Mahottari: The number of internal and external tourists coming to worship at Panchadhura Bhagwati Temple located in Bardibas Municipality-4 Maisthan of Mahottari is increasing.
Recently, it has become a center of tourism attraction with the increase in the number of tourists coming here from the domestic and neighboring countries of India to worship in a beautiful and peaceful environment. Panchadhuramai is worshiped as a Shaktipeeth, where devotees come with the belief that their wishes will be fulfilled.
A large crowd of devotees come here especially on Tuesdays and special festivals. Akkal Bahadur Tamang, Chairman of the Panchadhura Mai Temple Protection Committee, said that Panchadhura Temple is playing an important role in promoting local tourism as religious and tourist places are being developed in the surrounding areas of Bardibas.
The temple of religious and archeological importance was found in the dense forest within this area during the period of history. According to local elders, there was a giant peepal tree in this temple at that time. Legend has it that the temple was named Panchadhara because there were five todakas at the foot of the giant Peepal tree, and water flowed continuously from those todakas. Locals say that later this ‘Panchadhara’ became Panchadhura through corruption.
The temple of Panchadhura Bhagwati is as ancient and legendary as it is also of historical importance. The Prime Minister Janga Bahadur Rana went to Bardibas-Maisthan forest in Bahadurganj area of Madhes to play hunting in the year 1933. During that time, he saw a ‘white tiger’. Legend has it that when he aimed his gun at the white tiger, the tiger merged into the Panchadhura temple.
This reference is also mentioned in the famous novel “Seto Bagh” written by the novelist Diamondshamsher Rana. According to local elders, then Prime Minister Janga Bahadur Rana cast an evil eye on Panchadhura Bhagwati and she was cursed by her mother. Because of this, he died on February 13, 1933 in Pattharkot of Sarlahi district. Which happened 148 years ago.
Janga Bahadur Rana fell ill when he saw a white tiger in the premises of this temple while hunting and later that white tiger became the cause of his death according to local elders and elders.
It is believed that this Bhagwati temple has immense tantric power. That is why there is a crowd of people who take vows and give sacrifices here. The number of religious and social programs such as weddings, vows, pujas, home chanting have been increasing in this temple for the past few years due to the belief that the wishes mentioned here will be fulfilled and the actions that are set in mind will be perfected.
Married couples come to this temple premises with the popular belief that if they get married in this temple, their married life will be happy and soon they will be blessed with offspring. Similarly, in recent days, the temple is full of people who eat picnics, entertain and roam around in this temple. This Panchadhura Bhagwati temple, which has religious, historical and ancient significance, has become a center of great faith for Hindus.
It is very easy and convenient to come to this temple and do worship and darshan here because it is attached to the east-west highway of Nepal. The head of Bardibas Municipality, Pralhad Kumar Chhetri, said that the Bardibas Municipality has allocated a budget for the beautification of the lake in the temple complex with the aim of contributing to the religious tourism of the city by properly promoting this ancient heritage.
Sudeep Karki, local at the municipality, said that it is necessary to develop the Panchadhura Mai temple as a tourist spot and insisted that it is necessary to highlight the archaeological and historical aspect of the temple by beautifying it.
Similarly, Hira Gautam, President of Madhesh Province, Federation of Hotel and Tourism Businesses, stated that the work of developing this Bhagwati temple as a religious tourism destination has been started and mentioned that the old pond is being beautified to organize the temple and the water in the pond will also be managed. He also pointed out the need to protect and manage this temple with religious history in a comprehensive manner.
Similarly, Akkal Bahadur Tamang, chairman of the Panchadhura Mai Temple Protection Committee, mentioned that development work is ongoing in this temple and informed that a DPR is also being prepared for its systematic development.
Local residents are continuing their efforts for the protection and development of this temple, which is a witness of history. According to President Tamang, its protection and development has been given high priority in recent times.
(RSS)
