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Mother
Goddess of Nepal - Terai:
By Dr. R. D. Rakesh.
Mai
is considered as goddess. It will be more correct
to call Mai as folk deity. Taleju, Guheshwori, Bhadrakali,
Shobha Bhagawati, Dakshinkali, Mankamana and Churia
Mai are Classical deities whereas Shitala Mai and
Sona Mai, Kanakali and Bankali are folk deities.
 Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world.This
country is the country of gods and goddesses. Mai
is also considered as goddess. It will be more correct
to call Mai as folk deity. Taleju, Guheshwori, Bhadrakali,
Shobha Bhagawati, Dakshinkali, Manakamana and Churia
Mai are classical deities whereas Shitala Mai and
Sona Mai, Kanakali and Bankali are folk deities.
Classical deities are located in famous places and
folk deities are located in rural areas. Classical
deities have been patronized by the kings and queens
and other members of Royal family. As for example
Manakamana Mai was the favourite and patron goddess
of the late founder King of Nepal Prithvi Narayan
Shah. Gadhi Mai was the favourite goddess of the
Karnat Kings. Folk deities are not given proper
attention and care because they are located in the
rural areas but some of them is very famous and
considered very generous and benevolent.
Mai is also one of the five god called Panchyan
(Pantheon). The five gods are: Ganesh (elephant-
headed god),Sun, Vishnu, Shiva and goddesses (Maha
Durga, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati etc.). She is
considered the perennial source of energy. She is
an originator, so people have been bowing down before
her immense power since the time immemorial. They
worship her as mother goddess.
There has been a long tradition of worshipping symbol
of energy to restore power, strength and stamina
for human beings. To respect and regard folk deities
has become customary since long time. To worship
these deities has become part and parcel of daily
life for the people of terai because they think
that they do not only stand in the temples but they
are very active and alive. The people of Terai are
very religious minded. So whether they are Vaishnavas
and Shaivas they have undying faith in them.
They offer fruits, flowers, red vermillion, scented
incense and veautiful bangles to their favorite
goddess. They also get prasad(blessings) after worshipping
and offerings. They take ‘prasad’ as blessing of
the goddess. Sometimes devotees ask their favorite
goddess to fulfill their unfulfilled wishes.
Mother goddess Durga is also considered as Mai.
She is considered very kind-hearted and is easily
pleased. So she is very popular throughout Nepal.
She is worshipped on the auspicious occasion of
Dashain with reverence and gaiety every year. Animal
sacrifice is the main ritual to be performed to
please this blood thirsty goddess. She is highly
pleased with the sacrifice of pigeons, ducks and
roosters and goats. So her true devotees offer these
sacrifices and receive red tika on the forehead,
the symbol of energy. This way the blessing of the
supreme goddess is also considered to be transmitted
in the devotees. Vegetarian devotees do not sacrifice
animals. They offer fruits, flowers, red vermillion,
bangles mirrors and red threads.
Asta Matrika (eight mother goddesses) is the galaxy
of eight goddesses such as Shri DeviMaha Devi, Mahamaya,
Jagdamba or Brahmi Vaishnavi Maheshwari, Indrayani,
Maha Lakshmi, Chamunda, Barahi and Kumari (the living
goddess). The Whole Hindu community is loyal to
Mai, mother goddess, from the very beginning of
the very beginning of the creation.
Besides this, there are countless forms and figures
of Mai, which are worshipped with supreme respect
through out the country. They are Shaileshwari in
Doti, Bangeshwari in Nepalganj, Rani Ujeshwari in
Tansen, Vindyabasini in Pokhara, Chandeshwari in
Banepa Nishan Devi in Dhankuta, Dantkali in Dharan,
Mankamana and Gorakhkali in Gorkha, Rajdevi in Janakpur,
Churia and Bhutan Devi in Hetauda, Sakhada Bhagwati
and Chhinmasta in Saptari (Rajbiraj), Sundari Mai
in Bhaise and Sona Mai in Mahottari, District.
Tulaja or Taleju was the favorite goddess of the
Malla King. Jaya Prakash Malla used to play cards
with this goddess. The temple of Taleju is situated
in the Durbar Square of Kathmandu in the complex
of Hanuman Dhoka. This temple opens only in a year
on the auspicious occasion to have a glimpse of
her. There is a bronze bell on the terrace of this
temple, which is known as “the bell of barking dogs”.
This bell is rung every morning while worshipping
goddess Taleju in Lalitpur.
