LEO Club of Kathmandu Laligurans: April 2016

By Leo Rakesh Khatri

Sansari Mandir is a 250-years-old ancient historical temple. It is located in Naikap Purano Bhanjyang VDC, South-West of Kathmandu Valley. According to the elderly people here, during the unification campaign of king Prithivi Narayan Shah, he started making replicas of Temple of Goddess Manakamana (which lies in Gorkha district), wherever he conquered. Following the same trend, after conquering Naikap, he built a temple here. After that, people started worshipping it. That temple is Sansari Temple at the present. The origin of the name of the temple, Sansari, is still a mystery but people worship it in the name of Sansari Sitala Mai.

Previously, Sansari Temple was very small, surrounded by the stones and mud walls and without even a roof. But later, Sansari Guthi took an initiative and transformed the temple into the beautiful look we have today. On all these works of renovation of the temple, local people had shown exceptional enthusiasm and put up excellent efforts by providing all types of helps, including monetary, labor and other helps. The outlook of the temple has become magnificent. With the newly built pillars, concreted walls and ceilings, it has transformed into a modern look. It has been fenced on all sides by iron bars and most importantly, on its roof, there are sculptures of four big snakes at each corner. Those snakes are as if they're heading towards a water pot placed in the middle of the roof. In hindu tradition, a Gajur is not allowed to be installed on the top of the temple of a Goddess (female God). So to make the temple look good even without a Gajur, it was planned to install those snakes giving an impression as if they are going to have the water from the pot situated at the middle.

Though it has got historical as well as religious importance, Sansari Mandir (temple) is under the shade due to lack of promotion. This temple is one of the key components of Naikap Purano Bhanjyang VDC, which needs to be flourished all over the nation. Annually, Sansari Guthi organizes a religious program on the day of Fagu Purnima in the temple as the day of the establishment of the temple. To reach to the temple, one has to walk around ten minutes from Kitini Bhanjyang through a very small and sweet village, named Dadagaun. The temple is located at the top of a hill; so we can observe a very good view of Kathmandu valley, Kirtipur, Swayambunath Stupa, Trivuwan International Airport, Thankot, Dahachowk, etc. During the winter season, we can also observe the beautiful mesmerizing view of mountains. We can see Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri range, Ganesh Himal from there.

Near the temple, we can see a small cliff-like debris of historical structure which the local people believe to be the remnants of the Kot (place to keep arms and ammunition) built around the time of Gorkha King Prithvi Narayan Shah. We can still see the pieces of bricks which seem to be really very old.

In the Eastern side of the temple, there is a big electric tower placed by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). This tower can be used to navigate the location of Sansari from distant places like Kirtipur, Jamacho, Kankali, Swayambhunath, etc.

Recently, Naikap - Indrathan has become a famous hiking route among the youths. Since Sansari Temple lies in the middle of the hiking route, anybody up for the hiking can enjoy the magnificent Sansari Temple.

Here are some pictures of the temple and surroundings: