Birupakshya

Last updated
Birupakshya's statue near the Pashupati Aryaghat in 2021 Birupaksha Temple Birupachha Statue Arya Ghat Pashupati Area Pashupati Temple Pashupati Kathmandu Nepal Rajesh Dhungana (12).jpg
Birupakshya's statue near the Pashupati Aryaghat in 2021

Birupakshya is the holy god of Kirat people located in Kathmandu erected by Kirati kings of ancient Nepal, believed to be an ancestor. [1] It is also known as Kirateswor Mahadev. Kirat people are diverse and therefore their beliefs and deities vary. Birupakshya is also worshipped in South India as Virupaksha.[ citation needed ]

An icon of Virupaksha is located in the east of Pashupatinath Temple in the right bank of Bagmati river. Half of the body of Virupaksha lies inside ground and another half above. The statue is believed to be emerging out slowly. It is believed that the world will be destroyed when the whole statue emerges. Virupaksha is also called kali because his full emergence will end the Kali Yuga. [2]

Mythology

There are various legendary stories related to Virupaksha originating from Puranas and Mahapuranas. [3] According to one legend, Virupaksha is a god of the Kirat people, and the statue was established by the Kirati people of ancient Nepal. His statue is believed to be buried due to the earthquake in this version. [3] In another story, Virupaksha is believed to be the chief of Nāgas, the gatekeepers of lord Shiva. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Nepal</span>

Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious, and multilingual country. The most spoken language is Nepali followed by several other ethnic languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jiri</span> Municipality in Bagmati, Nepal

Jiri is a municipality in Dolakha District in the Bagmati Province of central Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 13,638 people. Jiri, which lies about 190 kilometers from Kathmandu, is the main gateway to the Everest Region. Almost all the Everest expeditions, including the one led by famous climber John Hunt, Edmund Hillary had passed through Jiri. A company of the Nepal Army is stationed in town and visitors' equipment and backpacks might be searched. There are a number of lodges available along either side of the main road mainly in Jiri Bazaar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rai people</span> Kiranti ethnic group Nepal, India and Bhutan

The Rai also known as Khambu and Jimee are ethnolinguistic group belonging to the Kirat family and primarily Tibeto-Burman linguistic ethnicity. They mainly reside in the eastern parts of Nepal, the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal and in southwestern Bhutan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lalitpur, Nepal</span> City in Bagmati Province, Nepal

Lalitpur Metropolitan City is a metropolitan city and fourth most populous city of Nepal with 299,843 inhabitants living in 49,044 households per the 2021 census. It is located in the south-central part of Kathmandu Valley, a large valley in the high plateaus in central Nepal, at an altitude of 1,400 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Sikkim</span>

The history of Sikkim begins with the indigenous Lepcha's contact with early Tibetan settlers. Historically, Sikkim was a sovereign Monarchical State in the eastern Himalayas. Later a protectorate of India followed by a merger with India and official recognition as a state of India. Lepchas were the main inhabitants as well as the Ruler of the land up to 1641. Lepchas are generally considered to be the first people, indigenous to Sikkim also includes Darjeeling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iman Xin Chemjong</span> Nepalese academic

Iman Xin Chemjong Limbu, or Iman Singh Chemjong Limbu; was a Limbu historian, writer, linguist, lexicographer, folklorist, and philosopher of Nepal. Chemjong devoted his entire life to studying and documenting various facets of Kirat Limbu tradition and culture at a time when such activities were frowned upon and even punished by the Nepalese ruling elite as being subversive and "anti-national". Chemjong's research into and publication of Kirant history and culture challenged perceptions of the Nepalese official doctrine that showcased Nepal as a Hindu cultural monolith devoid of alternative narratives.

Kimpurusha Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Kimpurushas who were one among the exotic tribes of ancient India. These exotic tribes lived in inaccessible regions like the Himalaya mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirati people</span> Indigenous ethnic groups of the Himalayas

The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are Sino-Tibetan ethnolinguistic groups and indigenous peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India.

Yamphu language is a Kirati language spoken by the Kirat Yamphu people, a Kirati people of the Himalayas of Nepal. Tomyang (Chongka) is a recently discovered dialect spoken by only 20 people. Both it and Yamphe are distinct. Southern Yamphu is also considered to be Southern Kirat Lorung language. These varieties are all closely related.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akash Bhairav</span> One of the different forms of Bhairava

Akash Bhairav or Aaju is one of the different forms of Bhairava.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chyasal</span> Neighbourhood in Lalitpur, Lalitpur, Nepal

