CHAMUNDA

Chamunda is the sixth deity in the series of Hindu mother goddesses, also known as Astamatrikas. Chamunda rides on a corpse. She is red in colour and has four arms. With the first pair of hands, she holds the katri in the right and the kapala in the left. In the second set of hands she exhibits the anjali. Chamunda, known also as kali, is the celebrated Hindu goddess of death. She may be represented alone or in the company of other goddesses known collectively as the Eight Mother goddesses. She was created by the great goddess Durga who gave her title Chamunda, because she killed the demons Chanda and Munda. Her body is bare and very thin with an expressive face, articulated ribs and bony arms and legs.

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.

CHAKRA SAMBARA

Chakra Sambara is the main deity of Sambara. He is also regarded as manifestation of Heyvajra who is the central figure of an esoteric cult, the Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrabarahi is his consort embracing in a mystic position. Their embrace symbolizes union between wisdom and method which leads to ultimate bliss.

CHAKRA

Literally meaning a wheel. The wheel is a symbol of absolute completeness. In the vedic times the wheel was symbolical of occult powers and symbol of Hindu God Vishnu or Krishna. In Buddhism, it symbolizes the wheel of law which turns around twelve times or three revolutions for each of the four noble truths. It is represented with eight spokes indicating the eight-fold path of enlightenment or salvation.

CHAITYA

Chaitya, a kind of small sized Stupa represents the Universe and is considered to be an important Buddhist sanctuary. Chaityas are constructed in various shapes and sizes, sometimes square and sometimes round, with spires or steps on the capital. Each spire or step represents a heaven. The uppermost portion of the chaitya, the highest pointed structure in the middle, is supposed to be the highest peak of Mount Sumeru, a mythical, glittering mountain top. This highest peak is symbolically depicted as the peak point of enlightenment of the mind of the Bodhisatwas. Such a state of mind is known as Boddhichitta. The Bodhichitta is believed to lose itself to sunya or nothingness or eternity at this point. On the four sides of the chaitya are placed the figures of four Dhyani Buddhas – Akshobhya, Ratnasambhav, Amitabha and Amogsiddhi. The place of Vairochana is in the center. In some Chaityas Vairochana is placed to the east along with Akshobhya.

CHAITRA DASAIN

Dasain festival is observed twice a year in Nepal. Chaitra Dasain is observed in the month of chaitra (March) whereas the other one, Badasain or the bigger Dasain falls in the month of September or during Autumn (October). Chaitra Dasain, seemingly, is given less importance comparatively and is observed on the eighth of the lunar month of Chaitra with various rites and rituals. Goddess Bhagavati is especially worshipped during this festival and animal sacrifices are offered to her. Coincidently, Seto Matsyendranath Jatra also begins on this day.

CHAITRA

The last month of the Nepalese calendar, Chaitra, begins by the middle of March. See Months of Nepal.  

CASTE

The doctrine of the caste system is believed to have been explained by Manu, a learned Bramhin in the days of yore. In the text known as Manusmriti prepared by him, categories and levels of all men are fixed right from their birth based on the clan or the caste they are born into.  Assignment of job, way of life and accountabilities and everything relevant to the person has been prescribed accordingly in the text. The four main castes are the following (of which there are many more divisions and subdivisions):

Bramhana: The priestly caste

Ksetriya: The caste of warriors and rulers

Vaisya: The caste of farmers and traders etc.. 

Sudra: The menial caste

According to this Hindu doctrine, all men originated from the various parts of the body of Bramha, the creator. So, Bramhins originated from his head whereas Kshetriyas, Vaisyas and Sundras are originated from his arms, thighs and feet respectively. So the higher castes are supposed to be served by the lower castes. Although, this type of classification is highly debated and generally condemned or differently interpreted these days, the social structure and its effects are still very much in existence. However, discrimination in the ground of caste is illegal in Nepal.

BYASI

The dwellers of Byas village to the north of Darchula dostrict of far western Nepal and the foothills of the Byas Himal are called Byasis or inhabitants of Byas. Also known as Souka, these Mongoloid animists call themselves Rangey. They have their own unique language and ways of life. Their 12th century scripts are found in the caves. Their dress is known as chyungwala. The ancestral God of the Soukas of Rolpa is Namjung who is the principal deity of Bon. Dhyoula is their native festival. The Byasis conduct trade between Taklakot in Tibet and Darchula district of Nepal. The Front of their houses are festooned with Buddhist prayer flags called dharchyo and they do not observe Hindu festivals like other tribes. According to linguists, the Souka language is somewhat close to the Magar language.

BUTWAL

A town of Rupendehi district, Butaual is the headquarter of the Lumbini zone. Situated between the mountain regions and the terai plains, Butwal is a busy trade centre and an export centre for various agricultural products of the region to India. The exports include rice, tobacco, mustard seeds etc.