Shova Bhagawati
The temple of Shova Bhagawati is situated on the
bank of the river Vishnumati. She is very famous
and is also a favorites goddess of the Kathmandu
Valley. She is also considered very powerful and
fulfills all wishes of her devotees. The temple
is very small but very impressive. Devotees can
be seen in long queue every year during Dashain
festival.
Guheshwari
The Temple of Guheswari is situated next to the
world famous temple of Pashupatinath. She is considered
the consort of Pashuptinath. She is in the form
of female part which is worshipped by her countless
devotees.
Dakshinkali
The temple of Dakshinkali is situated about 13 kms.
south of Kathmandu. She is a very powerful goddess
and fulfills all the wishes of her devotees. The
temple is very small but every Tuesday and Saturday
pilgrims visit this temple to offer prayers. They
also sacrifice animals to please the goddess.
Manakamana
The temple of Manakamana Mai stands in the district
of Gorkha, the royal seat of the Gorkha kings. She
was worshipped by the late king Prithve Narayan
Shah after Conquering the Kathmandu Valley. She
is the royal deity of the Gorkha kings.
Hundreds of thousands people throng to worship her
during the national festival Dashain. She is very
popular among her devotees because she fulfills
all their wishes. So she is rightly called Manakamana.
popular among her devotees because she fulfills
all their wishes. So she is rightly called Manakamana.
The temples of Mai are largely found in the Terai
region. Some of them are famous whereas some of
them are lesser known. Some folk deities don’t have
temples. They are situated on the elevated mount
of land and some of them rest under the shadow of
big trees.
Churia Mai
The temple of Churia Mai is situated in the midst
of the Shivalik range and beside the Tribhuvan Rajpath
(High way). People travelling by this Highway bow
down in respect and throw coins and offerings from
the window of the buses by which they are traveling
for pleasing the goddess. They also pray for their
safe journey.
The temple of Churia Mai is situated in the midst
of the Shivalik range and beside the Tribhuvan Rajpath
(High way). People travelling by this Highway bow
down in respect and throw coins and offerings from
the window of the buses by which they are traveling
for pleasing the goddess. They also pray for their
safe journey.
Gadhi Mai
The temple of Gadhi Mai in the village of Bariarpur
in the district of Bara is the most popular and
famous in the whole Terai Belt. This goddess was
the favorite goddess of the Karnat kings. The temple
of Taleju in Katmandu is considered to be the replica
of the temple of Gadhi Mai. The Karnat kings brought
this goddess from Simraun Gardh to Kathmandu Valley
when they compromised with the Malla kings of the
Valley. So she is called Rajgadhi Mai because she
was the real royal goddess. She is worshipped in
a grand manner after every five years by devotees
from the whole of Nepal and also from India. Thousands
of water buffalos are sacrifice at the alter of
this deity. A colorful grand fair is held to mark
this auspicious occasion. It is considered one of
the biggest folk fair in South Asia.
The goddess of Gadhi Mai is understood to have seven
sisters namely Gadhi Mai, Virta Mai (Biranj), Boudhi
Mai (Madhuwan Bara), Sansari Mai (Shiva Nagar, Pothiyahi),
Kanhar Mai, (Sameera bagadh) and Ghodaahi Mai (Dharampur,
Rautahat district). These seven sisters assemble
in one place on the auspicious occasion of Gadhi
Mai fair after five years. Bariarpur village becomes
the marvellous scenic spot for animal sacrifice
after every five years. This fair provides national
and international forum for fraternity, brotherhood
and mutual understanding among the devotees visiting
it. This fair lasts for twenty days.
Gahawa Mai
The temple of Mai located in the heart
of Birganj at Maisthan is called Gahawa Mai. Pilgrims
come to worship her from distant villages during
the Dashain festival. A big fair also takes place
on this occasion. There are many temples of folk
– deities Mai in Birganj. To name few of them are
Gahawa Mai, Birta Mai, Radhe Mai, Boudhi Mai, Bhutan
Devi Mai, Shree Dwardevi Mai Bindhyabasini Mai etc.
Temples of Mai are situated in almost every village
and town of Terai. Before marriage ceremony the
brides worship the goddess Mai of their respective
villages. They are also supposed to worship the
Mango tree which is considered sacred before worshipping
the temple of Mai
Sona Mai
Sona Mai is famous in the village of Sona Mai in
the district of Mahottari near Janakpur. This village
is named after this Mai. Raj Mai is famous in the
district of Sarlahi.
Singhabahini
Likewise the temple of Singhabahini located at Ilam
and surrounded by the trees of Rudraksha is also
worth visiting. There is also Mai Pokhari (pond)
in this district. This pond is named after this
Mai.
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