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Nepal JyotishTraditional Science
Deity Names

Ishaneshwar

The story of Ishaneshwar appearing through a ploughshare and granting Ghimire a son.

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Ishaneshwar

A Brahmin of the Ghimire clan from the village of Chisanku sent his ploughman with oxen to plough the vast and fertile wasteland of the Bensi at Karaputar in Lamjung.

As the ploughman began to plough the field, the ploughshare struck a hard rock lying beneath the ground. The moment the share struck, a terrible flame of fire and a thunderous roar burst from the ground. By that divine radiance the ploughman and the oxen fell unconscious on the spot and died.

That very night Lord Shiva appeared to the Brahmin Ghimire in a dream and said: "That barren field is my place of penance. Struck by the ploughshare, I was awakened. There is my divine stone there; take it out and establish a temple."

The Brahmin Ghimire dug there and had the temple of Lord Ishaneshwar established.

Because the Ghimire couple were childless, in accordance with Ishaneshwar's command his wife, on the day of Mahashivaratri, held an unbroken nine-wicked lamp in her hand, stood wakeful all night, and performed a rigorous fast. By the grace of Ishaneshwar Mahadev they obtained a radiant son. That is why devotees worship Ishaneshwar Mahadev of Karaputar with great reverence as 'Santaneshwar', the fulfiller of wishes.

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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PashupatinathThe story of how the Jyotirlinga of Pashupatinath was found when a cow spilled its milk on the earth, and how the land came to be named Nepal.GokarneshwarThe story of how Shiva's horn, in deer form, broke and the Gokarneshwar linga was established.IndreshwarThe story of the Indreshwar linga, where Indra and Shachi performed penance for the atonement of Ahalya's curse.LukumadyoThe story of how, to hide from Bhasmasura, Shiva came to Nepal, ate liquor and meat, and became Lukumadyo.SuryavinayakThe story of Suryavinayak, where a dead infant was brought back to life by the grace of Shiva and Ganesha.Bhimeshwar (Bhimsen)The story of how Bhimsen, when the porter's secret was revealed, appeared in stone and became Bhimeshwar.