Kirata, Gupta, Pala and Sena rulers’ activities relating to Mahabharata Ramayana and other Hindu texts
Nepa or Kirata or Kinnara rulers [(stories related to Bhimasen’s son Ghatotkach (Ghatotkach’s mother is a Mongol origin woman)]; Ghatotkacha’s son Valiraja and his son Yalungpa or Yalmva/Yalamvar; and Akashabhairava and the first Kirata or Nepa ruler’s participation or presence in the Mahabharata war of circa 9th century BC have made Kathmandu Valley itself in a broad sense, an important place of Mahabharata pilgrimage site. The spiritual and philosophical connection between the Akashabhairabha and Pandava brother Bhimasena or Bhindya needs to be understood properly in order to understand the concept of the Mahabharata spiritual circuit well.
The main Bhimsena and Krishna temples in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur are all important centres and temples relating to the Mahabharata (math-mandira and tirthas) including Krishnamandir, Patan; Bhimasena Temple, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu; Panauti; Akashabhairabha. Therefore, they all have to be considered and categorically listed as Mahabharata connections. Even the Buddhist and Hindu Gonpo, Mahakala or Mahankala-Bhairabha, and other esoteric or protecting deities such as Samvaras, Vajra-Bhairabas etc., fall under the list of broad Mahabharata connections.
Legend relating to Lord Krishna’s activity in the Kathmandu Valley
An important legend is the pervasive belief and descriptions connected to the very emergence of human civilisation of the Great Valley of Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, which is credited to Lord Krishna, one of the principal actors of the Mahabharata. The prominent local literary sources of Nepal Napalamahatmya, Pashupatipurana, Swasthanivratakatha, considered to be the part of Kedarakhanda of Skandapurana and various genealogies and chronicles such as Gopalarajavamsavali, Bhasavamsavalis, Devamalavamsavali, categorically include this legend relating to Lord Krishna’s activity in the valley and his repetitive fights with the demonic figure, Banasura. It is believed that when the demon Banasura blocked the water drain of the great lake Nagahrada, Lord Krishna posed a successful encounter to drain the water out of the lake in order to lay the foundation of the early settlements of the valley and keep it safe for peaceful and prosperous living.
It is important to note that Lord Krishna is worshipped and venerated by founding temples and spiritual centres of Radha-Krishna and Krishna-Balarama in the Great Valley as well as in other parts of Nepal.
The Pandava brothers’ repentance of their sins of killing their clan-brothers and the story of Pashupatinath and Kedarnath
The Pandava brothers’ repentance of their sins of killing their clan-brothers (gotrahattya), and the transformation of Lord Shiva or Mahadeva (Kedarnath) into the form of a bull or Pashupatinath is another legend related to the Mahabharata. According to this popular fable, the battle of Kurukshetra fought between the Pandava brothers and their cousins, Kaurava, was won by the Pandavas. However, due to the piety they felt as a result of the many killings during the battle including the loss of lives of their cousins and clan-brothers, the Pandavas took the decision to renounce their owned kingdom back to Kaurava and depart for the heavenly abode of gods and goddesses in the Himalayan region. They travelled across many mountains and river valleys in order to reach the sacred place of Kedarnath so they could beg for repentance of their sins. It is also believed that they were advised by Lord Vishwanath in Kashi to visit Kedarnath to receive fresh blessings from Mahadeva to repent for their sins.
However, as Lord Shiva/Mahadeva considered their sin to be an inexcusable crime, he took the decision to disappear changing his form into a bull. Nonetheless, after contemplation, Bhimasena, the third brother, was able to recognise the changed form of Mahadeva and thus went after the bull in haste: the Lord successfully managed to escape with his head with Bhima only holding part of the bull. This was a willing move from the Lord as he did not want to see the faces of the sinners. Henceforth, the body of the bull is considered to be Lord Kedarnath, and the head of Kedar is considered to be Lord Pashupatinath of Kathmandu. In addition to this popular fabled belief system, there is also an intangible human tradition where official priests of Kedarnath bring sacred water in a special water-pot every year, and offer it with special rituals to Lord Pashupatinath. This tradition has been practised from age-old times or from the time of the Mahabharata itself, and is celebrated as a very serious spiritual common culture of the devout Vedic-Sanatani Hindus of the Himalayan region.
As it is believed that the Pandava brothers ultimately reached both Kedarnath in Uttaranchhal, India, and Paashuatapura, commonly known as Pashupati-Devapattana in Nepal, both places have been venerated as Mahabharata pilgrimage sites.
