the damaged temple was demolished, a three-story temple and a mural were found on the second floor. According to Karmacharya, the murals are of Ganesh, Bhairav and Kumari. In the middle of the two-tiered mural, mice have eaten and caused damage. The Department of Archeology had commissioned chemist Grihaman Singh to safely excavate the remaining part.
Here the color of the picture is changed every 12 years. This is called caliber change. When the clay is changed, even the ancient clay idols are changed. The main features of the Jayabageshwari temple are the images and statues of the goddess. According to Mukundaraj Vaidya, a cultural activist of Pashupati region, Jayabageshwari is considered to be a joint form of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. All these idols are made of clay. There are also pictures of these goddesses on the walls. During the reconstruction, these pictures will be made as they are.
"We were adamant that it should be made of clay," Vaidya said. "We are happy with what has been said."