इन्द्रजात्रा 2022

 इन्द्रजात्रा

इन्द्रजात्रामा विशेषः काठमाण्डौँ उपत्यकामा इन्द्र देवताको उत्सव मनाउन गरिने इन्द्रध्वजोत्थापन, लाखे नाच, रथयात्रा यास्ता विभिन्न क्रियाकलापहरु यस जात्रा हुने गर्दछ। इन्द्रजात्रा काठमाण्डौँमा विशेष धुमधामसित मनाइन्छ भने ललितपुर र भक्तपुर पनि जात्रा गरिन्छ । यो जात्रा भाद्रशुक्ल द्वादशीदेखि आश्विन कृष्ण चतुर्थीसम्म आठ दिन चल्दछ । द्वादशीका दिन हनुमान्ढोकाको अगाडि लिङ्गो / इन्द्रध्वजोत्थापन गरिन्छ। इन्द्रध्वजोत्थापनको अर्थ इन्द्रको ध्वजालाई उठाउनु भन्ने हो । यस दिन र अरू दिन पनि देवदेवीहरूको प्रदर्शन, विभिन्न सांस्कृतिक नाचगानको आयोजना र दीपावलि गर्ने गरिन्छ । चतुर्दशीमा कुमारीको रथयात्रा गर्ने परम्परालाई मल्लकाल देखि चल्दैआएको छ ।

Aakash Vairab, Indrachok

जयप्रकाश मल्लले इन्द्रजात्रामा थपिदिएको सबैभन्दा ठूलो अंग हो 'जीवित देवी श्री कुमारीको रथयात्रा' । श्री कुमारीको रथयात्रा अहिले इन्द्रजात्राकै सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपूर्ण अंश बनिसकेको छ । जात्रामा श्री कुमारीका रूपमा पुजित जीवित बालिकालाई रथमा विराजमान गराई नगर परिक्रमा गराइन्छ । रथयात्राको अघि–अघि जीवित देवताहरू श्री गणेश र श्री भैरवको रथ पनि तानिन्छ । जीवित बालिकालाई कुमारीका रूपमा पूजा–आराधना गर्ने चलन काठमाडौंलगायत पाटन, भक्तपुर र अन्य नगरमा पनि छ ।

इन्द्रजात्राको कथा

लिङ्गो / इन्द्रध्वज

पौराणिक कथा अनुसार, असुरबाट पराजित देवराज इन्द्र विष्णु भगवानको शरणमा पुगनु भएछ विष्णुले इन्द्रलाई यो ध्वजा लिएर युद् गर्न गयौ भने विजयी हुनेछौ भनेर ध्वजा दिएको प्रसङ्ग आउँछ । त्यसपछि इन्द्र विजयी भएको र इन्द्रले असुरमाथि विजय प्राप्त गरेपछि ध्वजाको पूजा तथा उत्सव पनि हुन थालेको भन्ने कथा पाइन्छ ।

लिङ्गो / इन्द्रध्वज, बसन्तपुर

इन्द्रजात्रा कथा १

किंवदन्ती अनुसार, स्वर्गका राजा इन्द्रलाई पारिजातको फूल चाहिएको थियो । उनकी आमा बसुन्धरा व्रत बसेकी थिइन् । यसकै लागि पारिजातको फूल चाहिन्थ्यो । इन्द्र झरे काठमाडौंको भीमसेनस्थानतिर । त्यहाँ एउटा बगैंचा थियो । त्यहीं फूल टिप्न खोज्दा मालीले उनलाई समातिहाले । इन्द्रले फूल टिप्न अनुमति लिएकै थिएनन् । फेरि ती माली पनि कम्तीका थिएनन् । तान्त्रिक थिए । इन्द्र जत्तिको देवतालाई पनि सबैले देख्ने गरेर लिंगोमा बाँधेर राखे । छोरा नफर्केपछि आमाले ऐरावत हात्तीलाई खोज्न पठाइछिन् । इन्द्र त समस्यामा रहेछन् । आमा आफैं काठमाडौं झरिन् । त्यो पनि बौलाहीको वेशमा । छोराको स्थिति देखेर उनी छक्क परिन् । पछि धानबाली समयमै पाक्ने दिने बचन दिइन् । त्यति मात्र नपुगेर मरेकालाई स्वर्ग लान पनि मानिन् । अनि आफ्ना छोरालाई स्वर्ग फर्काइन् । इन्द्रकी आमाको बचनअनुसार काठमाडौंका खेतबारी राम्रा हुन थाले । अनि मरेकाहरू पनि स्वर्ग जान थाले ।

