Butterflies’ Myth and Cultural Beliefs on the Origin of Nawa Durga Goddesses in West Nepal

Abstract

Different views and beliefs can be found regarding the origin of Hindu gods and goddesses on this earth. In many beliefs, animals are mostly associated with the origin and incarnations of these Hindu deities. Many people believe that the small creatures are celestial entities with cultural, mythical, and symbolic significance in human society. They are regarded as the departed people’s souls and spirits in various cultures. The nine sisters of the Hindu goddesses, or Nawa Durga Goddesses, are said to have emerged as nine butterflies from a pit in the Dolpa district of West Nepal. Four of them flew to other places and established themselves as the Goddesses Durga under different names like Kanika Sundari Bhagwati in Sinja of Jumla District, Bageshwori Devi in Nepalganj of Banke District, and Khairabang Bhagwati in Salyan District. Goddesses Bala, Tripura, and Sundari remained in the same place of origin, and one butterfly settled on a nearby hill as a Goddess Malika. People have equal faith in all these goddesses, worshipped by thousands of devotees every year. The investigation’s second focus is on the relationship between the Ram Mandir (temple) and Battisputali (32 butterflies), a locality name with its origins in a forest close to Kathmandu. Based on information collected from secondary sources, several spiritual concepts regarding how the colors of butterflies predict the future of individuals have also been mentioned. This article has been prepared based on interviews, published records, online searches, and site visits to the temple in Kathmandu.