National Chhanda Diwas/Matsyandranath Ratharohan | छन्द दिवस/मत्स्यन्द्रनाथ रथारोहण | 2080 Baishakh 8 | Hamro Patro

National Chhanda Diwas/Matsyandranath Ratharohan

National Chhanda Diwas is being celebrated today by programs related to the conservation of rhymes and it's usage in the poetry genre of literature. Expressing concern over the declining use of rhymer verses in poetry literature, poet Madhav Viyogi commenced national rhyme day on 20th April 1996 as a campaign of protecting rhyme (Chanda Bachau Aviyana.) Chhanda isthe Nepali and Sanskrit translation of rhyme. The verse is mentioned in the Rig Veda. Regulation of prose writing is done by grammar while the regulator of poetry is rhythm.

Later Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti also accredited this day as national rhyme day. Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti is the government authority to decide festivals, dates and approve festival calendars in Nepal. Various literary events are organized on the occasion of Chhanda Day by reciting rhymed poems in most of the country's literary platforms. This day is celebrated to protect the poetic culture in literature and highlight the style of poetry.

Whenever poetry combines volume or number of characters, punctuation, motion, rhythm, the rhythmic composition is created. Chhanda is also called Padhya and Brita. The composed balance of vowel and consonant brings a pure rhyme in poetry, in this aspect rhyme is an accumulation of sounds. Reciter slows or increases their sounds and manages their rhymes of poetry aligned with the words of poems and their feelings. Rhymes have the power of mesmerizing listeners and give them several opportunities to dwelling inside the open sky of imagination. Contemporary poetry has an increasing trend of decreasing rhymes which is deviating it from the true sense of poetry. Writing in chhanda is not an easy task, one who must write poems must surrender themselves into poetry and words. This day also alarms every poet and creators to have adequate knowledge of words, articulation, and comprehension. It's indeed very challenging to write poems under its preset rules and science, eastern literature defines specific laws into its every aspect of creation and expression.

Every poet should live their poems and every poem should be a reflection of their creator and audiences, merely gathering words is not poetry as there should be rules, science and a stream of feelings that connects everyone.
Meaningful rhyme day.

Bungadyo Rato Machindranath Ratharohan

Kathmandu valley annually commemorates the chariot festival (Jatra) on the glory of Yogi Machindranath since 1600 years and even more. This Jatra lasts for two months starting from Baisakh Shukla pratipada till Asar Shukla Chauthi.

The cultural and religious significance of Jatra is of particular importance, says the cultural expert.

The Jatra, which is one of the most important of Patan and the longest Jatra of the valley has been carrying an undisputable discipline and symmetrical faith prehistoric. Today is the commencing day of this Jatra, my utmost prayers for Machindranath before I begin my write-up by reintroducing Yogi Machindranath through my drab words and naive explanations, forgive me if any wrong judgment.

Who is Yogi Machindranath?
Yogi Matsenyanandrnath is a Siddha who can control the forces of nature, he is hugely observed as a lord of rainfall in Nepal. One who practices Yoga is called Yogi and Yogi Matsenyanandrnath is a Siddha who is also acknowledged for delivering his knowledge to Gorakhnath, Yogi Gorakhnath is hugely worshipped across the globe and Nepali royal clan expresses their large proximity with the rituals in offering and worshiping Yogi Gorakhnath.

Yogi Machindranath and Yogi Gorakhnath.
Go means "Earth" and Rakh means to protect, the entire earth is protected by a boy called Gorakhnath who is not just a disciple but also a son of Yogi Machindranath. There is a very interesting story of the manifestation of Gorakhnath by Yogi Matsenyanandrnath, I will elaborate that story some other day. In Sanskrit Matsenyanandrnath translates to the lord of fishes, Yogi Matsenyanandrnath is Maha svarupa and Matsya Svarupa, he is a founder of Kaula tradition. Let me explain Kaula for you, it is said that Yogi Matsenyanandrnath spent twelve years in a belly of fish in the ocean (this is called "Kula"). Kula is also described as an illusion that is mastered and defeated by Yogi Matsenyanandrnath, "Kaula" is the origin of Vajrayana Buddhism and Kashmiri Shaivism.

oṁ siddha yogī Machindranath nāthāya namaḥ
Machindranath or Machindranath is called Bunga Dyah in local Newa language, recognized by both (Hindu and Buddhists) as an incarnation of Lord Shiva in Hindu and as an incarnation of Avalokiteśvara in Buddhism.

At the beginning of the Jatra of Lalitpur-based Red Machindranath, the idol of Karunamayi is made from the soil of the present Mahepi hill and the spirit of the Karunamayi in the Kalash is established in that clay idol. That idol is washed today, all these rituals happen under delicate supervision and keen involvement of community people. This auspicious chariot is then carried and placed in several avenues of Lalitpur city during these two months of the Jatra celebration, finally, after showing the auspicious "Bhoto" at Jawalakhel this Jatra concludes and the idol is respectfully carried to Bungmati. The ancient village of Bungmati is the birthplace of Yogi Matsenyanandrnath, this is where the holy idol of Matsenyanandrnath rests for the next six months after the chariot festival.

This year is adverse and congregations are forbidden because of the Corona crisis. Lord Matsenyanandrnath have a million Kripas upon us, may his blessings and leadership drive us.

Suyog Dhakal