Image: Naxal Bhagwatibahal, Naxal Bhagwati of Kathmandu

Description: In 665 B.S (607 A.D), the king Shankerdev placed the idol inside the temple and covered it. Then he established another statue repeating the original one and initiated a chariot procession is known as Jatra on the day of Preta Chaturdashi ( Chaturdashi ) Naxal Bhagwati is one of the famous Shakti Peeths of Kathmandu Valley. This temple has a statue of a goddess with sixteen arms. Devotees in the Kathmandu Valley have great faith in Naxal Bhagwati, who is worshiped as Bhagwati Durga. A big fair is held in this area during the Navratri of Dashain. Devotees believe that after worshipping this temple, they will not suffer from any kind of difficulties and all their wishes will be fulfilled. According to a legend, about the origin of the Naxal Bhagwati, around 1000 years after the beginning of Kali Yuga, during the reign of King Bikram Keshari, who ruled in Kantipur, an artist made a magnificent idol of Bhagwati and gave it to Rani Navsagar. Queen became happy with that and asked to establish the idol of Bhagwati in Naxal in her own name. The goddess was named Navsagar Bhagwati. It is believed that in time she was called Naxal Bhagwati.

As the form of these goddesses was very frightening, the idol used to be buried in a ditch and it was customary to worship her there. Later, a king named Shankar Dev removed the idol from the pit, installed it, and started the practice of rath yatra on the day of Pretachaturdashi. From time to time, the temple of these goddesses was renovated.
Author: Pramod Ghimire
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