Khaptad Swami and His Shangri-la

Shiva Raj Shrestha ‘Malla’

When he came to Khaptad, he was already a very wise hermit and very as old as 60. Before this, as a medical doctor trained in England, he was once, desperately trying to save the life of a child. But minute by minute, the child was going towards the dark cave of the death. He found himself utterly helpless. Then, a hermit came in his town of Jammu-Kashmir with Himalayan herbs and power of Yoga, saved the life of that child. Then, the young doctor knew that the would power ( the energy of thought) and Himalayan herbs were far more powerful and useful than the modern medical science. He gave up his flourishing medical practice and started studying Vedas and Upanishadhas. He was spending more and more of his time with the spiritual gurus. Eventually, the well established doctor became Sri 1008 Paramahansa Schitananda Saraswati, popularly known as Khaptad Swami, who died on May 9, 1996, probably at the age of 130. (Khaptad Swami never disclosed his past identity as a true Hindu Yogi and wanted to get Nirvana in peace and in seclusion).

As in the Vedic times, as a hermit, Himalayas attracted him. He traveled throughout, from Kashmir to Meghalaya. But Khaptad Plateau of Far-Western Nepal attracted him most and he was pulled by the magical charm of this land of pre-historic Yakshyas and Haptalite Sakas and Khashas. Very soon, after establishing his hermitage over a small cave, he realized that Khaptad Plateau was the centre of ‘Latter-Vedic’ civilization (of Mahabharata period ) and an unfathomable storehouse of magical herbs. He had told a Nepali historian that he had seen some prehistorical archeological antiquities inside the deep birch forests. The ‘Nephtalites’ (later on called Heptali Khashas) had come from the west of Iran and crossed Himalayas and started a civilization in Khaptad Plateau. They were originally sun worshippers and devotees of Vedic god ‘Maruta’(later on called Masto) the shapeless god of wind. The ‘Masto Cult’ is even now, very dominant in this part of Nepal. As a travel writer says, a face to face confrontation with the typical western Chhetri inhabitants, possessing swarthy complexions and Caucasoid features and the head on collision with the Masto deity will be an experience of a life time, even now. One can imagine as to how a sophisticated intellectual Yogi and a former medical doctor like Khaptad Swami, must have lived and communicated with these Khasha Dhamis (Shamans) and buffalo herders, some 60 years ago.

Khaptad Swami knew from the study of Puranas, that Lord Shiva had, for the first time, used medicinal herbs to cure the sick in the foothills of Khaptad in Baidhya Nath in Acham, while waiting to marry Goddess Parvati. The Khaptad Baba, followed Lord Shiva and started curing the sick. He had also known that the heap of wealth of Lord Kubera, was in Badi Malika near Khaptad, but the wealth in the form of gold and precious stones meant nothing to him. Very probable is the fact that, he knew about the mineral deposits of gold, uranium, mica, aquamarine and other precious stones in this area, but never disclosed; fearing that the human greed will spoil this Shangri-la.

Khaptad Swami also knew that, the first one to practice yoga and propounder of ‘ Shankhya Yoga’ philosophy was Lord Shiva himself , and Khaptad was the most suitable place in the earth to practice Yoga and Meditation. He had enlightened thousands of people saying that if one is tired of chemical mixed food and allopathy, he should try to know his body, mind and soul and also get acquainted with Yoga and nature cure. He himself used to wind-back the clock of his life, to an ageless age, when and where, there were only his body, mind, soul and nature, under the shadows of Mahankala ( the God of Eternal Time and Space). For days together, it is said, he could live in this state of ‘Savasana’ without food, in the small cave under his hermitage, while there would be no human being for dozens of miles, and musk deer and leopards were the only company and the Plateau would be under 10 feet of ice. It is rumored that the late King Birendra requested the Swami to keep at least one helping hand as he had crossed 100 years of his life. Khaptad Swami in his last days, had even more detached himself from this world, but even then, the beauty and spiritual atmosphere of Khaptad always charmed him. He had once told this author that spiritual eco-tourism should be developed in Khaptad but strictly in a very careful and planned way.