Chyasal is an ancient town in the District of Lalitpur in Bagmati Zone in Nepal and a section of the city of Lalitpur. Also known as Yala in Nepal Bhasa. The 800 Kiratis are said to been slain in this Dabu by Lichhavis. Yalamber was a Kirat King who settled in Nepal mainly in Ye and surrounding region of Khopa (Bhaktapur) and Yala (Lalitpur).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirat Mundhum</span> Indigenous religion of the Kirati

Kirat Mundum, also known as Kiratism, or Kirati Mundum, is an animistic folk religion of the Kirati ethnic groups of Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim, majorly practiced by Yakkha, Limbu, Sunuwar, Rai, Thami, Jirel, Hayu and Surel peoples in the north-eastern Indian subcontinent. The practice is also known as Kirat Veda, Kirat-Ko Veda or Kirat Ko Ved. According to some scholars, such as Tom Woodhatch, it is a blend of shamanism, animism, and Shaivism. It is practiced by about 3.17% of the Nepali population as of 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulung people</span>

The Kulung also call Kulunge are one of the major subgroup of kirati people and indigenous communities of Nepal, as well as parts of northeastern Sikkim and Darjeeling district of India, having their own Kulung language, culture, history and tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Udhauli</span> Kirat festival celebrated to thank nature for providing them with good harvest.

Udhauli (उधौली) is a festival of the Kirat communities of Kirati people specially celebrated by Sunuwar, Limbu, Thami,Yakkha, Khambu Rai etc. of Nepal, India and other different countries around the world where these indigenous people resides. It is celebrated every year marking the migration phase downwards towards the low-elevation regions when the winter season arrives. The migration from the low-elevation areas upwards to hilly areas is called Ubhauli (upwards), which is also an annual festival of these communities On the Udhauli festival day, the Kirat people offer thanks to mother nature for providing a good harvest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yalambar</span> Warrior and First Kirat King of Nepal

Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver was a Kirati warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C. His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kathmandu Valley (Thankot) after conquering Central Nepal and his kingdom extended from river Trishuli in the west to river Teesta in the east of Bhutan. Patan also known as is resemblance to Yalamber as he ruled the regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirat Region</span> Region in East Nepal, Nepal

The Kirat Region is an area of the Eastern Himalayas which is inhabited by ethnic Kirati people. in the History of Nepal earliest inhabitants of Nepal are Kiratis of Eastern hills.Kirati states divided into three subdivision "Wallo Kirat” or Near Kirat is from east of Kathmandu Valley to Likhu Khola, "Majh Kirat” or Middle Kirat is east of Likhu River to Arun River and the "Pallo Kirat” Limbuwan or Far Kirat is east of Arun valley Arun River to Mechi River.

Bhupal Rai is a poet, lyricist, writer and editor. He is currently chancellor of Nepal Academy. He has voiced for the rights of the marginalized people through his writings. His writings carry the organic essence of the Kirati people and their culture. His writings carry the blend of Marxist philosophy and socio-cultural pragmatism of the indigenous people.

Chintang Devi temple is a Kirati and Hindu temple located in Dhankuta, Nepal. The temple is en route to the ancient pilgrimage site of Barahakshetra at the confluence of the Saptakoshi River. The temple is also known by the name of Jalpadevi Temple. The temple derives its name from Chintang, one of the seven daughter of Budhahang. Any women after mensuration are not allowed to enter the temple.

The earliest inhabitants of modern Nepal and adjoining areas are believed to be Australoid people. By 4000 BCE, the Tibeto-Burmese people had reached Nepal either directly across the Himalayas from Tibet or via Myanmar and north-east India or both. By the late Vedic period, Nepal was being mentioned in various Hindu texts, such as the late Vedic Atharvaveda Pariśiṣṭa and in the post-Vedic Atharvashirsha Upanishad. The Gopal Bansa was the oldest dynasty to be mentioned in various texts as the earliest rulers of the central Himalayan kingdom known by the name 'Nepal'. The Gopalas were followed by Kiratas who ruled for over 16 centuries by some accounts. According to the Mahabharata, the then Kirata king went to take part in the Battle of Kurukshetra. In the south-eastern region, Janakpurdham was the capital of the prosperous kingdom of Videha or Mithila, that extended down to the Ganges, and home to King Janaka and his daughter, Sita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khuwalung</span> Sacred rock in Province No. 1 of Nepal

Khuwalung is a rock in the Saptakoshi river of Nepal sacred to the Kirati people. The rock lies at the confluence of Dudh Koshi, Arun, and Tamor rivers, near the Belaka municipality of Udayapur district. It is considered as one of the holiest site of the Kirati people. The name of the rock is uttered in the beginning and ending of every Kirat religious ritual.

References

  1. "Miscellaneous History of Nepal".
  2. "Nepal Monarchy: Kirat Dynasty" . Retrieved 2021-04-05.