इन्द्रजात्रा कथा २

देव–दानव मिलेर समुद्रमन्थन गर्दा निस्केका वस्तुहरूमध्ये पारिजात फूलको वृक्ष नेपाल उपत्यकामा रहेको थियो। एउटा ज्यापूले  (किसान) त्यस पारिजात वृक्षको वरिपरि आकर्षक फूलले सुशोभित बगैँचा बनाएका थिए । त्यस बगैँचाको सौन्दर्य देखेर देवराज इन्द्रले नेपाल उपत्यकामा आएर आफूलाई मनपर्ने पारिजातको फूल टिपेर स्वर्गमा लैजाने गर्दथे । त्यस बगैँचाको मालिक किसानले पारिजातको फूल चोरी भएको चाल पाएर फूल चोर्ने इन्द्रलाई एक दिन पक्रिए । इन्द्रले किसानसँग क्षमा मागे ।

किसानले हाम्रा राजा पनि तपाईँको भक्त हुनुहुन्छ, उहाँलाई पनि दर्शन दिएर जानुहोला भनी इन्द्रलाई राजाकहाँ पुर्याए । राजाले इन्द्रलाई आदरका साथ सत्कार गरी भने- तपाईँको दर्शनले म धन्य भए प्रभु भने। मेरा प्रजाहरूले पनि तपाईँको दर्शन गर्न पाउनुपर्छ भनी प्रजाहरूलाई यथाशक्ति धूप, बत्ती, माला लिएर स्वर्गका राजा इन्द्रको दर्शन गर्न आउनू भनी खबर गरे । प्रजाहरू भेला भएर इन्द्रदेवको पूजा गरे ।

यहाँका राजा र प्रजाको भक्तिभाव देखेर प्रसन्न भएका इन्द्रले उनीहरूलाई वरदान माग्न भने । उनीहरूले— हे इन्द्रदेव हाम्रा देशमा आएर हामीलाई दर्शन दिनुभएको आजका दिनलाई हामी महान् पर्व सम्झन्छौँ । यस दिनका स्मृतिमा प्रतिवर्ष आजकै दिन भाद्रशुक्ल द्वादशीदेखि आश्विन कृष्ण  चतुर्थीसम्म तपाईँका साथै स्वर्गका देवदेवीको स्वागत गर्न पाऔँ भनी वरदान मागे । इन्द्र तथास्तु भनी स्वर्ग गए । यसै वरदानले गर्दा त्यस द्वादशीदेखि चतुर्थीसम्म आठ दिन वर्षैपिच्छे इन्द्रसहित देवदेवीहरू यस उपत्यकामा आइदिने भए ।

इन्द्रको स्वागतका निमित्त विधिवत् ध्वजा–पताकाका साथ लिङ्गो उभ्याई दीपावली गर्ने चल्न चल्यो । पछि स्वर्गका राजा इन्द्र र यस उपत्यकाका राजाको सल्लाहअनुसार अब कलियुगको प्रभाव पर्ने समय आएकाले अबउप्रान्त स्वर्गबाट प्रत्यक्ष रूपमा देवता नआउने, तर नगरमा काठ, ढुङ्गा र धातुबाट देवमूर्ति बनाई आराधना गरेमा ती आठ दिनसम्म ती मूर्तिहरूमा स्वर्गका देवदेवीहरूको प्रादुर्भाव हुने भनी दुवैले परस्पर सम्झौता गरे । त्यसै वेलादेखि नगरवासीहरूले इन्द्रजात्राका आठ दिनका लागि देवमूर्ति बनाई आआफ्ना घरअगाडि स्थापना गरी देवतालाई आह्वान गर्न थाले ।

Reference

1.      Nepal opinion “इन्द्रजात्राको वैदिक र लौकिक तात्पर्य”

2.      Kantipur News “मौलिक महोत्सव येँ याः”

Buddha Jayanti

Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama on the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) in 563 BC in Lumbini. In Hinduism, Buddha is considered the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The birth anniversary of Lord Buddha is celebrated as Buddha Purnima. This year, today is the auspicious 2566th birth anniversary of the Lord Buddha. Buddha Purnima is celebrated with full fervor across the globe.

Buddha Purnima is also widely known as the Buddha Jayanti. The day commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautam who later became Gautam Buddha, the founder of "Buddhism".

The Four Noble Truth

1) Mental suffering
2) Cause of suffering
3) Extinction of suffering
4) Path of Extinction of suffering

The Eightfold of Noble Path

1) Right View
2) Right Motivation
3) Right Speech
4) Right Action
5) Right Occupation
6) Right Effort
7) Right Mindfulness
8) Right Concentration

Here's taking a look at the four main places that are associated with the life of Gautam Buddha. Thousands of devotees from across the world visit these Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

1) Lumbini: Lumbini, Nepal is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

2) Bodh Gaya: Bodh Gaya is in Bihar. It is where he is believed to have attained enlightenment under the Mahabodhi tree.

