Do you know that the First Swasthani Brata Katha was from Nepal bhasa?
Swasthani Brata Katha is a Hindu severe text and practice performed commonly in Nepal during the extended length of Poush (December-January). It is a drawn-out narration of the story of Swasthani, an indication of the Hindu goddess Parvati, and her admirer. The story is talked about by women, who quick for the entire month and notice explicit services. The text is acknowledged to surrender wishes and fulfilling needs and is considered to be a major area of strength for properties. The custom is particularly notable among women, who collect to talk about the story and focus on the recitations of others.
There are copies of two master’s theses. One by Linda Louise Eiltis, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her topic was – “Swasthani Vrat: Newa in Nepal: Women and Culture”. In the matter of her education, Swasthani fast was given priority. About 25 years after she graduated in 1985, Jessica Vanthine Birkenholz graduated from the University of Chicago with a master’s degree in health history. Her topic was – “Swasthani Brata Katha tradition: Changes of self, place and identity among Hindus of Nepal”.
In this way, two American women have studied healthy fasting and healthy fasting stories, but no Nepali is found to have prioritized research on this topic. Jessica later published a book called Reciting The Goddess. In this way, two foreign women studied the Swasthani Brata Katha, which is popular only in Nepal.
Swasthani word means – self means own and place means place. Therefore, Swasthani Katha is a story about its place. The goddess described in it is Ashtamatrika worshipped by the Newas, while the city described in it is Lavanya Desh – Sankhu. Also, the story of a woman living in Sankhu, “Gomayju”, who is confused between joys and sorrows, tears, laughter and wealth and poverty is the story of Swasthani. The oldest story of Swasthani is preserved in the National Archives written in Sanskrit mixed with the Newari language in Nepal Sambat 693 (1629 B.S.) about 450 years ago. Also, at that time, it seems that this fast will be only for 2 days and 1 night, that is, only for two days. But in Swasthani Brata Katha, written only 30 years later, it is described as 30 days. B.S. It can be understood that only from 1659, did Swasthani fasting start for 30 days. Also, it was written in the Newari language only. In this way, Swasthani Brata began to spread among the Newa after B.S. In 1730, on the fifth day of Magh Shukla, King Pratap Malla of Kantipur installed the idol of Swasthani in Makhan Tanabaha for the first time.
In this way, after the conquest of Kathmandu by Gorkhali, the story of Swasthani brata started in the Malla period. It was written in Nepali only in 1866. After this, it can be assumed that others have adopted it. In the beginning, many books of Swasthani Brata Katha in the Nepali language were printed from Varanasi. As a result, many were found grammatically inaccurate. Currently, there are Nepali publishers. So that something less inaccurate is found. Also, there is a lot of Nepalization and Brahminization in the story.
At first, Swasthani was written on eight pages of palm leaves, but later it was expanded to become a thick book of about 400 pages. It has been found that only the Newari language was used for the first 200 years. Also, its story is changing from time to time. The original story of Swasthani is told in Skanda Purana, a Purana of 18 Puranas. This story is written by making the Kedar section in the Skanda Purana the focal point. The main characters in Puranic stories are given different local names. Gomayju is the main character in this story. When translated into Nepali, it is written as Goma Brahmani. Navaraj, the son of the second Gomayju and Chandravati, the wife of the third Navaraj. There are three characters with three characters. Gomayju is calm and does not panic even in pain, the obedient son of Navaraj’s mother whose good character later becomes the king. The third Chandravati is selfish. Just want to enjoy it. Greed, greed and pride caused a lot of pain.
The main theme of this story is centred on women. It also shows that after the main marriage, one should accept the husband’s house and live happily even if there are adverse conditions in the new house. There is not much difference between the miserable condition of Gomayju’s husband Shivdutt’s house and the house of Chandravati’s husband Navaraj. Both were poor. Also, there were Goma and Chandravati, who grew up in a rich house and a comfortable place.
After all, the question of who is Gomayju or who is Navaraj is open to all of us who read Swasthani. Are these characters just fictional or written with a political character in mind? Is Swasthani Brat Katha a mythological story? Is it related to Mahabharata? के यसमा हरेक अध्यायमा भनिए जस्तो कुमारजी आज्ञा गर्नुहुन्छ हे अगस्त्य मुनि अर्थात कुमारले भन्ने र अगस्त्य मुनिले लेखेकै हो त ? These are all unanswered questions. Most importantly, it is read-only in Nepal. The Piths written in it does not match the mythological stories.
In this story, there is more injustice towards women. But because of a woman’s tolerance and patience, all the comforts and conveniences in life are obtained. In this story, showing the story of divine power shows that if a woman is patient, she will get results. Its story shows the tricks of God. A question mark has been placed on God. It has been shown that God is not completely perfect, but like humans, God is also selfish.
It is said that when one fast, one’s thoughts are fulfilled. But not by its divine power, but by its story object, it increases confidence in women. Increases perseverance in work. So that it achieves its own goal.
As there is a description of the river Shalinadi in this sacred brata story, there is a crowd of people fasting and bathing in the river Shalinadi. But the name of any river Shalinadi was not mentioned in the old Swasthani stories. Shalinadi river has been mentioned only about 200 years ago. Therefore, it is estimated that the practice of fasting in the Shalinadi river is only 200 years old. In addition, two Jatras are held in two places from the day of Paush Shukla Purnima when this healthy fasting starts. Changunarayan Jatra in Changunarayan and Madhavnarayana Jatra in Sankhu. Both these Jatras are not considered to be very old Jatras. Madhavnarayan fast is observed for a month long.
