Lamps in Pashupati wishing peace to the departed soul [Photos]

KATHMANDU: DEC. 3 – A lamp has been lit in the name of the deceased souls of their family on Thursday under Bala Chaturdashi. Bala Chaturdashi festival is celebrated by lighting lamps in the evening and scattering grains (Sat Biu) in the memory of the deceased souls of their family the next morning.

Devotees had gathered at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu on Thursday evening to light lamps. Every year on the day of Mangsir Triodashi, thousands of devotees come to the Pashupatinath temple to light lamps.

Story Behind Bala Chaturdashi

Bala Nanda, a trader, traveled to Arya Ghat (a cremation site) to attend the burial of one of his relatives. A tiny portion of the dead corpse popped out of the fire into the plate of Bala Nanda, who was seated close and eating the ceremonial meal. He unintentionally ate the meat of a dead corpse that had fallen onto his plate. Soon after swallowing the flesh, he morphed into a dreadful monster with a silver skull. He turned into a cannibal (man-eating human meat). Bala Nanda snatched a dead corpse from the flames and began devouring it. People were afraid and fled.

From then on, he is referred to as Balsur. Asur is a Demon. (Bala+Asur=Balasur). Balasur’s favorite spot was then Arya Ghat. People were afraid to go to Arya Ghat to cremate dead relatives. People appealed to the king to resolve the issue. Brisha Singh, a close friend of Balasur, was instructed by the King to assassinate him. Brisha kills Balasur through treachery.

Brisha felt guilty to deceive Bala. He went to the Sleshmantak Ban (forest) for meditation, enchanted Om, and prayed to Lord Shiva for the rescue of his comrade Balasur. Lord Shiva was gratified by his genuine love for his buddy. Balasur was saved thanks to Lord Shiva’s assistance. Lord Shiva also instructed Brisha to distribute sat bij, or seven sorts of grain, across the sacred grounds of the Shlesmantak forest in order to wash Balasur’s transgression and absolve his own guilt for killing a friend. The custom of Dropping Seven Grains (Sat biu) began on that day.

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