Bala Chturdashi: A day to remember dead ones
The fourteenth night of the dark half of Mangsir, Chaturdashi is celebrated as Bala Chaturdashi. On this day devotees visit Pashupatinath — the Lord of the animals — temple and worship him. In the night they keep vigil. Satbeej, the purified mixture of hundred different grains like maize, paddy is scattered.
Devotees throng to the different Shiva temples throughout the country on this day like Gupteshwor Mahadev of Panchthar, Haleshi Mahadev of Khotang, Narmadeshwor Mahadev of Okhaldunga, Dolakha Mahadev of Dolakha and Galeshwor Mahadev of Myagdi to scatter .
Those, whose relatives have died a years before perform Hom - a sacrificial worship to the fire God - for the peaceful departure of the dead ones.
In Kathmandu devotees throng Kailash, by the side of Pashupatinath temple, Budhanilkantha, Swoyambhu and Nagarjun hill and keep vigil throughout the night lighting the oil-lamp in the memory of the dead ones.
Nepal Mahatmya describes Gokarneshwor Mahadav as one of the shrine of Lord Mahadev. It states that once Lord Shiva got bored in the companionship of his regular battalion of ghosts and spirits in Kailash – his holy abode in the Himalayas, he wanted to roam around freely. He even wanted to decieve Parvati, his consort. So, he came to Mrigasthali in Shleshmantak Ban – a forest near Pashupatinath Temple. There he enjoyed his free life as a deer.
For a long time, when Gods could not find the Lord they were worried and set to find him. Gods sent Brahma, Vishnu and Indra to search for the Lord.
The Gods after searching the whole universe came to the Shlesmantak Ban where to there utter surprise they saw the Lord enjoying his freedom as a deer.
They prayed to the Lord and asked to return to Kailash. But the Lord, who in no mood to return did not pay any attention to them. So, instead they decided to catch the Lord – the deer and caught his horn.
All of a sudden the Lord disappeared and only the three broken pieces of his Deer horn remained in their hand. Lord Shiva then told them to establish those three pieces of horn in his remembrance: in three places. Indra installed his piece in Swarge - the heaven, Lord Vishnu in Patal -the lower planets and Lord Brahma in Martya - the earth at Gokarna as Gokarneshwor Mahadav.
The people till today visit this temple, where according to the scriptures, once Ravana also prayed the almighty and pleased him.
Devotees throng to the different Shiva temples throughout the country on this day like Gupteshwor Mahadev of Panchthar, Haleshi Mahadev of Khotang, Narmadeshwor Mahadev of Okhaldunga, Dolakha Mahadev of Dolakha and Galeshwor Mahadev of Myagdi to scatter .
Those, whose relatives have died a years before perform Hom - a sacrificial worship to the fire God - for the peaceful departure of the dead ones.
In Kathmandu devotees throng Kailash, by the side of Pashupatinath temple, Budhanilkantha, Swoyambhu and Nagarjun hill and keep vigil throughout the night lighting the oil-lamp in the memory of the dead ones.
Nepal Mahatmya describes Gokarneshwor Mahadav as one of the shrine of Lord Mahadev. It states that once Lord Shiva got bored in the companionship of his regular battalion of ghosts and spirits in Kailash – his holy abode in the Himalayas, he wanted to roam around freely. He even wanted to decieve Parvati, his consort. So, he came to Mrigasthali in Shleshmantak Ban – a forest near Pashupatinath Temple. There he enjoyed his free life as a deer.
For a long time, when Gods could not find the Lord they were worried and set to find him. Gods sent Brahma, Vishnu and Indra to search for the Lord.
The Gods after searching the whole universe came to the Shlesmantak Ban where to there utter surprise they saw the Lord enjoying his freedom as a deer.
They prayed to the Lord and asked to return to Kailash. But the Lord, who in no mood to return did not pay any attention to them. So, instead they decided to catch the Lord – the deer and caught his horn.
All of a sudden the Lord disappeared and only the three broken pieces of his Deer horn remained in their hand. Lord Shiva then told them to establish those three pieces of horn in his remembrance: in three places. Indra installed his piece in Swarge - the heaven, Lord Vishnu in Patal -the lower planets and Lord Brahma in Martya - the earth at Gokarna as Gokarneshwor Mahadav.
The people till today visit this temple, where according to the scriptures, once Ravana also prayed the almighty and pleased him.
