By Our Correspondent

Banepa, Mar. 7 : Over two-century old Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple located in Bhaleshwor Municipality of Panauti, Kavre is still in a state of neglect. Established in 1814 after its discovery, the temple remains in oblivion due to the lack of interest of the stakeholders, locals reported.

Mayor of Panauti Municipality, Bhim Prasad Neupane, said, “The location of the temple in Panauti is mentioned in ancient inscriptions, copper plate and texts, so it is the actual Bhaleshwor temple and holds special importance.”

According to Neupane, a temple conservation committee has been formed to develop the temple.

Chairman of Ward-12, Panauti, Ishwar Jangam, informed that Rs. 2 million has been allocated for the temple conservation.

The sum shall be used to pave stones in the temple circumference, install gate, sculpt a stone snake, fence the Nag Kunda with railing, fix a door on the Kunda and raise walls around the temple. He also added that they would install two additional stone taps to the already existing one and make all three functional.

Jangam reported that there is a copper plate revealing that 45 Ropanis of land had been granted to Bhaleshwor Guthi by the then King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah.

Madhav Prasad Jangam, who has been serving as the temple priest for 62 years, shared the legend of the temple - when Mahadev has been going around the world carrying the corpse of Sati Devi, her palate had collapsed in that very place giving rise to the Bhaleshwor Mahadev.

As stated by Jangam, before the construction of the temple, unknowingly, porters set their cooking pot above Mahadev’s statue. This burnt Mahadev, so, He toppled their pots over and over again. Agitated, the porters hit Madadev’s head with a spear cutting His palate and making it bleed.

Mythically, a Sarangi-player named Summukh had gone to the temple to meditate. Then, Sage Gallav warned him of the deception of Bhaleshwor Mahadev.

The Sage asked Summukh to take bath and meditate on three particular Nimesh: Roshmati, Lilawati and Sukhsambhawati. Upon watching the dedication of Summukh while meditating, a pleased Mahadev had appeared before him on Falgun Krishna Ashtami. He had blessed Summukh that all his wishes would come true. So, devotees go there with the belief that their wishes would get fulfilled.