The Budha Subba Temple is located in Bijayapur, Dharan, Nepal’s eastern region, and is frequently visited and worshipped by Hindu and Kirati pilgrims. This religious site is located on top of the banks of the Seuti River, east of the Dantakali Temple.The tomb of “Buddhi Karnaraya Khebang”, the last Limbu King of Morang, is located at Budha Subba temple, so it is also known as Kirateshwor. He was tricked into going to Bijayapur, Dharan, on behalf of king Prithvi Narayan Shah, for a settlement of the people, and he was killed there.The king’s friendly and helpful soul was said to roam the Bijayapur area, where his tomb is located, according to local Limbu belief. Then they began to worship the king’s soul, believing that it would bring good luck and fulfill the wishes of the devotees who came to the temple. Within the temple, two earthen piles have been raised which have the tradition of worshipping as the Budha Subba.
The place has unique tip-less bamboo plants. Bamboos grow out of the foundation where Buddha Subba is buried, but they are missing the top part, which looks like someone just slashed off the top part. Initially, there was a trend of writing on the bamboo tree in the vicinity of the temple. Young men and women who came to visit the temple would only return after writing their names on bamboo, as it is believed that writing the names of lovers will ensure their love’s success.However, the temple committee has banned the writing of names on bamboo because it hampered the growth of the bamboo. After worshiping Budha Subba, lovers now tie sacred threads to the bamboo. Hence, it is considered as one of the most important religious sites of Eastern Nepal.
According to a myth, Budha Subba, a Subba hunter, and his sister used to play and hunt with a slingshot on the hill. When a crow hit the tips of a bamboo tree while hunting, the bamboo tree’s tip was lost and never grew back. Subba gave up hunting after the miss, buried his slingshot, and began meditating.The temple stands on the same spot today, and the small mound of mud is assumed to be where he meditated. According to this myth, the temple got its name from the hunter. A temple stands by his sister’s side. Interestingly, despite the occasional picnickers and temple offerings, the bamboo trees in Bijayapur hill still do not have tips, and there is not a single crow in the area.
According to history, it is the tomb of Buddhi Karna Khebang, the last Limbu King of Morang (a Nepalese district), whose reign in Bijayapur began after the assassination of Kamdutta Sen in 1762 and ended with the invasion of Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1775. Bijayapur was Morang’s capital and the political and economic heartland of east Limbuwan. In 1785, he was duped into coming to Bijayapur-Dharan for a negotiation, only to be assassinated by King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s assassins.Buddhi Karna Khebang’s soul is said to have wandered around his tomb in Bijayapur, and was described as a friendly and helpful spirit. The local Limbu people then began to worship the soul as an old king (Subba or Haang means King in Limbu), believing it would bring them good fortune. Subba or Hang means ‘King’ in the Limbu language.
Some believe that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, disguised as Theba Sammang and Yuma Sammang (Yakthung King and Queen), arrived at Bijayapur in the midst of a hunting expedition and sat in penance.They became aware of Kali Yuga’s approach at that point and vanished. Budha Subba is the Yakthung name for this event. Bamboo shoots without the tuft sprouted from the bows.
-Article written by: Ujjwal Bhetwal for Land Nepal
