KATHMANDU: Every year in Sankhu of Kathmandu, during the lunar month of Magh (January-February), enthusiasts crowd the Shalinadi stream and sanctuary to notice a month-long fast. During the whole month of fasting, they read and follow Swasthani Brata Katha, a strict Hindu text. The text is an arrangement of legendary anecdotes about the goddess Swasthani and other Hindu divine beings and goddesses. A great deal has been said and told in regards to the celebration, yet, here are a few vital intriguing realities about Swasthani Brata Katha that you could have not heard at this point:
1. Swasthani is a confounded figure
In Hindu folklores, the ladies are depicted in two significant structures; a quiet and empathetic figure with a male associate or a spouse, eg. Parvati and Saraswati, while the subsequent portrayal is of unmarried, wild and unforgiving young lady, eg. Durga and Kali. Goddess Swasthani is both completely relaxed, yet portrayed as a furious and unforgiving figure, as in the Chandrawati's story. The famous portrayal of Goddess Swasthani is of her sitting on a lotus blossom between the Asthamatrika, eight defensive goddesses. In any case, on a sculpture found at Makkhan, she has been portrayed along with Lord Shiva, as her male associate.
2. It was first written in Nepal Bhasa
Despite the fact that it has not been demonstrated, it has been recommended that Swasthani was first written in Nepal Bhasa as soon as 693 Nepal Sambat or around 1573 AD by Jayanta Dev. One can see some proof when one considers the dates on the compositions found, along with the printed variants of the books, and the language it was written in. Analysts have tracked down that Nepal Bhasa texts, in contrast with Nepali, are more heterogeneous.
3. The story has changed over the long run
The text of Swasthani Brata Katha has changed extensively between the sixteenth and 21st hundreds of years. The initial 200 years of the texts were about Goma, Chandrawati, Navaraj and Swasthani. From that point onward, three significant increases have been seen. The first is in the story of Shiva and Parvati; the second is the account of Vishnu including Madhu-Kaitabha and the formation of the universe. The third is the anecdotes about Vrinda, Kamadev and others. 66% of the narratives today have happened to Shiva while just the last option some portion of the story is about Swasthani.
4. Madhav Narayan and Swasthani jatras are unique
As indicated by Vishnu Puran, both Lord Vishnu and Goddess Bajrayogini have 12 names for a very long time of the year. Their names for the tenth Nepali month (for example Magh) are Madhav Narayan and Swasthani individually. This is additionally the motivation behind why their structures are adored together this month. Because of the absence of iconography or visual portrayal of the goddess outside current times, there is disarray and individuals think about Madhav Narayan symbols as Swasthani. Many take the Madhav Narayan Jatra and Swasthani Brata as the equivalent.
5. Sankhu is significant for this celebration
In an old book named 'Manishail Mahabadan', there is a story of Lord Vishnu (Narayan), as the maker of the universe. The story says he once became frail after which he came to Sankhu. There, he venerated Goddess Bajryogini as Goddess Swasthani, for which he took fast for 30 days, with 12 days of tirtha (journey), nine days for revering water assets and nine days loving the snake rulers. From that point onward, he got reestablished as the all-knowing force of the universe. Following his strides, the supporters began noticing the fast for retribution and accepting their desires will get satisfied.
6. It has a great deal of similitudes with Teej and Shrawan fasts
Swasthani Brata celebration imparts similitudes to Teej and Shrawan month fasting that Nepali ladies notice every year. In these celebrations, the story of Goddess Parvati and her long fast to get Lord Shiva as her significant other are alluded to. Antiquarians say the narratives get interconnected in light of the fact that Parvati's fast and reflection for 'Shivawati' was extremely long. She was prompted by Lord Vishnu to do the Swasthani Brata to get her desires to get satisfied. She took fast for Teej, Shrawan, and Swasthani to accomplish that, so we can see the association there.
7. In any case, there are extreme principles for certain men
In Sankhu, male occupants from seven distinct families take an interest in the month-long celebration as 'saptarishis' or seven sages, according to the practice. On the off chance that a family has more than one men, they share the obligations thusly. For the entire month, every one of the seven follow a severe eating routine and customs to remain unadulterated.
They stay away from salt, three-time dinners, human touch, or any sort of extravagance including the glow of the bed, a rooftop over their heads, and shoes. They need to get up at 4 every morning, scrub down, perform pujas, and follow a severe eating routine of rice, milk, molasses, ghee, Nepali red radish (daikon), oranges and apples, which are typically contributions from the travelers.
8. Travelers visit different destinations likewise around the Kathmandu valley
A huge number of enthusiasts crowd Sankhu every year. Many take cover anywhere nearby of the sanctuary though many individuals visit every day over time. On the thirteenth day, the male lovers go to the Bajrayogini sanctuary from Shalinadi to offer their petitions. This custom is called Dun Danegu, when they lay level on the ground with their hands loosened up front. They return to the riverside similarly without making a solitary stride, by walking.
As a piece of the custom, they additionally arrive at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on the fourteenth day followed by their journey to Shesh Narayan sanctuary at Pharping the following day. Also, they arrive at Tribeni Ghat of Panauti on the nineteenth day and Changunarayan on the 27th day. On every one of the outings, they wash up at the objections, do puja, and return to Sankhu to rest.
9. It includes a one of a kind custom of a long walk
One more reference made in 'Manishail Mahabadan' gives understanding into this custom. To finish his fasting custom, Lord Vishnu required a couple of things. For that, he originally arrived at Pashupatinath to gather ekmukhi rudraksha, then, at that point, to Pharping to gather brilliant lotus blossoms, after that to Panauti to gather 108 kinds of blossoms, and to Changunarayanto to gather rice grains from the Satyayug. He made the outings by walking. Pioneers today make a similar excursion during the one-month long fast.
10. A few scientists have concentrated on the custom
Swasthani Barta Katha is a strict text found in pretty much every family of Nepal. The text is additionally supposed to be a perfect representation of how the Hindu religion thrived in Nepal and is taken as an impression of how strict sacred writings created through time. Refering to which, many bits of exploration and studies have been directed about and around the custom, including the interest of numerous global understudies and scientists. Many have interpreted the text in different dialects also.
