A Story Behind Laughing Kaal Bhairav (काल भैरव), [ Laykoo Bhaila (लायकू भैल)],Basantapur, Kathmandu

On the northern side of Basantapur Durbar Square is the massive, roly poly image of Kaal Bhairav, dancing on a corpse of demon. Carved from a single 12-feet slab of stone was found in the field north of Kathmandu during the reign of Pratap Malla. It was believed that who told lie in front him, would vomit and die. Story has it that when the chief justice's office stood across the way, so many witnesses died while testifying that a temple had to be erected to shield the court from Kaal Bhairab's wide-eyed stare.

 A short clip before 11 years ago.


Laykoo Bhaila , also presently known as Kaal Bhairav, is considered to be the fierceful manifestation of Shiva , and is considered as manifestation of Bodhisatwa in tantrik form , by Bajrayana Buddhism.

The statue of Kalbhairav is believed to be from 5th century originally, and its said that it was found under the ground during the construction of canalways for water supply during regime of King Pratap Malla in 17th century.

Kalbhairav is worshipped and prayed for protection from evil spirits and for the good health of a person. Sunday is considered to be the good day for visiting Kaal Bhairav. It is said that the person who used to lie in front of Kalbhairav, would instantly die there by puking bloods.

One of the popular folkstory says that once there were a married couple where husband used to work whole day and the wife was housewife. One day, the husband doubted on her wife because she was very happy though their sexual relation was not fine. Then the husband asked if she had physical relation and affair with someone else. The wife got shocked and afraid hearing this because she actually was having physical relations with a lot of other people. They finally decided to go to Kalbhairav temple to decide the truth one day after. The very next day, wife went to her mother and insisted to feed her breast and having no option, her mother fed her breast milk. Finally they went to the Kalbhairav and there were a lot of other locals and administratives. The judge over there asked her if she had betrayed her husband. The wife replied cleverly, saying that she had not betrayed her husband since her mother has fed her breast milk. No one there knew that her mother fed her breast a just a day before, but Kaalbhairav knew this. So, hearing this, he started laughing and then he smiled. Since then the Kalbhairav loosed his power, because of a clever woman.  Kaal Bhairav is believed to be the only Bhairav, who is smiling.

Another folkstory says that the chariot of Karunamaya in Kathmandu is placed exactly opposite to the Kaal Bhairav, facing each other as Kaalbhairav gains the knowledge and calmness from Karunamaya. Karunamaya is also considered to be the master of Bodhisatwas.

It is also said that, a lot of hand written manuscripts of Bajrayana Buddhism and Kulachar Tantra were burried on exact back of the statue of Kalbhairav, during the attack of Prithvi Narayan Shah , and during the rule of Junga Bahadur Rana. No any research and excavation has been done in this topic but still people consider the back of Kalbhairav as holy place and a lot of old people still refuse to step on the place as they believe the books and chantings are burried there.

The shrine of Kaal Bhairav, served as high court of Nepal, once upon a time during  Malla period but it was continued till Rana regime too. Its believed that one should fulfill the promises that he or she has done in front of Kaalbhairav. The shrine of Kaalbhairav is in the ancient palace area of then Malla kings, thus is natively called as Laaykoo Bhaila which literally means, the Bhairav of Palace area.

In present day, Kalbhairav shrine has been protected and maintained as it lies in UNESCO world heritage site as well. People still visit this shrine with belief and faith that he will protect everyone from misfortune, evil spirits and obstacles that may come in life.  












Article by : Franky Frannz

 


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