Pashupati's Bishnu Bikranta a picture of utter neglect

ANKIT ADHIKARI & PRAGATI SHAHI
KATHMANDU, AUG 31

At a distance of about 300 meters from Gaushala on the Ring Road lies one of Nepal’s important cultural heritage sites. Hidden in the bushes, the site has become a dumping ground and lies inside the premises of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). A drainage runs close-by, adding poignancy to the diminishing beauty of the site where the idol of Bishnu Bikranta is located, in an utterly neglected state.

The idol, considered to be one of the oldest idols found with written inscription, was built by Mandev, the first Lichhavi king, and dates back to the around 1600s. There is significant weathering effect on the idol. So much so that some of the inscription at the bottom of the stone is disfigured beyond recognition. Hardly anybody is visiting the site. Even guides don’t show this site to tourists visiting the Pashupati area.

According to historians, the idol depicts lord Vishnu, also known as Trivikram Vaman. “This idol makes it clear that ancient people followed Baishnav religion,” says historian Prakash Darnal. According to him, this idol also has an important myth associated with it. It is said that when Baliraja, one of the most generous Hindu king, had a reputation by virtue of his generosity that threatened lord Indra’s generousness. Lord Vishnu felt it necessary to protect the glory of Indra. Vishnu thought of an idea and went to Baliraja’s palace in the disguise of Vaman (dwarf) begged with Baliraja to prove an area that could be covered by his legs.

As soon as Baliraja promised to give him what he wanted, Vishnu reincarnated into a humongous size and put his one leg in the sky and the second on earth, covering all the area of universe. Vishnu asked Baliraja where he should keep his third leg. Helpless Baliraja had no option but to tell Vishnu to keep his third leg on his own head. Which led to Baliraja’s death and finally Indra had no challenger.

“The negligence of the concerned authorities has not only diminished the importance of this idol, it has also seriously affected the historical and cultural significance of this important monument,” says historian Darnal. 

PADT treasurer Narottam Vaidhya says the trust is planningto construct a temple at the site encircling the idol.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 1