Chandannath Temple (/'ʧʌndʌn'nʌθ 'tɛmpl/ ; ) is a
Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to Hindu deities, deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to who ...
in
Jumla,
Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
. It is located in Khalanga Bazar of
Chandannath Municipality.
History
It was built during the
Kallala Dynasty
The Kallala Dynasty or Kalyal Dynasty () was the ruling dynasty of the Jumla Kingdom formed by shahi Baliraj shahi after the disintegration of Khasa kingdom. The capital of this dynasty was ''Svarnagrama''.
Introduction
In pre-historic times, the ...
also known as Kalal Dynasty. There are not many written documents about Kalyal Dynasty and Chandannath preserved. The events and lore had been passed orally for generations.
Chandannath Baba of Kashmir
People believe that there was a person named Chandannath who hailed from
Kashmir
Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
, had brought the statue of the
Dattatreya
Dattatreya (, ), Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are also collectively known as the Trimurti, incarna ...
(also known as
Trimurti
The Trimurti ( /t̪ɾimʊɾt̪iː/) is the triple deity of supreme divinity in Hinduism, in which the cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and destruction are personified as a triad of deities. Typically, the designations are that ...
). He kept the statue at the present location of the temple, prompting the construction during the Kallala Dynasty. Chandannath of
Kashmir
Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
is also believed to be the one who had first introduced
brown rice (मार्सी चामल) in Jumla after finding seasonal weathers of the place similar to that of
Kashmir
Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
.
Cow offering milk at sacred place
Some local people also believe another story of the establishment of the temple. That is, once there was a Cow, which didn't give milk to her owner in the cowshed. But one day, when it stood above the place where now the temple exists, milk began to drop from its teats. Her owner saw that and told all the villagers. People believed that the place was sacred as Cow was offering its milk. Then, they established this temple at the very holy place.
Practices
In this temple, local people change ''lingo'' every year. The ''lingo'' is a timber whose length is approximately more than 52 feet which are colored with brick red color and a huge cloth is stitched around it, which makes it looks like a triangular flag. People strongly believe that something wrong is going to happen if that ''lingo'' is broken during the change. This ''lingo'' replacement ceremony is held during
Ghatasthapana, which is the first day of Dashain. During this day, the temple is crowded with devotees.
A large number of people are also seen in the temple on the occasion of
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami (), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the '' Gita Govinda ...
,
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to worship the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half (night start with darkness - ...
and other major Hindu Festival.
Photo Gallery
Image:Chandannath Temple.jpg, Chandannath and Bhairabnath Temple after heavy snowfall
Image:Hanuman Temple beside Chandannath Temple.jpg, Hanuman Temple beside Chandannath Temple
Image:Chandannath mandir.jpg, Photo by Johan Reinhard, National Geographic Society captured on 1995 AD
Image:Snowy Chandannath and Bhairabnath.jpg, Chandannath and Bhairabnath Temple during snowfall
Image:Chandannath and Bhairabnath Temple.jpg, Chandannath and Bhairabnath Temple from far
References
{{Hindu temples in Nepal
Hindu temples in Karnali Province