Dispute Over temple

The dzongkhag chapter of the Hindu Dharma Samudaya of Bhutan (HDSB) in Tsirang recently wrote to the dzongkhag administration stoking ownership to a temple located near Damphu Higher Secondary School, which the chapter says is traditionally Hindu.

Members of the HDSB lodged the complaint when a group of people announced that they would install an idol of “Kirat Guru” (religious master) in the temple on February 21. The temple is also called the Prabu temple as the place is locally known as Prabu Dara.

The group identify themselves as followers of what they call the Kirati religion, which they imported from Nepal.

The Kirati people claimed ownership of the temple a few years ago and have been organising gatherings at the temple since. They comprise Rais and Limbus (Subba) who broke from Hunduism some years ago.

The group withdrew their plan to install the idol of their religious master but displayed posters of their guru. The group also sought to organise a public function at the temple.

An active member of the local chapter of HDSB, UN Bhattarai, said: “We wrote to the dzongkhag administration requesting the authority to stop the plan.”  The complaint letter stated that the group was not registered as a religious organisation and that it should not be allowed to organise public functions.

The group had printed and distributed invitation cards under the banner “Kirati Association of Bhutan with a logo” of its own. They had also invited people for the planned installation of idols.

Members of the Kirat group say they want to register their group as a religious organisation. A founding member of the group, RD Subba, claimed that the motive of their plan was to “preserve the community’s culture and tradition.”

According to sources, some members of the group claims that the group is one of the branches of Hinduism. However, the HDSB does not buy the group’s claim and says that there was no need to form a separate group if they were one of the branches of Hinduism.

According to the HDSB, there are nine Panthas or branches of Hinduism in the country.

Members of the HDSB believe that formation of new religious group would not serve the best interests of the country. They say that any group of people who call themselves a religious organisation should be allowed to organise functions only if they are registered with the Commission for Religious Organisations.

As asked by the Commission for Religious Organisations (CRO), the HDSB on March 2 submitted a detailed report on the history and status of the Kirati group and how it spread in Bhutan. The HDSB wants all the members of their community to subscribe to their age-old traditions.

Meanwhile, the HDSB has announced that its annual general meeting will be held in Thimphu on March 27. Changes in the board of directors and other office bearers of the organisation are the expected outcomes of the meeting.

Nirmala Pokhrel | Tsirang

Bhairav kunda Shiva Mandir significance- NaSri Khadka

Bhairav Kunda shiva mandir has two significances. Its one of the most widely visited and valued mandir of shiva amongst 108 shiv mandir spreaded all over the globe. First its related to lord shiva n devi Sati n second is its a place where Bhairavnath visted n meditated for while. Bhairavnath is a fierce manifestation of shivaji only. Since he visited later.....ppl named the mandir as Bhairavkunda. Here kunda means pond...which was created astonishingly below present mandir which isnt existing anymore there. Since then ppl started to call it as Bhairavkunda mandir. There is no harm in calling this mandir as  Daifam Shiva mandir after all shiva n Bhairavnath is a single soul. Tinali derived this name from here much later.
     -NaSri Khadka

Bhairava history

Bhairava (Sanskrit, "Terrible, Frightful") is a Hindu deity, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. Bhairava originated in Hindu legends and is sacred to Hindus and Jains alike. He is worshiped throughout India and Nepal.

Bhairava is the wandering form of Lord Shiva and they guard the cardinal points. There are 64 Bhairavas. These 64 Bhairavas are grouped under 8 categories and each category is headed by one major Bhairava. The major eight Bhairavas are called Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas. The Ashta Bhairavas control the 8 directions of this universe. Each Bhairava has eight sub Bhairavas under them, totaling 64 Bhairavas. All of the Bhairavas are ruled and controlled by Maha Swarna Kala Bhairava otherwise known as Kala Bhairava, who is the supreme ruler of time of this universe as per Hindu scriptures. Bhairavi is the consort of Kala Bhairava. Bhairava is also called as protector, as he guards the eight directions of the universe. In all Hindu temples, there will be a Bhairava idol. This Bhairava is the protector of the temple. In Shiva temples, when the temple is closed, the keys are placed before Bhairava. Bhairava is also described as the protector of women. He is described as the protector of the timid and in general women who are timid in nature.