Kuragraphy of Names and Naming Practices in Nepal

Folklore: A Myth story of the Rautamai
- Kishor Subba (Limbu)

Photo: Kishor (Fieldwork 2018)

.... There had never been a temple here before.efore. It was abotime that shepherdsepherds used to bring sheep from Rumjatar and Okhaldhunga districts to graze here at the time.trict. Even now, in the winter months, they bring their sheep to grazeAnd a Bhujung Gurung brought sheep herds from Rumjatar, and there is a plain space on the pond's evening shore where Bhujung Gurung holds his sheep.plain. He made a shelter under the big tree and went to search for Thhadond possessed supernatural abilities when he retrieved fromater from the pond and wenttheeck.power. He might use the polluted bamboo utensil to fetch It was a miracle that had happened to him, and he couldn't turn back the track to the location where Keepers had kept his belongings.pt his When he got into big trouble, the area where he kept his sheep was compempty.  empty.empwas He got surprised,  where his herds of sheep, things, and belongings were gone.

What to do now? Where should I look for it? Then Bhujung Gurung wandered towards the village. He shared with the villagers what had happened to him: "It was a miracle with me, this and this." My belongings and sheep had vanished, and I had no idea what had happened. I must have done something bad. I don't have an idea; what should I do now? I am finished. "There were about three or four hundred sheep, and they had all vanished." And the villagers said, "Well, you kept the sheep there, in the sacred head of the Rautamai." You might use your polluted water-carrying vessels to fetch water. The goddess of the pond would be unhappy with you. So now you must offer her sacred worship as well as a pure thing to worship. And beg the goddess to return all of your belongings in their original condition. "You take fire, sandalwood, and cow milk and offer her as much as you can for worship; then you will get your things back."

Photo : Kishor (Fieldwork 2018)

Then, Bhujung Gurung reached the pond and worshipped accordingly. The villagers said, "Oh Lord, Oh goddess, I may have done something wrong. I may not know. Forgive me. I will serve you, worship you, and offer you a holy female sheep. Oh, I'll do other things here as well! Goddess, you don't have a temple here to stay. I'll make it for you.

After the worship, he goes to the same place where he kept the sheep. All of his belongings were in their original locations, and the sheep were content. The dogs are there. Following that, Bhujung Gurung decided to back up his sheep herds from there. He turned his sheep back to Rumjatar, and he immediately came to the Rautamai to offer his promise. He said, "Oh, such a powerful goddess; yes, I have to do something here for you," and Bhujung Gurung doesn't have children. He prays for the child: "Oh goddess, let me have a child." Oh, Goddess, you don't have a place to live here. "I will build a temple," said the goddess, and he brought manpower from Rumjatar to build the temple, and he made a boundary fence around the temple. Then he had children with the blessing of the goddess.

And then there is a Gurungdhara (a water tap by the name of Gurung). Gurungdhara has also been built by Bhujung Gurung. The descendants of the Bhujung Gurung used to come to visit the Rautamai. They were sisters or daughters. They came there sometime before. They're old—really old. One was married, and another was unmarried.

Photo: Kishor (Fieldwork 2018)

Bhujung Gurung's great-grandson lives in Kathmandu. He came there too. He told me that "we come from." We are the descendants of Bhujung Gurung. Even now, when they get up first, they still worship Rautamai. Bhujung Gurung's great-grandson MohanJung Gurung came to say: "Take care of the place that was made by our grandfather." He donated thirty thousand rupees to build infrastructure there for the visitors. If the expense of the infrastructure costs more, we can make a call to him. He was promised to provide the rest. And the cost of the infrastructure was about forty thousand. But we didn't call him because the organisation has some funds. That was possible to build.
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There is a temple at the foot of Rani Bhalaya (a tree) on the northwest bank of the pond. The main priest of the temple is Magar, and his assistant is Chhetri. The temple is always open. You can worship whatever you want. According to the Nepali calendar, there will be a big fair in Baisakh (the day of the new year) on the 1st of Baisakh. Devotees who are served by female goats and pigeons will also come from far and wide in India. They will come to perform worship, recitations, offerings, prayers, and the like.

Source: Dhrit Bahadur Adhikari (67) Rautamai, Udayapur, Nepal.
Fieldwork Recording transcribe (2018)