CHAKUWA DYO

The chariot of Rato Machhendra is gracefully followed by the chariot of Chakuwa Dyo during the entire period of the popular chariot festival of Patan.  A faithful and favourite companion of Rato Machhendra, Chakuwa Dyo is also a Buddhist deity and has multiple names such as Meen Nath, Dharma Raj, Jatadhari Lokeswara, Padmapani Awalokiteswara and so on. The different names sometime denote different features and specialties as well. Interestingly, the chariot of Rato Machhendra is not pulled until the chariot of chakuwa dyo has arrived at particular destinations. This has been a long tradition, still in vogue. 

As Dharma Raj, Chakuwa dyo is widely worshiped as an all-compassionate god of Dharma (righteousness). The Buddhist belief is that he is the final judge of life and death. Dharma through karuna (compassion) is his mainstay. So his main function is believed to take care of all the suffering souls from all three worlds. But, he seems to take care more of those suffering in this mortal  world. Even Yamaraj, the God of death, is said to fear this Almighty God. The chronicle of Meen Nath has many legends in favour of his bravery, greatness and justice.

One goes as follows: Yama Raj always nursed a grudge agains Lichhawi king, Brisa Deva who was a great devote of Dharma Raj. One day he died suddenly while having his meal. There was no valid reason for this death. Everybody was shocked. Dharma Raj found it difficult to believe this set himself for finding out the actual cause. He immediately rushed to the Yama Loka (the realm of the God of Death) to enquire. He asked the God of Death for a valid reason for dragging his devoted king to Yama Loka. God Yama realised his stupidity, and awfully ashamed, he apologised to Dharma Raj for his blunder. He immediately sent the king back to the world of mortals with great respect.