Naradevi Temple (Nepali: नरदेवी मन्दिर), also called Swetakaali Temple, is a Hindu temple located in an older part of
Kathmandu
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Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
.
It is believed that occult and tantric rituals are performed in the temple and there is a female energy in the temple. The goddess housed in the temple, Sweta Kali (or White Kali) is believed to receive human sacrifice in the ancient times.
The goddess is also referred as ''
Neta Ajima'' by the
Newar community. The goddess is also considered to be the mother of the goddess Kumari Chandeswori Bhagwati.
On the tenth day of
Dasain
Dashain or Bada'dashain, also referred as Bijaya Dashami in Sanskrit, is a major Hindu religious festival in Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus of Nepal and elsewhere in the world, including among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan and the Burmese Gur ...
,
Khadga Jatra
Khadga Jatra ( ne, खड्ग जात्रा) is a festival celebrated in Bandipur, Nepal. It occurs in the time of Dashain festival. In the Khadga Jatra, a religious service is carried out at the Khadga Devi temple. Magra and Bihwokarma co ...
is celebrated in the temple. Various swords (''Khadga'') are taken to the temple in a grand procession and revered with traditional tantric rituals. Buffalo slain in a single blow are sacrificed to mark the event of Nawami.
Mythology
According to the mythology, a king of
Patan in his hunting trip lost his way in Kantipur (current Kathmandu). When he reached near Kilagal, he was chased by a wild elephant and upon trying to escape the elephant he reached near Nardevi temple and hid inside a huge tree. There he got unconscious. When he woke up, goddess Swetakali appeared and granted his life back by saying “You may live.” The king then returned to Patan and later erected the Nardevi temple. Two other two kings of Bhaktapur also saw the same goddess which led them to repair the temple and set up a group to look after the temple. They also started the ceremony of lighting ghee lamps and sacrificing a sheep in the temple. This ritual is carried out by the
Kumale potters from
Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one ...
to commemorate the goddess.
The locals believe that the original home called ''Byachen'' belonging to of the goddess, still exists in the nearby area where all the ornaments and clothes are secured.
History
The temple is believed to have been established in the ninth century by
Gunakamadeva Gunakamadeva was a Lichhavi ruler who founded the city of Kathmandu in 723 CE. He is also credited to have started Yenya and Lakhey Jatra. He was known for his tantric abilities which was demonstrated by him entering Shantipur in Swayambhunath. Du ...
, the founder of Kathmandu.
Architecture
The temple is a three tired structure. One of the roofs is gold plated and the support pillars are crafted artistically.
The temple houses three silver statues of Kali.
Gallery
File:Naradevi-Basantapur Durbar Square (2).jpg, Main view
File:Naradevi Swyatkali Temple-IMG 2766.jpg, Statue inside the temple
File:Naradevi-Basantapur Durbar Square (5).jpg, Stone inscription
File:Raktakali Temple.JPG, Raktakalika temple next to Naradevi
See also
*
List of Hindu temples in Nepal
This is a list of major Hindu temples in Nepal, alphabetically sorted by district.
Bajura District
* Badimalika Temple (बडिमालिका मन्दिर )
Bara District
* Gadhimai Temple
* Kankali Temple, Simraungadh
* Katg ...
References
{{Hindu temples in Nepal
Hindu temples in Kathmandu District
Tantric practices
9th-century establishments in Nepal
Newa architecture