✓ Nepal is an independent country with various deep Shakti Peethas. Due to the power of these Shakti Peethas, no foreign power has been able to rule this holy land to date.
✓ This is the country where every stone is considered to be a form of God, Shaligram, Shivalinga.
✓ This is the country where the sages have practised penance for hundreds of years. It is the abode of Lord Shiva, as well as the evolutionary place of worms, and the birthplace of the mother of the world.
✓ The high mountains here are the forms of Goddess Bhagwati. Among such forms, Supa Deurali, who sits on the chest of the mountain, the dance place of Shiva devotee Ramana, has been known since ancient times by the name of Nartanachal (Narapani).
Supa Deurali Temple
✓ Supadeurali temple is located on a hill in the Mahabharata range between Narpani and Supa in the hilly Arghakhanchi district of Lumbini Province. Supadeurali is located on a ridge in the gorge between Narpani and Supa.
✓ It is 47 km north of Gorusinge Bazaar in the Butwal-Chandrauta section of the East-West Highway. It is located in the middle of high mountains on all sides. This religious Shaktipeeth, Supadeurali, is very enjoyable to visit during the summer season.
✓ The cool breeze, water, natural picturesque views and the power of the goddess make all the devotees who come here very happy. Due to the cool breeze, there is a huge rush of devotees from India and the Terai region in the months of Chaitra, Baisakh and Jestha. It rains almost daily here from Asar.
✓ The waterfalls falling from the high mountains look enchanting. Special pujas are held here during Navratri in Asoj. It is a bit cold from Asoj to Magh. It is considered a very important place for studying and observing the goddess after worshipping and visiting here.
✓ People generally enjoy having a picnic with friends and family due to the cold weather. Since the regular vehicles reach up to the gate of the temple. The Supa Deurali temple is on the way to the Sandhikharka, Arghakhanchi (Capital of Arghakhanchi), and there is no need to pedal, so there is no physical difficulty as well.
History
✓ This temple is located on the banks of the Sitakhola, which was created by the penance of Lord Shri Ram’s wife Sita in the Treta Yuga. The goddess Shakti, who is currently located on the banks of the source of the Sitakhola, has been protecting the devotees since time immemorial.
✓ According to the classical saying that the effect of worshipping the goddess is very great in Kalikal, the importance of this place is increasing day by day.
✓ Since the Bhagwati of Jagadambi is the embodiment of nature, the geography of this place is clear as evidence that the power of Deurali is here. This temple is said to have the great power of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
✓ Here, it is customary to make a vow of offerings of gold, silver, bells, tridents, clothes, money, etc., hoping that your wishes will come true. Once your wishes are fulfilled, you offer the items you vowed to.
✓ Before, there was no market for our ancestors to buy salt and oil. People from Butwal, Krishnanagar, Bahadurganj, Patharkotyat, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Baglung and Pyuthan used to travel through this border crossing as pilgrims.
✓ They also used to travel to India for work, which is called Laure. They commonly used to walk along this route and offer cotton thread, flowers, and flags at the temple.
✓ After offering them, they would apply white dust from a stone pot as a gift to the deurali as a tilak, which was called bibhuti. In those days, Bibhuti was very popular. The bibhuti found there it is still there, but the practice of wearing it has decreased a bit.
✓ In this way, many people pray that their wishes will be fulfilled while travelling. The practice of offering gold, silver, and also Pathapathi (male goat and female goat) has been practised since ancient times, believing that Supa Mai protects and fulfils wishes.
✓ There is an ancient belief that if one does not fulfil the vow they made, or if they forget it, or if they fail to offer it, they will be severely punished.
✓ There is an ancient belief that the Pathapathi is sacrificed there, and the (meat) of the Pathapathi offered in this way is eaten by people, but according to the ancient belief that the meat should not be taken outside the Narpani in the north. The Thadha in the south is made into a prasad and eaten between the Narpani and Thadha.
Geography & Climate
| Climate zone | Elevation range | % of area |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Tropical | ✓ below 300 meters (1,000 ft) | 0.2% |
| Upper Tropical | ✓ 300 to 1,000 meters ✓ 1,000 to 3,300 ft. |
50.5% |
| Subtropical | ✓ 1,000 to 2,000 meters ✓ 3,300 to 6,600 ft. |
49.1% |
| Temperate | ✓ 2,000 to 3,000 meters ✓ 6,400 to 9,800 ft. |
0.2% |
✓ Supadeurali temple lies in Arghakhanchi district, and is characterised by hilly terrain (Elevation: 305m to 2515m) above sea level geographically. It is broadly divided into two physiographic regions, i.e. Mahabharat range (which covers 68% of the land) and the Siwalik hills for the remainder.
✓ The temple experiences a diverse climate due to its varying altitudes. The main range is from lower tropical in the lower elevations to temperate in the higher regions.