He knew about the fragility of this most beautiful land and its extremely rare bio-diversity, especially of ‘Bog-Land System’ of natural lawns, full of flowering herbal plants, (looking like Persian carpets), shallow lakes-shining like acqumarine and turquoise, and the rolling hills of birch and blue pines. There are some 135 flowering plants recorded in Khaptad National Park situated on an average altitude of 3000m and with the area of 225 sq km, which is really a living museum of natural history and botanical garden. It is here, and only herb in the world, where one can find 400 herbal plants out of some 700 found in Nepal, concentrated within one day’s walking distance. Some 40 mostly rare wild mammals and 266 species of birds are recorded so far to be found here. Khaptad Baba would have been extremely happy to see students of science and culture from the colleges of Nepal, India, Bangladesh and from all over the world, visiting Khaptad Plateau for study tours. But most important tourism product, which he would have liked, would have been the Spiritual Treks and Meetings. Because it is here, where one is in face to face, with the ‘Virat Prikarti’ the most overwhelming ‘Mother Nature’, where one find himself in communication with his own soul and the eternal super soul called the God.

Mom’s Day Fun

Mother’s Day is a day that lets Mom know that she’s special to us.

Maybe it was the best of times. Perhaps it was the worst. No matter how angelic or antagonistic your mom was, this Mother’s Day provides a fresh opportunity to let her know how she feels now.

For many people, the mere words do not flow freely when it comes to sharing their thoughts with their moms. "It’s so important to tell your mom how you feel, but many people feel a lot of pressure on this day to express all these deep sentiments ... it’s hard to get started," says Divya, a girl who is far away from her Mother. "Moms and motherly figures are so unique and significant to us that what we’d like to say on that day can range from ‘I love you’ to ‘thanks for putting up with Me’."

The unconditional love she harbours for us has been made each of us feel that we are the luckiest people in this world for having her as our mother. Children honour their mothers on this day with gifts, visits, and the wearing of carnations. Mothers must be angels on earth, always at hand to doctor scraped knees, boost dampened spirits, and guide us through the minor setbacks in life. They must be models of inspirations, patient counsellors, and sterling examples.

They must be everything to everybody. As children age, they begin to realize the value of their mother’s love and the enormous depth of her commitment. No relationship we form can ever be so close or profound. A mother is someone who shelters and guides us and loves us, whatever we do. With a warm understanding and infinite patience and wonderful gentleness, too. The heart of a mother is full of forgiveness for any mistake, big or small. In each human heart is that one special corner which only a mother can fill!

Today is Mother’s Day

To honor you in a special way.

I thank you for all your love...

For all that you do and say.

Today is Mother’s Day. And, upon awaking this morning, some mothers will be treated to a lovingly prepared culinary surprise. Others will be invited to brunch or to lunch or to dinner with their children and, perhaps, grandchildren, many of whom may have traveled long miles, some perhaps from one edge of the town to the other, to help honor their mothers and grandmothers on this very special day, Mother’s Day. After all, your mom will appreciate even the smallest gesture as long as it’s from your heart

This annual outpouring of affection and appreciation gives me hope that the strength of family feeling in this nation has really not diminished all that much, but ever how much, is too much. Yet, those feelings are still strong. Despite the tele-serials hate-fests shows, in which high ratings are garnered by mother-daughter rivalries or mother-son conflicts, caring and affection are still widespread among ordinary families like mine, and like the families of others here.

I cannot adequately describe how proud I am that the strength, the character, and the devotion that my mother instilled among us have carried through our families. And I know that others are just as proud of their families as I am of mine. I have said many times that the love and confidence and support of my family have helped me through the hardest moments of my life — I have had some pretty tough moments — and have sweetened every victory.

"Simply having children does not make mothers," someone has said, but a good mother is a pearl without price, for a mother’s role in maintaining a decent society is incalculable.

It is mother who wakes first at night to soothe the fevered child. It is mother whom you call when things are really, really bad, no matter what is your age. It is mother who teaches us love. Mothers are our first and our best role models, whose wisdom and training guide us through our headstrong teenage years and comfort us when we are older.

It is seen that the future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother. To raise children to be good citizens is a challenge.

When I see children of all ages celebrating their mothers on Mother’s Day, I am encouraged. It means that many mothers and fathers are overcoming the difficult challenges placed before them, says Radhika, a housewife. They are succeeding in building families. They are strong enough, caring enough, supportive enough to fend off the disrespect that surrounds them. These surely are families that spend time together around the dinner table.

I am overjoyed when I see my children come into my home, says a mother who has long been living alone.

What should you do with Mom on her special day? Be creative!

If you want to do something special for your Mom on her day, but don’t know just what to do, here are a few ideas that may just help you out. While modern gifts are great, sometimes what your Mother wants is to know she is appreciated. One way to do this is to make the day personal. Here’s a list of ideas that may get you headed in the right direction.

