Bhairahawa, January 26
The process of promoting Nawa Durga temple at Ward No 4 of Omsatiya Rural Municipality in Rupandehi district as peeth (a pilgrimage destination) has begun.
In a bid to collect funds for the project, a Shreemad Bhagawat Saptaha Gyan Mahayagya was organised here at the initiative of Nepal's first Jagatguru Balsanta Mohan Sharan Devacharya.
"Devacharya's initiative to develop the temple as the fourth peeth of the country aims to attract religious tourists to Lumbini and surrounding areas," said Bishnu Rayamajhi, coordinator of the Mahayagya organising committee.
Devacharya has been given credit for making Nepal known to the world based on the Veda by establishing the Maha Kumbha Mela, a religious fair held in a cycle of every 12 years, at Chataradham in Sunsari district in 2002.
With the establishment of the fourth 'Bhairahawapeeth' in Rupandehi district, there will be four shrines in the country (first 'Jagatgurupeeth' at Chataradham Barahachhetra, second 'Sharadapeeth' at Mahakali and third 'Niladripeeth' at Muktinath area in Jomsom), according to him. "This is the last peeth established by Jagatguru," he said.
Former Director of Radio Nepal Acharya Purushottam Acharya and Bhagawat Acharya Yadav Sharan Gartaula recited Shrimad Bhagawat stories, according to the main organising committee.
The 'Bhairahawapeeth' aims to provide free goods and accommodation to Indian pilgrims visiting religious places of Nepal including Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Swargadwari and Lumbini.
Jagatgurukulam is being operated at the four peeths and various other religious places, including Chataradham, Jagatguru Ashram, Shankhamul, and Sharadapeeth.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