3) Sarnath: Gautam Buddha delivered his first speech in Sarnath.

4) Kushinagar: It is believed that Gautam Buddha attained Parinirvana.

Happy 2566th BuddhaJayanti "Om Mani padhme hum" ॐ मणिपद्मे हुँ।

Significance

According to the British Library blog, “Every full moon day is an auspicious day for Buddhists, but the most important of all is the day of the full moon in May because three major events in the life of the Gautama Buddha took place on this day. Firstly, the Buddha-to-be, Prince Siddhattha was born at Lumbini Grove on the full moon day in May. Secondly, after six years of hardship, he attained enlightenment under the shade of the Bodhi tree and became Gautama Buddha at Bodh Gaya also on the full moon day of May. Thirdly, after 45 years of teaching the Truth, when he was eighty, at Kusinara, he passed away to Nibbana, the cessation of all desire, on the full moon day of May.”

This day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world and is a major festival in countries like Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, China, Tibet, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia. However, every country celebrates the festival differently.

Holi Festival

Colors have a special significance in the Hindu religion. Some are regarded as the favorite colors of deities, some auspicious, and some not so. One of many festivals that take place in a year in the Hindu religion that festival salutes the colors i.e Holi.

It is also sometimes called the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feelings towards each other. Also known by the name Fagu Purnima around the world, a globe festival its indeed, at the end of the day festival-goers coated color as well as the powder of various colors that revelers throw on each other. Colors bring joy and refreshment to our lives. In the otherwise mundane life spent balancing career and home colors provide a pleasant stimulus, much like the spiritual awakening does to the soul. 

Holi starts on the evening of Fagu Purnima; the full moon day of the Month Phalguna according to the Hindu Calendar (in the middle of March). The festival of colors has two famous stories of how it started to be celebrated, i.e. the origin of Holi from the story of Holika & Hiranyakashipu as well as The Legend of Krishna.

However, colors and rich traditional cuisine isn’t all to the festival, it, in fact, has a deeply-rooted historical significance, the triumph of good over evil; the day officially marks the arrival of the much-awaited spring bringing the gloomy days of the winter to an end, and for farmers, they celebrate it as the thanksgiving for a good harvest.

Holika and Hiranyakashipu

The legend that some believe inspires this tradition centers around two demon siblings, Holika and Hiranyakashipu. He was a demon King and had been granted immortality… sort of. He had been granted a boon that earned him five special powers which meant he could not be killed under certain circumstances. Specifically, he could not be killed:

i)       by neither a human being nor an animal

ii)     neither indoors nor outdoors

iii)   neither at day nor at night

iv)   neither by Astra, projectile weapons nor by any Shastra, handheld weapons

v)      neither on land nor in water or air.

So, he was practically invincible. The Asura king had the ulterior motive of ruling heaven, the earth, and the underworld by defeating Vishnu. His vast power led him to believe he was a God and he forced his subjects to worship him. If they did not, they were brutally punished or killed. On his orders, his whole state started praying to him, dismissing the gods; he aimed to establish himself as the principal deity of all.

Despite this, Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlad continued to worship the God Vishnu instead of his father. The demon King, not wanting to give his son special treatment, concocted a plan to kill his son with the help of Holika. Hiranyakashipu’s sister was immune to fire. A pyre was lit and Holika sat on it, clutching Prahalad. But astounded many, including the demon Lord, Prahlad emerged out of the fire unscathed, whereas Holika burned to ashes.

Meanwhile, Vishnu had seen all of this and decided it was time to get rid of the evil Hiranyakashipu once and for all. He was taking the avatar of Narashima. He circumnavigated Hiranyakashipu’s five powers by:

i)       arriving in the form of half-lion, half-human (so not animal or human)

ii)     arriving at dusk (not day or night)

iii)   appearing on a doorstep (not outdoors or indoors)

iv)   placing Hiranyakashipu on his lap (which isn’t land, water or air)

v)      and killing Hiranyakashipu with his claws (which aren’t projectiles or a hand-held weapon)

The Holi festival is thought to take its name from the demon sister Holika. This is the most famous event believed by the Hindus to be the key reason for the origin of Holi.

The legend of Krishna

The Hindu god Krishna was quite mischievous. As a baby, Krishna developed his characteristic dark blue skin color because the she-demon Putana poisoned him with her breast milk. The Hindu deity despaired by his dark-blue skin whined to his mother whether the fair-skinned Radha and other girls would like him despite him being so dark. He complained to his mother Yashoda that he didn’t like his dark blue skin and wanted to be fairer, like the love of his life Radha. Yashoda, who adored her son, suggested he paint Radha’s face any color he wanted, to make him feel better. This he does, and ever since, the playful coloring of Radha’s face has been commemorated as Holi.