Chandeshwori Temple — Attraction in Banepa

Chandeshwori Temple is located in Banepa, about 25 kilometers east by road from central Kathmandu. The site's primary attraction is its lofty three-tiered mandir, last rebuilt in the 17th century. It enshrines Chandeshwori, one of the Nine Durgas (Navadurgas) and a goddess cognate with the Tibetan deity Ekajati. Legend credits Chandeshwori as the slayer of the demon Chanda, for which she is widely regarded throughout Nepal. In ages past, Chanda ran amok after being granted a blessing by Shiva that shielded him from death, making him immune to attacks from both gods and men. With the gods powerless to stop him, Brahma counseled that Chandeshwori should be sought out in the distant Raktachandana forest near Banepa. When the gods came upon her, she agreed to help, but the panic-stricken gods transformed themselves into birds and flew away at the first sign of Chanda's approach. Chandeshwori was left to engage Chanda alone, fighting a long and destructive battle that laid waste to the landscape, leaving behind a rocky moonscape whose traces can still be found around Banepa today. However, in time, Chandeshwori prevailed, killing Chanda with a stab from her trident. From his body, a lingam spontaneously emerged, erupting through his belly. Today, the lingam can still be found within the small brick temple to the north of the Chandeshwori mandir (rebuilt after the April 2015 earthquake). In honor of the goddess, her pagoda was established nearby. She is honored each year at Baisakh-Purnima, a date also honoring the birth, enlightenment, and death of the historical Buddha, Gautama. The three-tiered pagoda is notable for its asymmetrical facade. The reason for this is not clear, but Dowman speculates it may be due to "some obscure ritual necessity" (Dowman, p. 320). On the west wall of the temple is an enormous mural of Bhairab, the god of terror, who is often to found at the temples of the Navadurgas. The mural depicts a dancing Bhairab, poised over a corpse's reclining form. Flanking him are his constant companions—dogs whose presence is always found at charnel grounds. The mural is repainted annually in traditional format. Bhairab also appears on the temple's roof brackets, in the form of the Ashtabhairabs (Eight Bhairabs), who are paired with the feminine forms of the Ashtamatrikas (eight mother goddesses, also...

Holiest place Chandeshwari is the avatar taken by Hindu goddess Kumari of Hindu. The 'Nepal Mahatmya' of Skanda Purana mentions the story related to goddess Chandeshwari. Along Arniko Highway 5 kilometers before Dhulikhel is the town of Banepa, Nepal. One of the attractions of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 kilometer northeast of the town along the Punya mata River next to Ghokechaur having a length of 0.21 kilometres.

It is believed to have been built in the 17th century. The temple features a mural of Chandeshwori slaying the demon Chanda. The temple also consists of the painting of lord Bhairava on one of its wall which is the biggest graffiti of the Nepal Mandala.

Myth

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There is myth that the Chandeshwori temple is the place where the mother goddess (Sati / Parvati and in Banepa known as Chandeshwori) defeated the demon Chanda. The demon was a plague to the world since Shiva gave him a boon that made him unbeatable except by women. The desperate gods asked Brahma for advice and he sent them to the forest around Banepa where the mother gods lived in those days. In the meantime, Narada went to Chanda and provoked him to come to Banepa to fight the gods. When Chanda arrived with a big army of demons, all the gods took the forms of different birds and flew. The mother goddess quickly disappeared in a tree but Chanda saw that and cut down the tree with his sword. Now the goddess appeared on a big lion and a terrible fight between her and Chanda started. But Chanda had no chance and was killed by the mother goddess. Out of the belly of Chanda who was a big devotee of Shiva a lingam grew. This lingam can be seen in the small temple just in front of the big temple in the Chandeshwori temple complex. It is said that down at the big rocks around the river you can still see the marks of the big fight between the goddess...

Along Arniko Highway 5 kilometers before Dhulikhel is the town of Banepa,Nepal. One of the attractions of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 kilometer northeast of the town along the Punya mata Rivernext to Ghokechaur having a length of 0.21 kilometres.[2]

It is believed to have been built in the 17th century. The temple features a mural of Chandeshwori slaying the demon Chanda. The temple also consists of the painting of lord bharava on one of its wall which is the biggest graffiti of the Nepal Mandala.

The Chandeshwori temple complex lies just outside Banepa in the east of theKathmandu Valley. There is myth that the Chandeshwori temple is the place where the mother goddess (Sati / Parvati and in Banepa known as Chandeshwori) defeated the demon Chanda. The demon was a plague to the world since Shiva gave him a boon that made him unbeatable except by women. The desperate gods asked Brahma for advice and he sent them to the forest around Banepa where the mother gods lived in those days. In the mean time Narada went to Chanda and provoked him to come to Banepa to fight the gods. When Chanda arrived with a big army of demons, all the gods took the forms of different birds and flew. The mother goddess quickly disappeared in a tree but Chanda saw that and cut down the tree with his sword. Now the goddess appeared on a big lion and a terrible fight between her and Chanda started. But Chanda had no chance and was killed by the mother goddess. Out of the belly of Chanda who was a big devotee of Shiva a lingam grew. This lingam can be seen in the small temple just in front of the big temple in the Chandeshwori temple complex. It is said that down at the big rocks around the river you can still see the marks of the big fight between the goddess...