Bhimsen : Not a Pandav but a marvelous divine ( भिं : द्य )

 भिं : द्य aka Bhimsen is the divine reverenced by Newar community since the Malla regime. Bhimsen is not the second brother ,'Bhim' of famous epic ,'Mahabharat'.

 भिं : द्य is made of two words 'भिं' and 'द्य' which means marvelous and divine respectively in Nepal Bhasa.

In step with the legends, during Malla regime , a marriage took place between a Malla king and Princess of Dolakha.The king of Dolakha sent an attendant with his  daughter after marriage in Kathmandu.

The Malla king restrained the attendant for paddy breeding near Chhauni, Kathmandu. But later the king endow that he hadn't accomplished his job. The king went to the farm where the attendant was assigned for and questioned him regarding his unfinished business .

The attendant ask the king to close his eyes for few seconds and open it at leisurely place.When king opened his eyes he was astound with the scene over there. The bare land was loaded with trembling paddy around. It was drudical. 

The king asked the attendant about his real identity.He revealed that he was the Avatar of  Padyapani Lokeshowr (श्री पद्मपाणी लोकेश्वोर). After knowing the truth, the king request that he want to know where the divine want to remain so that the king can erect sanctuary. The divine asked to erect the sanctuary where his third step hold out. Hence , on bank of Bishnumati River, the sanctuary was created . Presently , it is known as Bhimsensthan.

Every evening when the divine use to whirl around the market , their business gained. Hence , the divine was called भिं : द्य. Since , he is worshipped as the deity of commerce and industry, and of fortunes. 

The Newar community in general and the business community in particular revere the deity for good business. On the midnight of the ninth day of the lunar dark fortnight in Bhadra (Bhadra Krishna pachaya), August/Sept, the Bhimsen jatra (festival or outing of Bhimsen) is held in Patan every year with spectacular shows of the festival.

After the special festival offerings made to Lord Bhimsen, the priest brings the idol of Bhimsen from the third floor of the three-storey temple at Mangal bazaar in Patan, and sets it in the sanctum of a chariot made ready for the outing of the deity.

   Pic : Bhi dya ( भिं : द्य ) jatra

Devotees carry the deity on a chariot on shoulder poles around the town with pomp and fanfares. Traditional Newari musical bands leading the chariot play devotional tunes, and some people sing hymns to the deity on the way to the town and back to the temple.