##Prakash Gautam
A historical and religious place Malmala is situated on the lap of Chure Mountain on a small hill attached to the plain of south in Sainamaina-6, Rupandehi. We can get there after 2.5 km drive from Lumbini Gate of Ramapur Kalauni on the east-west highway, 18 km west from Butwal. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to Malmala Temple to worship ‘Malmal Chaura Baba’. Folks believe that if somebody utters malmala in trouble his/her crisis will be away.
The present Chure Hills, with its historical, cultural, religious, ecological and tourist attractions, was a dense forest about 200 years ago. The locals believe that Malmal Chaura Baba, who had been living in the dense forest of Tarai, migrated toward the north (present Malmala) at midnight with his horses and elephants due to the deforestation and increased settlement of the people. In particular, the people of the Tarai, Tharu community used to go to the place every year on Jestha Purna Masi (Fullmoon), take a bath, wash themselves, put on clean clothes, worship Malmal Chaura Baba, sacrifice goats, chickens, pigs, etc. And since khir(rice-pudding) was first offered to the Tharu deity lord Shiva-like Baba, Malmal Chaura Baba, according to the Tharu culture. They believe that Baba rode in a white horses with white turban on his head and hovered around in the hill to attract the tiger’s attention.The Tharu community living in the Terai was particularly affected by the terror of various wild animals, especially tigers. Since tigers are attracted to white objects, this is believed to be the case. So, this place is chosen as a holy place to focus on the tiger that is tormenting itself to get rid of the tiger.
Malmala Devi Temple
There is a belief that people and pets are being protected from various wild animals and especially tigers after remembering this place properly. There is a settlement called Karampasi to the south of the present place where there was a forest. After reaching there, the people of the Tharu community have a tradition of sacrificing pigs and chickens. Karampasi means a shepherd in the Tharu language. It is believed that Karampasi was happy after sacrificing pigs at the site and convinced the Tarai community that the tiger would not be allowed to enter the settlement and its food would be delivered to the forest around Malmal Chaura Baba's place.
According to the elders of the Tharu community, 13 Gurus and other assistant gurus of 36 mauja(villages) called Gorawal Tappa worshipped Malmal Chaura Baba turn by turn as a milkmaid at the site of the Malmala temple and worship Bageshwari in the Karampasi forest. The Tharu community, who are nature priests, believe that after worshiping and offering, they as well as domestic animals are protected from wild animals, especially tigers.
In recent times, with the end of the old generation of the Tharu community, the new generation is showing less interest in it. The culture of the Tharu community, playing the drums and the number of people going out for worship from village to village has almost been stopped. Chaura Baba's protection and worship is increasing by the people of the hill communities. They worship Malmal Chaura Baba as Malmala Devi. Some people believe that Shaktiswarupa Devi disguised as Bhagwati, rode a tiger and came to meet Malmal Chaura Baba there.
Today, the daily vows of worshipers at this temple are increasing. It takes about 20 minutes on foot from the settlement of Terai to reach Malmala located at the 200 meter-high Chure Range from Sainamina Ring Road. It takes about 10 minutes by car from the base. Other smaller roads are also used to reach this temple. All the devotees who walk to the temple and when they reach the upper peak, they view the farming, looking back at the Tarai fields, forgetting the fatigue of climbing. They feel peace and happy.
From far away, old people, youths and children get up in the morning, take a bath, wash themselves, put on clean clothes and go to the place to worship the Malmal Chaura Baba and Goddess Malmaladevi. According to local elders, there is a big difference between previous Malmala and today's Malmala. Earlier, earthen horses and elephants carried by the Tharu community were seen inside and outside the temple. There was a dense forest all around and in the middle was the site of Malmal Chaura Baba, the present Malmala Devi temple. There was a tin-roffed temple earlier built by Mr. Bed Prasad Pokhrel. At that time, the chirping of birds, the roar of tigers, the huya of foxes and the greenery around it really made the periphery of the temple beautiful. Now such a biodiversity has declined. However, two concrete temples have been built in place of tin-roffed temple. In the premises of Malmala, a shed has been built. Worshipping Management Committee has built a storage room. Yuwa maitri Club has built a pigeon house. Namuna Youth Club has created Namuna Shed.
