This district lies in Janakpur zone. Maithili language, culture and population is predominant in this district with agriculture as the main economic base. The temple of Mahadev who is staying on top of the water pool is the famous temple of this district. Having seated on top of water, This particular Mahadev himself is known as Jaleswar. Jaleswar is also the name of the town which is the headquaters of this district. Population of this district is approximately...
MAHISASURAMARDINI
Mahisasuramardini is one of the most popular forms of Devi or Durga. One can see plenty of stone statues of Devi in Mahisasuramardini form, scattered in and around Kathmandu valley. Some of them are so beautifully carved that they just seem to be breathtaking. The oldest and most lively piece is that of Palnachokey Bhagawati which is said to be built around early 6th century A. D. It is in Mahisasruamardini form that she is worshipped during the entire celebration of Dasain. There is a very interesting story about how Devi was invoked for killing Mahisasura, the most powerful buffalo headed demon king.
Once there broke out a big battle between gods and demons. The battle continued for 100 long years until the demon king Mahisasura vanquished all the gods and became himself the overlord of all the three worlds. The defeated gods grew jealous of his power and position. They all went to the Trinity and asked for help to dethrone the demon king. They were assured help. Goddesses Durga was immediately created out of the trinity powers. She challenged Mahisasura to face her in the battle-field. The result was a big war. Many demons were killed. Mahisasura became furious. He stormed himself across Devi and destroyed many of her weapons. She could not bear this insult any longer. She roared out like a lioness and jumped quickly upon the demon and cut off his head. But it is said that another head peeped out from the same trunk. She beheaded that one too. Anguishing thus the entire devil forces, Devi brought about delight for all gods and ensured peace in heaven and earth alike. Since then Devi was given the name “Mahisasruamardini” meaning the killer of the demon King Mahisasura.
It was on the Dasami Day (10th day of the Dasain festival) that Devi killed Mahisasura. The day is, therefore, called a day of Victory or Vijayadasmi, a perfect day for seeking blessings from Devi and of course from senior members of the family too.
The whole episode of dasain celebration centers round Shakti worship or the respect of women power which also demonstrates core culture of Nepal. Shakti denotes a woman, a wife and a mother, all three in one. A divine mother is shakti in herself. We, therefore call Mahisasuramardini a great shakti or a great goddess Durga, the supreme power or universal mother.
MAHISASURA
Mahisasura is the name of the demon king who once became so powerful that he ruled all three worlds and caused maximum trouble to all living beings including gods. This all all powerful demon king was finally defeated and killed by Goddess Durga and thus saved the world from the tryranny of Mahisasura in the days of yore. See Mahisasuramardini
MAHAYANA
Mahayana is one of the important Schools of Buddhism. Like any living religion, Buddhism also constantly reinterpreted, added to and transformed by the social and cultural traditions amidst which it was practiced. It gave birth to various schools of thoughts and beliefs differing on various points of doctrine and their practice. By the third century BC there were about twenty such different schools of Buddhism co existing and growing in south Asian countries and abroad. One of them is the precursor of the Mahayana school. The main concepts of the Mahayana doctrine were articulated in the first century AD by Nagarjuna through his famous treatise known as Prajnaparamita, a text on transcendental knowledge or the perfection of wisdom.
Mahayana is the response to the expectations of the world; an altruistic and representative views of all those great teachers and Bodhisattwa’s who renounced their salvation from life for keep helping fellow men to their path to enlightenment. It was taken as a path to salvation more directly conceivable, less demanding and easier for an ordinary man to follow. As its name suggests, Mahayana is considered as the great vehicle and thus, this doctrine made salvation possible for all human beings, monks and laity alike not only through their individual endeavor but also through the vicarious efforts of the Boddhisattvas.
Unlike in Hinayana, Mahayana recognized faith and worship as alter¬native path to enlightenment and salvation. An inevitable consequence of this being reinterpretation of the concepts of Buddhism.
Putting it in other words, early Buddhism stressed that the goal of each individual was to seek freedom from the chain of rebirth and thus from all sufferings. The word used to describe this goal was Nirvana . Although there were many different philosophical schools, the religion centered around the institution of the monastery with its ordained monks and a lay congregation that supported the monastery. The rituals were simple and minimum. Meditation and introspection were encouraged. Each individual sought his own Nirvana. But, in case of Mahayana Buddhism the concept of Boddhisattwa is very important. He is considered as the one who is already enlightened but still desirous to stay on for the welfare of others. His practice of six Parmita’s or the texts of transcendental knowledge namely Dana, Sila, Kshanti, Birya, Dhayana, Prajna is exalted and emphasized. The function of the Boddhistwa is believed to be the postponement of his own final leap into Nirvana and retaining of his life cycle as long as a single sentient being remain undelivered from suffering.
MAHANKALA
Mahankala or the great black one is a form of Shiva himself for Hindus where as he is the protector of Mandala for a Buddhist. Terrific looking image of Mahankala may carry with him a drum or a trisul. Several series of Hindu deities are found in the Buddhist pantheon. Mahakala is one of the Hindu deities of Brahma group. He is also one of the eight terrible deities of the Buddhist pantheon with ornaments of snakes, canine teeth, protruding belly and dressed with skin. He is dark blue in colour. He carries trisul and kapala in his two hands. He may have one face with two, four or six arms or eight faces with sixteen arms. As he is the defender of law, he is given a good position at the entrance doors of Buddhist shrines.
MAHAKALI ZONE
Area: 2753 square miles. This westernmost zone of Nepal is bounded in the north by Tibet, on the south and also on the west by U.P. of India and on the east by Seti zone. Mighty Himalayas of the north regions, Mahabharat mountain of the middle region and the low altitude mountains, known as Chure are the main physical features of this zone. Minerals spotted in this zone are mica, graphite, limestone, copper and slate which are yet to be exploited. Comparatively one of the backward zones of Nepal, people of this zone mainly depend upon cattle breeding and agriculture. A small portion of population have traditional small scale industries where they make woolen carpets, blankets and other goods of daily necessity. Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur are the districts of this zone.
MAHAKALI RIVER
Composed of Kali river an Jarkar river of far western Nepal, Mahakali is forming the border line between India and Nepal at Darchula district of Nepal.
MAHABOUDDHA
Situated at Mahabouddha area at Okubahal, Patan, this masterpiece of terra-cotta reveals the craftsmanship of the Nepalese. Built by Abhaya Raj, a prist of Patan, his temple contains images of Lord Buddha in its every brick adding up to the astonishing total of more than nine thousand Buddhas and thus, giving it a name- The temple of Million Buddhas. The present temple is not wholly original as the upper part of the temple was rebuilt after 1935 A.D. as when it fell down due to earthquake. However, reconstruction of that part has done perfect justice to the original part which is still preserved.
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