Non-Newars always marvel at the magnitude of the festivities that surround them. The pop and flair combined with the faith and dedication towards building a chariot 5 stories tall and circumventing it in the old streets of Patan is a sight to behold. The locals view him as a messiah and would not refrain from turning any stone for his celebration.
So why is Karunamaya so important?
Thousands of years ago, the citizens of this valley faced a dire crisis. It was significant enough to wipe out the entire civilisation of Kathmandu Valley. As agriculture was the occupation of the native inhabitants, a mysterious ill plagued the fields. The seeds planted with love and care grew to only wither. The farms that were to resemble gold began to look like desolation.
The people didn't know the cause, nor did they know the exact remedy. With the years harvest down the drain, they could only hope the reserves would last them long enough for a rescue. As the people began to worry, the King could not hold his heart. King Narendra-deva was known for his service and dedication to his people. But he had abdicated the throne in favour of his son. King Narendra-deva chose to spend the rest of his life observing monastic discipline.
The tantric master named Banudhatta Acharya, who sided in Te Bahal, knew that far away in a distant land resided the solution to our crisis. He informed the present King Bara-deva and requested him to go to his father and request if he would accompany the tantric master in his journey. For as long as the true King is alive, he cannot take his son.
King Narendra-deva accepted. He, along with Bandudhatta and Ratnakar Jyapu, left for an adventure. The destination was Kamakhya, which falls in present-day Odisha of India. There, the team met with a master farmer named Karunamaya. The trio told him of the ill that plagued their kingdom. Karunamaya wished to visit the valley and relieve it himself but wasn't allowed to by his mother. Thus, he passed on to them the needed tools, seeds and knowledge to compact the famine. The trio then bid farewell to the master and returned to the valley. They then applied the findings as instructed, and the fields slowly but steadily began to sway like gold.
It was this feat, the generosity of one man. Who, without any expectations, helped three ailing strangers that earned him a high rank in the pantheon of this valley. Even though he was mortal, the people in this valley immortalised him. A temple was built in his honour in the village of Bungamati. The settlement was renamed Amarpur, meaning a land immortal.
An elaborate chariot festival was designed by priest Bandudhatta. A 5 storey tall chariot was envisioned with featured all the elements of the journey and the temple of Bungamati.
Thousands of years later, even to this day, the people of this valley have not forgotten his generosity. Historians believe that he had a different name. Karunamaya was the general call name which means the compassionate one. Members of the Buddhist faith refer to him as Aryavalokiteshwor Padmapani, whereas Hindu's call him Rato Matsyendranath due to the connection with the tantric master Gorakhnath.
The people ensure the chariot festival happens even at the worst odds because they fear the illness shall return again. All the necessary rituals are performed every year to invoke the deity to ensure the valley's prosperity. The chariot is built at Pulchowk and circumvents the old routes of the city. It comes to an end in the open field known as Jawalakhel. Once the ceremonial display of the bhoto is complete, the idol is taken to Bungamati. Here it rests for 6 months of the year and the other half in the temple inside Patan.