Worshipping management committee and the locals have contributed a lot there. The water problem in this area has been acute for a long time. Everyone has wished that it would be better to bring water to this area, but due to the lack of concrete initiatives, the ability to bring permanent water to the site has been weakened. However, Sainamana Municipality has spent about 45 lakh rupees to supply permanent water to the historic site. A deep tube well has been dug out on the base of Malmala and the water will be supplied through lifting.
It is believed that anyone who has visited the Malmala temple on the Chure hill from the Terai once or has only heard its name or understood its brief history, will be inspired to visit the place again and again. In this way, when starting any new work, or when you lose your belongings, or when you have a crisis in your mind, or when you are in a dilemma, you should remember and call on Malmala, pray in the temple, offer fruit, milk, make vows. It increases your self-confidence, the work will be completed successfully. There is public confidence that there will be an easy way out of any crisis. Thus, the discussion of Malmala has become the center of faith of the common people in comparison to other monasteries.
Thus, the divine power in this holy place is considered by people as the god of their redemption, that is, the god of happiness and sorrow. It has been a common practice for people to take vows in times of crisis and to offer fruits, pigeons and animal sacrifices playing Punche Baja.
Malmala Devi Temple
To renown this historical, religious, cultural and ecological spot, Malmala Integrated Community Development Programme has been founded from 2068BS. The credit for the vision of this programme goes to Mr. Gunakhar Bhattarai, an academic personality of the very place who organized the locals and coordinated with the stakeholders of the Municipality as well as the Province for the development and advertisement of Malmala. The development activity of Malmala was initiated from 5 lakhs donated by Lumbini Sector Tourism Promotion Development Committee. The Programme is monitoring every development project carried out by the local level, Province and Federal government. The contribution of the locals, intellectuals, people,s representatives, industrialists, businesspersons is also equally appreciative.
At present, Malmala has become a site to see as there is a large Malmala Shed for the pilgrims, a Ganesh Temple, Water supply through Solar energy etc. Similarly, the stone -paved stairs have been built from the base to climb up to Mamala temple occupying the distance of about 300 metres.It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to climb. It was the project of Federal government. The flower vases on both sides of the stairs set by Youth Friendly Club have added extra attraction. It has been the selection of youngsters. Now a days, on the day of Saraswati Puja (Basanta Panchami) large number of students of Sainamaina Municipality go to Malmala for the worshipping. So, the necessity of a Saraswati Temple is felt. An eye-catching scenery of the plain from the top of Malmala is very admirable as well as the natural beauty of the forest is even worthwhile. Moreover, the Steeple of the White Stupa of Lumbini can be seen from the top of Malmala.
Some of the ongoing projects of Malmala Area are: A new project of 50 lakhs Malmal Chaura Deewar by Provincial government, Drinking water tank on the top of Malmala, A modern toilet of 15 lakhs etc. Sainamaina Municipality has prepared the DPR of a master project of 80 crores with the motto of making Malmala Buddha Zone in connection to Lumbini. The project aims at the formation of Children’s Park, Shivalik Park, A Holy Pond, A Travellers’ Rest on the base of Malmala by Yuba Maitri Club etc. Municipality has invited NGOs and INGOs to make this project successful.
Mamala Integrated Development Programme has prepared the strategy of developing Malmala Area as The Religious Forest. The community forests of this area have also joined hands together for the development of Malmala. As a whole, the programme has been working for the historical, religious, cultural, ecological aspects of this area and the tourism development. Malmala has the great prospects of tourism and pilgrimage. It can be made a tourist hub and pilgrims’ destination of Lumbini Province.
-Gautam is Teacher of Parroha Sec. School, Sainamaina-4, Rupandehi
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