1. Have a treasured old photo restored and present it to her in a beautiful antique frame.

2. Treat Mom to a special day with you instead of a gift.

3. If your mother has a collection, give her something she’d enjoy adding to it.

4. Get together with your siblings and assemble a Mother’s Day scrapbook. Fill it with photos and anecdotes about special childhood memories with Mom.

5. Who deserves a day of pampering more than your mother? Treat her to a relaxing spa spree, then take her out to lunch at her favorite cafe or treat her to tea for two at home.

6. Prepare a fantastic feast that includes all her favourite dishes. If cooking isn’t your strong point, have the meal catered by a restaurant.

Looking upon Mother's Face

Mother’s Day, a day consecrated to the reverence to and memory of mothers, falls on the new moon day of the dark fortnight of late April or early May. This year the occasion takes place today, May 12.

Mother, the synonym for unconditional love and affection, is always revered yet the day gives an opportunity to sons and daughters to pour out their hearts and please their mothers. This is also an occasion for family reunion.

Nepalese irrespective of their castes and creeds, which is also known as Matri Aunsi or Mata Tirtha Aunsi, pay respect to their mothers on this occasion. Unlike other festivals, Mother’s Day is more important from social and cultural point of view than from the religious aspect. Celebration of Mother’s Day is an epitome of the unique Nepalese culture that accords topmost priority to unity in family and the pivotal role of the mother.

Despite cultural invasion and eroding faith on cultural ceremonies especially among the educated people and those exposed to western culture, the Mother’s Day is still one of the dominating cultural festivals, which makes Nepalese feel proud of their stronger family ties and the outsiders are envious of this deep family bond. The festival might have been founded on religious teaching, but now it has become instrumental in fostering family relations.

The Scriptures say those sons and daughters who please their mothers by offering her delicious food and make her feel happy today may have a very successful life with the blessing of their mothers. Those whose mothers are dead should visit Mata Tirtha or any other sacred place, take a holy bath and perform rituals in their memory as the dead mothers too bless their children.

On this day, sons and daughters be they married or single, try their best to please their mothers by offering them sweetmeats, fruits, ornament and clothes in gifts and offer delicious food especially prepared by themselves, showing their culinary skill. Married daughters, and sons living apart from their parents visit their mothers on this day to pay their respect and show affection to her.

Since it is the sons who live mostly with their parents in joint families, married daughters make the day more conspicuous as they move from their homes to mothers’ clad in colourful and usually bright red saris with ribbons and flowers in their hair. They prefer walking to their mothers’ place as far as possible so that they can speak to their chums on the way.

This is also a day for receiving blessings from mother. Even small children are encouraged to offer the best they can do to their mothers and bow down to her feet in reverence. Mothers in turn bless her children.

For the lucky ones whose mothers are living, the day makes the home sweet with the gathering of all offspring. Those whose mothers are dead also pay respect to the beloved mothers visiting Mata Tirtha, a pilgrimage made in memory of mothers, some 10 kilometres west of Kathmandu within the valley.

Those who have lost their mothers make their best possible efforts to visit Mata Tirtha, which is just a few minutes walk from the road in Thankot, to pay homage to their deceased mothers. And unsurprisingly, those who have living mothers also visit the holy site on this day with their mothers.

Those having no mothers visit the site to pay respect to their mothers by taking a holy dip in a larger pond. After bathing they go to another adjacent smaller pond known as Matri kunda or Mother’s Pond and look into the water in the belief of seeing the countenance of the dead mothers. The pilgrims also stay awake throughout the night by lighting an oil-fed lamp in memory of their mother and perform shraddha, a complicated ritual in memory of the dead.

Those who visit the pilgrimage with their mothers help them in taking a sacred bath and carry them on their shoulder and circumambulate the ponds in the belief of compensating to the unconditional love of their mothers and the pains inflicted upon them knowingly or unknowingly.

Legend has it that during the reign of Gopal dynasty, the rule of cowherd kings, in ancient Nepal, a cowherd became extremely sad by the death of his mother. And on the new moon day of the dark fortnight or Matri Aunsi, he sat on the edge of a pond in Mata Tirtha, which was perhaps not so named then, and made prayer. As he offered gifts, miraculously his mother’s face appeared in the water and she accepted the food.

Since then people who have lost their mothers visit the holy site on the Matri Aunsi in the hope of catching a glimpse of their mothers’ face in the pond and it continues today. There are various versions behind the story of origin of Mata Tirtha.

Besides its social significance, the event also contributes to enhance economic activities to go up as a huge quantity of gift items, sweets, clothes and fruits are sold on and before the day and it also contributes to domestic tourism as people from across the country visit the holy site and spend a few days in the capital.

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