Bala Chaturdashi ( बाला चतुर्दशी ) - An Important Hindu Festival

Introduction

• The festival of Bala Chaturdashi is a celebration in Nepal that is held at Pashupatinath Temple near Kathmandu every year in late November or early December

• Hindu pilgrims from all over Nepal, as well as India, gather at Pashupatinath temple, which is considered to be the most sacred temple of Shiva (Pashupati), in Nepal

• An all-night vigil by the light of small wick lamps marks the beginning of Bala Chaturdashi.

• Throughout the night the pilgrims chant and dance by the light of their lamps while paying homage to Lord Shiva

• At daybreak, worshippers make their way down to the holy Bagmati River for ritual bathing

• The Bagmati flows through the Kathmandu Valley and has a number of Hindu temples located on its banks

• It is considered to be the holiest river by both Buddhists and Hindus

• Hindus are cremated on the banks of the Bagmati and the Nepalese Hindu tradition requires that the dead body be dipped three times into the river prior to cremation

• After the cremation ceremony, many relatives bathe in the river or sprinkle the water on their bodies as a symbol of being purified by the river – both spiritually and physically.

• After bathing in the Bagmati, pilgrims perform acts of worship at the many shrines of Pashupatinath temple

• The festival is concluded by pilgrims following a prescribed path starting at the temple, passing through the Kailash forest past many Hindu shrines and finally returning to the temple

• The worshippers scatter “sat biu”, seven types of grains and seeds, along the path as they go

• The seeds are scattered on behalf of dead relatives and loved ones in the hope that this act will secure a better place in heaven for them. These rituals are also carried out to appease the restless souls of departed ones who were not properly cremated

• It takes several hours for this task to be completed and once it is done, the pilgrims start making their journey home

• Nepal is a fascinating country, rich in history and age-old traditions and rituals

• No matter what time of year travelers choose to visit this popular tourist destination, they are sure to have the opportunity to witness an interesting celebration such as Bala Chaturdashi.

How do we observe Bala Chaturdashi

• We light traditional oil lamp (diyo) and recite mantras

• We keep ourselves awake all night to ensure that the lamp keeps burning

• We chant mantras, sing Bhajans and dance through night paying honor to Lord Shiva
• The next day at daybreak we go to holy Baghmati River for ritual bathing
• Baghmati is considered to be the holiest river for all Nepali
• Taking dip three times into Bagmati River is considered a path to purification.
• After bathing in the Baghmati River pilgrims visits and worships almost all of the temples and idols in and around Pashupatinath as much they can
• The devotees pass dropping the satbij, the mixture of seven sacred seeds in these temples and the 108 Shiva Linga present in the vicinity of Pashupatinath Temple
• All walk the same path followed for many years. It passes through Kailash forest and return back to the Pashupatinath temple
• The end part of Satbij dropping ceremony is done for fun after long walk and rituals
• Lord Ganesh’s idol present near the Bishwaroop temple is believed to be deaf; people shake him and scream and shout in the ear to wake him up
• This adds a fun flavor to the whole ceremony

Why is Bala Chaturdashi Observed

• Seeds are dropped in remembrance of dead beloved ones

• It is believed by performing Bala Chaturdashi rituals we can secure a better place in heaven for the dead relatives

• It is also believed that this helps settle the restless souls of departed ones who were not properly burnt

• This is true that when thousands of people pray for the same consideration, that will be fulfilled

• Slesmantak forest, where the satbij is dropped is mentioned in Shiva Puran Mirgasthali as the place where Lord Shiva dwelled as Deer

• This place is hence considered the very sacred place and hence a drop of seed in this place is equal to a Ratti of gold (which is about 0.121 grams). 

Story Behind Bala Chaturdashi

• Bala Nanda, a trader, came to Arya Ghat (where people are cremated through burning), to attend funeral of one of his relatives
• Bala Nanda sitting nearby and eating the ceremonial food, a small portion of the dead body popped out from the fire into his plate
• He unknowingly swallowed flesh of dead body that fell on his plate
• Soon he swallowed the flesh he transformed into a horrible demon having silver head

• He became cannibal (man-eating human meat)

• Bala Nanda suddenly grabbed out dead body from the fire and started eating it
• People were terrified and ran away

• Then onwards he is called Balsur

• Asur meaning Demon. (Bala+Asur=Balasur)
• Arya Ghat then became the favorite place for Balasur
• People were scared to go to Arya Ghat to cremate dead relatives
• People pleaded then king to solve the problem

• King assigned Brisha Singh, very good friend of Balasur to kill him

• Brisha manages to kill Balasur by betrayal.

• Brisha felt guilty to deceive Bala

• He went to meditation in the Sleshmantak Ban (forest) and enchanted Om and prayed to Lord Shiva for the rescue of his friend Balasur
• Lord Shiva was pleased by his sincere affection for his friend

• Lord Shiva helped in salvation of Balasur

• Lord Shiva also told Brisha to scatter sat bij, or seven varieties of grain, on the holy grounds of the Shlesmantak forest to cleanse the sin of Balasur and to erase his own guilt for killing a friend
• From the day, the tradition of Dropping Seven Grains (Sat biu) started