Shova Bhagawati Temple

Shova Bhagawati Temple is one of the holiest temple dedicated to goddess Bhagwati located on the bank of Bisnumati River and considered as one of the most revered holy shrines in Kathmandu valley. The temple was believed to be constructed around 10^th century of the Kaligat Sambat by queen Navasagar with goddess’s idol. Goddess Palanchowk Bhagwati, Naxal Bhagwati, and Shova Bhagawati are believed as sisters. It is also said that the artisan of these three Bhagawati was said to have had his hands cut off right after the completion of his work, thus unable to surpass this particular creation. Shova Bhagawati is considered to be a very powerful goddess in fulfilling the wishes of her devotees and thus has many devotees and believers in the Hindu religion.

The temple is very beautiful and attractive with the three-tiered structure having a copper roof, and has all the forms of Durga in the periphery of the temple. Prominent deities such as Agala Mukhi, Bagala Mukhi, and Jwala Mukhi are placed within the body of the main goddess. Thousands of devotees visit the temple during the occasion of Dashain and sacrifice animals on ‘Nawami’, the ninth day of Dashain. Water buffalos, goats, ducks, hens and mountain goats (chyangra) are the sacrificial animals here and the sacrifice consisting of all these five animals is called ‘Pancha Bali’, which is considered to be extremely powerful. Gyani Guruju is the official priest of the Shova Bhagawati temple, whose family has been performing its rituals for the last four generations.

However, in Bala Chaturdarshi, which falls on the 14th day of the lunar fortnight, the temple celebrates a two-day long Jatra, which pays great tribute to the significance of eight deities, who are believed to have been discriminated during other rituals. These deities are brought to the Shova Bhagawati temple from their original site with magnificence and returned with the same magnificence on the following day.