Dakshinkali Temple is located 22 kilometers south of the capital Kathmandu. This temple is also called Kali Devi Temple. The temple was built by King Pratap Malla. Surrounded by greenery on all sides, this temple sits at the confluence of two rivers. The temple houses statues of Goddess Kali along with other deities.
Royal Traditions and Annual Celebrations
It is said that kings used to come here every year in the month of Baishakh to celebrate their Dewali festival. Thousands of devotees visit the temple annually to fulfill their wishes. A special fair takes place during Dashain festival. During the nine nights of Dashain, many devotees offer sacrifices of ducks, roosters, buffaloes, and goats. This temple is rich from religious and cultural perspectives.
The Legend of Dakshinkali Temple
According to legend, Dakshinkali is one of the thirty-three crore daughters of Daksha Prajapati. She used to sit on a stone in the middle of the forest on the hill above Gorkhanath.
In 1825, Dakshinkali appeared to Pratap Malla in a dream at night, telling him that she was Dakshinkali and was sitting on a stone on Nagarcho hill above Pharping. When the king did not pay much attention, Dakshinkali appeared to one of the five maidens of the palace and told her about the place where she resided and about worship rituals.
The Sacred Construction Process
After that, King Pratap Malla, with the help of Tantric guru Lambakarna Bhatta, came to the place where the ancient Dakshinkali stone was located and performed proper worship rituals. The king created two demons named Bhushakarna and ordered them to carry out the work according to the dream.
The Miraculous Transportation
According to the dream, Dakshinkali along with her companions was carried in one night from there to the place where Dakshinkali Mata’s temple now stands at the confluence of two rivers to the south, and the stone was placed there. In the same process, Kumari was established at the place where the current Kumari temple is located. However, while taking Ganesha, when the rooster crowed at dawn, he was left at Paucho hill and was established at that very place.
The Temple’s Mysterious Power
After that, since Dakshinkali’s temple was placed inside a cave at the top of a hill in the middle of the forest, word spread that people would not go to that place, and even those who went would not return alive. After that, Pratap Malla had guru Lambakarna Bhatta neutralize Dakshinkali through tantric methods. The current Dakshinkali Mata’s stone was placed face down, covered with a large stone slab on top, and Kali’s face was carved with Bhairav placed in front.
The Creation of Sacred Statues
Then Pratap Malla had a white marble statue of Chamunda, meaning Dakshinkali, made. The tantrics said that after the consecration of life in the statue, it would become very powerful. King Pratap Malla locked it in a room in the courtyard of his own palace and installed two large lions outside.
The Black Stone Installation
The king then had a black stone statue made and installed it at the confluence of Purnawati Ganga and Uddharawati Ganga rivers. He continued to perform worship along with the Ashta Matrika goddesses. After that, it is believed that gradually the practice of devotees going to worship increased.
Religious Significance Today
This temple continues to be one of Nepal’s most important religious sites. The rich history and spiritual significance draw thousands of pilgrims who come seeking blessings and fulfillment of their wishes. The temple stands as a testament to Nepal’s deep-rooted Hindu traditions and the enduring faith of its people.
