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Nepal JyotishTraditional Science
Deity Names

Lukumadyo

The story of how, to hide from Bhasmasura, Shiva came to Nepal, ate liquor and meat, and became Lukumadyo.

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Lukumadyo

A demon named Bhasmasura performed severe penance and received a boon from Lord Shiva: "Whomever I place my hand upon the head of shall be instantly burned to ashes."

Having received the boon, the arrogant Bhasmasura sought to conquer the world, and with a wicked desire to win Parvati, he advanced to place his hand upon the head of Lord Shiva himself. To save his life, Shiva fled and arrived in the Nepal Valley.

The people of the Newar community of the valley hid Shiva in the refuse bin of their house (a hidden place), and protected him by feeding him liquor, meat, and eighty-four kinds of delicacies.

Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini and began to perform a captivating dance before Bhasmasura. Enchanted by Mohini's beauty, Bhasmasura, imitating the dance, ended up placing his own hand upon his own head, and by his own boon he was burned to ashes.

After the destruction of Bhasmasura, Shiva safely emerged from the refuse bin. Because he had remained hidden in the refuse bin, this form of Shiva in the valley came to be called 'Lukumadyo' (the Hidden Mahadev), and the tradition began of offering him garlic, liquor, and meat in special worship on the day of the Pasachahre festival.

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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