Historical Glimpse of Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti Temple

In ancient times (before 1410B.S), there used to be Okhall( traditional mortar and pestle crafted from natural stone material for grinding and crushing spices, herbs, and other ingredients into powders or pastes)  at the place where the temple exists now. During that time Okhall was being used for unhusking the rice. The interesting part to be concerned was that Villagers used to get husked rice from unhusked rice from that Okhal. During the process of husking rice from Okhall, villagers sometimes got Five Pathi of husked but uncooked rice from Two Pathi unhusked rice and sometimes One Mana of husked but uncooked rice from the same Two Pathi of unhusked rice i.e. there exists the unknown multiplication or subtraction on their quantity of rice which villagers take to that Okhall for processing. Due to these interesting but unknown factors, villagers become keen on knowing the reason behind this happening at Okhall.  Then villagers excavated the area around Okhal.

They used to work for the whole day, and while coming the next day for excavation work, they observed no excavation, which they had left incomplete the day before at the same place. There was no sign of excavation.  This makes them compelled to work continually for the whole day and night. Working full three days and nights they reached to depth of Okhal. While overturning the  Okhal¹, villagers observed  Karai2 filled with ghee, and over that hexagonal copper plate was placed on which nine butterflies were present. During the excavation work of Okhal, one butterfly was hurt and changed into a statue while villagers attempted to catch it. Among the remaining Eight butterflies, five butterflies flew to different places, and now they are established as religious centers with different names such as Kanika Sundari in Jumla district, Bagheshwori in Nepalgunj district, KhairaBang Bhagawoti in Salyan district, Tripureshwori Bhagawoti in Baitadi district and BadiMalika in Doti district.  Three butterflies changed into the statues while villagers attempted to catch them. Observing the transformation of butterflies to statues while attempting to catch them, villagers discussed what to do next with those butterflies. But this happening was already dreamed of by Kaji Bista, a villager. He dreamed, “We were nine sisters of Durga Bhagawoti; villagers have to construct a temple at the place where there exists Okhal and do regular worship and prayer from Brahmin of Neupane Caste.

The next morning, Kaji Bista discussed his dream with villagers, and villagers constructed a small temple over the place of Okhal. During that period, Neupane castes Brahmin were not present in Tibrikot District. These have created problems and pressure in the dwellers of Tibrikot. So they decided to call Brahmin from the Jumla district. Fortunately, Sukdev Neupane of Jumla, along with a group, were returning from Muktinath and staying at Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti temple, which lies on the way from Muktinath to Jumla. Villagers realized to share the dream related to worshiping of Statute with Sukdev Neupane, hoping to let him stay at the temple as a regular priest, and villagers will manage all necessary properties(land, house, etc.) for him to stay at Tibrikot. But a group of Sukhdev refused the villager’s proposal and moved for Jumla. But on the way to Jumla from Tibrikot near the Temple, there lies a river named Tamrawani. While crossing the river, Sukdev and his groups were unable to see anything, i.e., blindness developed, but as they attempted to return back to  Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti temple, their blindness problem eluded. They felt that this was the effect of the goddess Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti. So Brahmin Sukdev Neupane decided to stay at the temple as a regular priest. Up to date, regular worship and prayer are being done by Sukdev Neupane and his generations. Recently in the temple Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti, Brahmini, Indrayeni, Vaisnavi, Barahi, Chamunda, Chandika, Astadal, AstaNaag, Queen Amrawati and Prince Badri Shahi of King Bikram Shahi are being worshiped.

Due to the renowned exaltation of Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti temple, PithaDhis Universe Master Shree Shankaracharya of KacnhiKamakoti, India, had prayed and worshiped at this temple. Similarly Shree Khaptad Baba had received YOG SIDDHI from this temple. According to Shree Swosthani Bratakatha of the Hindu religion, “HIP” of SatiDevi had decayed at the place where the Bala Tripura Sundari Bhagawoti temple is located. So, this temple is one of the powerhouses of the Hindu religion and is worshiped as a focal point of faith to date.

Annually, thousands of people from different cultures and religions visit the temples and worship with the great hope of fulfilling their wants and interests.