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Nepal JyotishTraditional Science
Goddess Names

Bhadrakali (Lumadi)

The story of how the goddess Lumadi, appearing as a girl found by a Jyapu, protected a king tormented by enemies.

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Bhadrakali (Lumadi)

In ancient times, when enemies attacked the kingdom of King Chandaketu from all four directions, the king was forced to live in hiding with his two queens for twelve years.

Seeing the king in such peril, the tantric Bandhudatta went to Kamanigiri, performed severe austerities to the goddess Bhadrakali, and brought the goddess to Kathmandu for the protection of the city. But because the king did not appear for the worship preparations, Bandhudatta left the goddess to rest in the middle of a field and went to search for the king.

At that time the goddess Bhadrakali assumed the form of a hungry and thirsty little girl. A simple Jyapu who had come to work in the field saw the girl, took pity on her, carried her in his kharpana, brought her to the Nawalim field, and shared his midday meal of roti and jand with her.

When the Jyapu finished his field work and returned, the girl had vanished, and in the meal basket shining golden rotis remained. The Jyapu understood that the girl was the goddess herself. Because he had given the golden roti (called lu madi in Newari), that goddess came to be called "Lumadi Ajima" (Bhadrakali).

Bandhudatta and King Chandaketu established a grand shrine of Bhadrakali right there. After the goddess's divine radiance spread, all the enemies fled in terror, and peace and prosperity again prevailed in Chandaketu's kingdom.

Note: These are traditional Nepali folk tales (kimbadanti), passed down orally through generations. They may or may not reflect actual historical events, but they are told and believed as part of Nepal's cultural heritage.

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More from Goddess Names and the threads this story shares.

Vajrayogini (Hyaukhwamaiju)The story of how Vajrayogini manifested in fiery form from a vajra that fell on a cliff, and how the town of Sankhu came to be founded.ChandeshworiThe story of how the goddess Chandeshwori appeared to slay the demon Chanda.KankalimaiThe story of how the goddess Kankalimai was established at the place where a skeleton was found after Simroungarh was destroyed.Indrayani Devi (Lutimaru Ajima)The story of how Lutimaru, humiliated at a feast, assumed a divine form and became Indrayani Ajima.Akashyogini (Bijaswori)The story of how a maiden flying through the sky was halted by Vajracharya's mantra and came to be known as Akashyogini.TalejuThe story of Taleju, whose temple Nanyadeva built after finding the yantra of Tulaja Devi in the Sarayu.