Mahankaal Bhairav Guru

Shree Mahankaal or Mahankaa Dya is believed to be the main protector of Yen Dey and is called as Mahankaa Aaju too. The Mahankal established in Kathmandu is one of the main deity of Vajrayana Buddhism who is considered as the protector of every Mahavihara and often called as " BajraBir" but though is worshipped by Hindus too as fierce full manifestation of Lord Shiva. Mahankaal is called with different name such as Mahankaal, Bajrabir, Bajrasiddi, Tundi Bhairav, Bajra Bhairav, Bajra Tundi etc.

The shrine of Mahankaal is located in Tinikhyo, and is specially worshipped for protection from evil spirits, getting out of obstacles and to bring fortunes in life. There are many folklores to explain about how the shrine was established.

One of the popular and written story about the shrine of Mahankaal explains that one of the famous Tantrik of then Nepal, Shaswat Bajra was sitting in roof in sun during winter. Suddenly the sunlight was gone because of a heavy black cloud. So, Sashwat Bajra waited for the cloud to go off and he started looking at sky. In a while, he noticed that the clouds were not moving and shifting. So he thought that it might be something else than cloud and he thought of making it fall on the earth ( land). So, Shaswat Bajra went to " Aagam Chapaa" and he used his tantrik powers with different chantings. Finally the cloud looking thing fell down in the earth after a long process. After that Shaswat Bajra went to see what it actually was, and he found out that Shree Mahankaal was inside it. Then Shaswat Bajra requested Mahankaal about the reason to come in Nepal and to asked reason to fly like a cloud. In reply, Mahankaal said that he was actually travelling to Kaashi, to a pilgrimage named " Vishwanaath" and take a holy bath in Mani Karnikaa. Shaswat Bajra then requested Mahankaal to stay in his country and not to go anywhere else but Mahankal refused to stay as he was going for pilgrimage. After hearing this reply from Mahankaal, Shaswat Bajra used his tantrik power and invited Biswanath from Kaashi and established here and also he performed certain ritual and invited the Ganga of Manikarnika pond and established a pond for Mahankaal to take bath. Mahankaal, then had the glance of Vishwanath and took a holy bath in Mani Karnika pond and he agreed to stay here forever.

The story furthermore explains that, the cloud looking thing turned into a black stone after it fell into earth and Shaswat Bajra ordered to carve a beautiful stone statue of Mahankaal with a smiling face and established it in " Agam Chapaa". The small stone pillar still exist in Mahankaal shrine area and is worshipped as Viswanath and the pond existed in front of the shrine as " Mahankaa Pukhu / Chapaa Pukhu" but it has been replaced now by modern day Millitary hospital and Bir Hospital. There is still an small hole in the wall of Millitary hospital, as a symbol of pond which existed there before.

The important things to mention about Mahankaal shrine is the stone inscriptions scattered over there. One of the stone inscription mentions that the statue of Mahankaal sweated a lot and cried during the morning, in N.S. 974 Shrawan Shukla Saptami , Tuesday. Another stone inscription mentions that in N.S. 981 Mangsir Krishna Trayodashi, the statue of Narayan, Saraswati, Ganesh and some stupas of Tinikhyo were forcefully taken out and were shifted out of the Tinikhyo and the land was taken for Millitary purpose for soliders.

In present day , the shrine is crowdy during Saturdays as it is considered to be the day of Mahankaal. One of the main ritual of this shrine is " Paatra Pujaa". It is believed that anyone who performs Patra Puja , his/her obstacles, problems, misfortunes will be vanished and will get a way to luck and fortunes in life. Mahankaal is also offered alcohals, and sweets as it is believed to be his favorite food.

The Mahankaal is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists equally in present day as a protector deity. There are several small statues of Mahankaal in different places in valley and specially in every door of Mahavihaara.

Notes :

1. Yen Dey (यें देय्) is the actual name of Kathmandu which still the native people prefers to call it . Kathmandu is also known as " Yamboo"( यम्बू) by other communities like Tamang, and Gurungs.

2. Tinikhyo (तिनीख्यः) also called as Tinkhya or Tinaakhya is the native name of present " Tundikhel".

3. " Aagam Chapaa"(आगम चपा) is mentioned as ancient and old name of Tinikhyo in many of the handwritten books and in stone inscriptions.

4. The pilgrimage Vishwanath and Manikarnika is located in Kashi, present India.

5. N.S. here means Nepal Sambat, one of the official calendar of Nepal until the period of Dev Sumsher, and was widely used for every purpose. It is a lunar calander based on phases of moon.

6. Paatra is also called as Skull Bowl. It is a bowl that is in shape of human skull which is holded by often every deities in Kathmandu valley.

( Editor's Note : The part of article about dates and its stuff are taken from a book " Tunkhyo Yaa Mahankaal Yaagu Parichaya" written by Judda Ratna Bajracharya)

Article : Sandip Maharjan

Photo Credit : Google