✓ Mostly, the climate of the district is moderate, with warm summers and mild winters. In the summer months, the monsoon brings significant rainfall.
Temple Management & Reconstruction
✓ About 80 years ago, a temple was built by the local people by cutting down its tree and applying mud. Later, in 2040 BS, after the construction of the motorway, a temple was built by Baburam Rayamajhi, a resident of Arghakhanchi Balakot.
✓ A maintenance committee was formed from the locals of the former Khanchikot and Shitakot VDCs, currently Sitganga-2 and Sadhikharka 7, and daily worship was managed. From the donations raised there, Aardash M.V. of Khanchikot and Shanti N.M.V. of Shitapur are being run from their own resources.
✓ In addition, from the donations, financial relief works are being carried out for the helpless and the poor, and the construction and reconstruction of the motorway, electricity, drinking water, education, health and religious monasteries and temples in the village are being supported in human welfare works such as Gurukul education, Gaushala support.
✓ As the importance of this famous pilgrimage site increases, devotees come from far and wide.
✓ As its importance increased, later in BS 2064, the temple was rebuilt in the current ancient style by agreeing the patron of the Naranarayan Baba Ashram Seva Sanstha located in Kathmandu Matatirya, Param Pujyaniya Guru Shri Naranarayan Bawako and Shri Supadeurali Sansaran.
✓ After that, the dignity and importance of this temple increased day by day, and hundreds of devotees from various places across the country and even from India came to visit it every day.
✓ Here, 3 priests, 3 administrators, 1 assistant, and 21 people are assigned to clean the temple every day, and 8 people are assigned to their respective jobs, while 4 employees have been arranged to receive a monthly salary and allowances for various temple works.
✓ BS 2040 BS, it is operated as a religious institution with about 400 ordinary members who have been serving in some capacity or another, and who have been permanently residing in the former Khanchikot and Sitapur. There is a 17-member main committee elected from the ordinary members every 3/3 years.
Sacrifice customs
✓ There are two types of beings in this world. One is a rational being, and the other is an irrational being. Both of these beings are seeking their liberation.
✓ A rational being is a human being, while an irrational being is an animal. A rational being performs acts like pilgrimage, offering offerings, donating, performing yagna, chanting, and penance for their liberation.
✓ An irrational being cannot perform such acts, but he also desires liberation. For this reason, according to Bachchan, this being is liberated by performing a ritual of worship, chanting a mantra on the shoulder of the animal to be sacrificed, and this is the old custom of teaching vows for sacrifice.
Sacrifices restricted Day
✓ Sacrifices are prohibited in this temple on the days of Aunsi, Ekadashi, Akshaya Tritiya, Shri Krishna Janmashtami, Rishi Panchami, Shri Panchami, Mahashivaratri and Ram Navami.
Importance
✓ The importance of this Shri Supadeurali temple is increasing day by day due to the power of the goddess. This temple, which is a heritage of the religious faith of many devotees, was not established by anyone but is the abode of the goddess herself.
✓ Today, temples are established in the name of Supadeurali in various places in the country and are worshipped. Since this Shaktipeeth is located near a place called Supa, it is known by the name of Supadeurali.
✓ Although Deurali Devi can be found in any place, it does not seem unreasonable to add Supa to the temples established in other places in the name of Supadeurali.
✓ Despite the number of temples established in the name of this temple, the devotees who are especially devoted to Supadeurali come to this temple, the abode of Supadeurali, and their wishes are fulfilled, and its importance is increasing further.
What motivates people to visit a significant site?
Nowadays, the attraction of the site is touching people’s hearts day by day. The number of visitors (domestic & international) is rapidly growing in comparison to the past years. The people liked the place due to its evergreen cool weather and believed in the power of the goddess, according to history. People nowadays mostly come from India (typically from UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, etc.). Things that people may enjoy about the place are:
1. Temple itself: The temple created strong beliefs in people’s minds due to its power and historical significance.
2. Weather: The cool and amazing climate that people can experience in every season.
3. Suspension Bridge: Their a long suspension bridge at the top of the mountain, very close to the temple, that took approximately 5 minutes to reach on foot. The bridge is made at a high height.
4. Picnic: There is a picnic spot near the temple. Since people come to enjoy picnics and spend a joyful time with their friends and families.
5. Campfire and local cuisine: People can do a campfire and can enjoy very organic and delicious food near the temple. Due to its cool weather and organic production, the simple food also fulfils the thirst more than the taste of a 5-star hotel.
6. People’s humbleness: Nepali people have a very humble and welcoming nature. They highly respect each person and welcome the guest like a god (Atithi Devo Bhava).
7. Khanchikot Darbar: There is the Khanchikot Darbar, which was formerly the maternal house of King Prithivi Narayan Shah. The birthplace of Queen Chandraprabha. It is just 4/5 km from the temple.
8. Hill trek: There, people can enjoy hill trek, where presently new/new hill trek routes are made.
