Swasthani Fasting Story and Us

Swasthani Fasting Story and Us

Today Paush Shukla Purnima is the start of Swasthani Braat Katha, so I am putting some facts about Swasthani here.

I have copies of two master's theses. One by Linda Louise Eiltis, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His topic was - "Swasthani Vrat: Neva in Nepal: Women and Culture". In the matter of his education, Swasthani fast was given priority. About 25 years after she graduated in 1985, Jessica Vanthine Birkenholz graduated from the University of Chicago with a master's degree in health history. His topic was - "Swasthani Vratkatha tradition: Changes of self, place and identity among Hindus of Nepal".

In this way, in a long interval, two American women have studied about healthy fasting and healthy fasting stories, but no Nepali is found to have prioritized research on this topic. Jessica later published a book called Reciting The Goddess. In this way, two foreign women had studied the Swasthani Brata Katha, which is popular only in Nepal.

Swasthani word means - self means own and place means place. Therefore, Swasthani Katha is a story about its own place. The goddess described in it is Ashtamatrika worshiped by the Nevas, while the city described in it is Lavanya Desh - Sankhu. Also, the story of a woman living in Sankhu, "Gomayju", who is confused between joys and sorrows, tears, laughter and wealth and poverty is the story of Swasthani. The oldest story of Swasthani is preserved in the National Archives written in Sanskrit mixed with Newari language in Nepal Samvat 693 (1629 B.S.) about 450 years ago. Also, at that time, it seems that this fast will be only for 2 days and 1 night, that is, only for two days. But in Swasthani Brata Katha, written only 30 years later, it is described as 30 days. B.S. It can be understood that only from 1659, Swasthani fasting started for 30 days. Also it was written in Newari language only. As follows: After B.S. In 1730, on the fifth day of Magh Shukla, King Pratap Malla of Kantipur installed the idol of Swasthani in Makhan Tanabaha for the first time.

Initially, Swasthani was written on eight pages of palm leaves, but later it was expanded to become a thick book of about 400 pages. It has been found that only Newari language was used for the first 200 years. Also, its story is also changing from time to time. The origin story of Swasthani is mentioned in Skanda Purana of Mahabharata. This story is written by making the Kedar section in the Skanda Purana the focal point. The main characters in Puranic stories are given different local names. Gomayju is the main character in this story. When translated into Nepali, it is written as Goma Brahmani. Navaraj, the son of the second Gomayju and Chandravati, the wife of the third Navaraj. There are three characters with three characters. Gomayju is calm and does not panic even in pain, the obedient son of Navaraj mother whose good character later becomes the king. The third Chandravati is selfish. Just want to enjoy. greed,

The main theme of this story is centered on women. It also shows that after the main marriage, one should accept the husband's house and live happily even if there are adverse conditions in the new house. There is not much difference between the miserable condition of Gomayju's husband Shivdutt's house and the house of Chandravati's husband Navaraj. Both were poor. Also there were Goma and Chandravati, who grew up in a rich house and in a comfortable place.

After all, the question of who is Gomayju or who is Navaraj is open to all of us who read health. Are these characters just fictional or written with a political character in mind? Is Swasthani Brat Katha really a mythological story? Is it related to Mahabharata? Is Kumarji commanding as it is said in every chapter, O Agastya Muni? These are all unanswered questions. Most importantly, it is read only in Nepal. The Piths written in it do not match with the mythological stories.

In this story, there is more injustice towards women. But because of a woman's endurance and her patience, all the comforts and conveniences in life are obtained. In this story, by showing the story of divine power, it is shown that if a woman is patient, she will definitely get results. Its story shows the tricks of God. A question mark has been placed on God. It has been shown that God is not completely perfect, but like us humans, we are also selfish.

It is said that when one fasts, one's thoughts are fulfilled. But not by its divine power, but by its story object, it increases confidence in women. Increases perseverance in work. So that he achieves his goal.

As there is a description of the river Shali in this sacred brat story, there is a crowd of people fasting and bathing in the river Shali. But the name of any river was not mentioned in the old Swasthani stories. Shali river has been mentioned only from about 200 years ago. Therefore, it is estimated that the practice of fasting in the Shali River is only 200 years old. In addition, two Jatras are held in two places from the day of Paush Shukla Purnima when this healthy fasting starts. Changunarayan Jatra in Changunarayan and Madhavnarayana Jatra in Sankhu. Both these Jatras are not considered to be very old Jatras. Madhavnarayan fast is observed for a month long.

Sabhar Sunil Ulak Facebook