Since the 17th Century, Manakamana Devi has been widely venerated all over Nepal because of the belife that she fulfills all wishes. Goddess Manakamana is highly noted as a wishful filling goddess throughout the country. The holy temple of goddess Manakamana lies on a beautiful ridge of Gorkha. It is said that she is the younger sister of goddess Kali. She is regarded to be a very sacred goddess. The temple is important from the historical and archeological point of view. Manakamana is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus.
The name Manakamana is derived from two words, Mana, meaning heart and Kamana, meaning wish. It is believed that the Goddess Bhagwati rewards those who make the pilgrimage to her shrine by granting their wishes, and she is especially popular with Newari newlyweds who pray for sons. By worshipping or making vow or say vacal to Manakmana devi will fulfill all types of your desire. Even People make vacal for manakamana devi if she do so they will do certain things for example hang bell in Mankamana temple. The pujari performs daily prayers and ritual in the temple behind closed doors by offering eggs, oranges, rice, red powder and strips of cloth to the deities. On completion of the pooja of the shrine by the priest, the turn of the public begins.
The history and location of the Manakamana temple are explained by a curious legend. The Queen of the 17th century Gorkha King, Rama Shah, was said to have magical powers that only her devotee, Lakhan Thapa, knew about. One day the Queen’s husband became aware of her secret when he saw her in the form of a goddess and Lakhan Thapa in the form of a Lion. Soon thereafter the King mysteriously died and the Queen, as was the custom of the day, committed sati (ritual immolation) upon her husband’s funeral pyre. Prior to her death, the Queen had promised her devotee Lakhan Thapa that he would soon again see her. Some time later while plowing a field, a farmer discovered a stone from which blood and milk were pouring. When Lakhan Thapa learned of this he was convinced it was a sign from the dead queen, and at the site where the stone had been discovered he constructed a temple in her honor. The present 19th century temple is a replacement of the one built by Lakhan Thapa. Tradition has it that the temple priest must be a descendent of Lakhan Thapa.
In the past, millions of pilgrims used to do the long arduous trek up to the hilltop. The Shrine of Manakamana renovated many times over the centuries has four story pagoda style roofs with entrance from the South-West. The cable car station in Cheres is about 104 kms, west from Kathmandu and about 102 kms east from Pokhara. From the base-station at Cheres one can get to Mankamana temple in 10 minutes flat or less. The ride covers a distance of 2.8 kilometers.
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