Every ancient Newa: settlement
has original names and not only that name but also the history, story, legends
of the place. But today, with the urbanization, the original names have been
removed and various names have been changed. The process of simplification has
started in the Kantipur news Valley
after people from different parts of the country started settling down and it
became difficult to pronounce the names of the local languages. In this
process, the names of some places have been completely changed and some of the
names have been mispronounced.
Vanga: It is considered to be the
center of ancient Kathmandu i.e. zero kilometer point. The Shivalinga of
Kantishwar Mahadev is considered to be the center of the ancient city of Kathmandu. There are various legends
about why this place, now known as Indrachok, is called Vanga. According to a
very popular legend, the river used to flow in this place first. The two major
rivers of Kathmandu, the Bagmati, and the Bishnumati used to meet at this
place, and here was the confluence of these two rivers. As this place was the
confluence of two sacred rivers at that time, this place is called Hwang and
later became Vanga. In the local language, the combination of two things in one
place is called hwankegu and is named accordingly. According to another popular
legend, another river called Kagmati / Kogimati used to flow at this place and
various other small tributaries used to flow at this place. This place is
called Vangha because of the confluence of rivers.
Kathmandu news, If you look at history, you know that there is a way
to get water from here. Although it is difficult to ascertain the confluence of
Bagmati and Vishnumati, it is found that the Lichchavi dynasty kings who came
from Vaishali in the Lichchhavi period dug palaces in Kathmandu and constructed
ponds by fetching water from different places. At the same time, the Licchavis
also built small and big canals in different places. Historians also say that
the Licchavis, who settled on the banks of the river in Vaishali, built canals
to make the inner city of Kathmandu look like small rivers. Therefore, there is
a feeling that the same flowing canals meet here, that is, Dobhan was here. The
fact that the temple of Shri Seto Machhindranath was established near the
river, the ghats near Akash Bhairav and Kantishwar Mahadev river banks and the
main Shakti Peeth near the river Tarini Bhavani also emphasize that water used
to flow at this place at some point. It is mentioned that there was a separate
ghat area of Tarini Bhavani (Tana Devi) which is closest to the Hanumandhoka
Durbar area, but the remains of ghat and ladder are still left in the corner of
the chole where Taleju Bhavani is.
This place is also called Vangha
because of the three stone urns in this place. Even though these urns are
worshiped as centers of power, experts who have studied the ancient water
resources of Kantipur say that
these urns served as tanks (reservoirs). It is believed that stone tanks were
made in the places where the princes and small canals brought from different
places meet each other and covered them by mixing them and making urns to mark
the place.
The name 'Vangha:', which sounds
simple and a little embarrassing to pronounce, carries the history of this
place in this way. In the same way, behind the names of each place, there are
legends that are disappearing with the new names. According to the locals, the
name of Indrachok was changed to Indrachowk at this time as the idol of Indra
would be tied and displayed during the Indrajatra and Yenya Punhi period events. Currently, it is not possible
to say that the name will be gradually lost only in the conversations of the
local Newas! Since Indra is tied up, if he reaches this place named Indrachok,
he is also stopped. Why is it not called Yasinchok? The idol of Akashbhairav is
also displayed in this place, why it is not called Bhairavchowk? Were these
actions stopped at that time ??
Kathmandu News, Let's use the original names of our place, let's
Search for the history and story carried by that name !!