King Salhesh is the pride of Madhesh

Article by: Dineshwar Gupta

Many communities are inhabitant in Siraha district also, which lies in Mithilanchal region. Everyone’s tradition seems to be related with folk god. Amongst the folklores of this district, the most popular is the folklore of Salahesh. The whole periphery of this folklore seems to be in Siraha.

Siraha being the periphery of Salahesh folklore is based on historical facts. Salahesh is not an imaginary character but was considered as public hero of his region. He became reverend / adorable due to his valor / heroism, patriotism and leadership strength. He was follower of non-violence. He became king of that region due to his physical strength and wisdom. He provided security to people of his region and subjugated assaults by other powers.

He used to understand everyone’s problems and then resolved them. Therefore he became very popular amongst general public. In Salahesh folklore there is a description– “In a day, Salahesh used to take bath in Manikdaha, plucked flower from garden near Lahan, played wrestling in Silhat arena, worshipped family goddess in his birthplace Mahisotha, and after that reached Kanchangadh to listen to his people’s problems”. Salahesh folklore is described in Maithili language as below: - Khan Khan Rahai Chhi Bailka Pahadme Khan Rahai Chhi Sarar Bagme, Manikdahame Snan Karait Chhi Magai Chhi Ta Ha Hi Maliniyan Ke Khatir, Gath Pakariyame Maiyake Sumirai Chha. - Long ago there used to Bailka Pahad (hill) (presently this hill lies in Udaypur district, north of Saptari). Long ago I used to go to Sarar garden.

I used to took bath in Manik Daha (lake) and after that worshipped Devi (goddess) in Pakariya Gadh (fort). But I keep on running away from these people. They are not ready to leave me. All those places whose names are mentioned in Salahesh folklore are situated in Siraha district, e.g. Mahisotha, Pakariyagadh, Kanchangadh, Taregana, Manikdaha and the Salhesh Phulbari (garden). These Salhesh folklore related places of archaeological importance in Siraha district still exist as historical places.

Rajmahisotha : Mahisotha is an archaeological site of Siraha district. This place is adjacent to Siraha Bazaar and situated on the north of Bazaar. Some parts of Siraha Bazaar also fall in Mahisotha – 7. According to folk belief, this place is related with Salhesh folklore. In the north of Mahisotha settlement, there is a hillock spread over 500 feet round area. Adjoining this hillock there is a big pond. That pond, which is spread in 2 Bighas and 9 Katthas looks very ancient. There is one temple in the remaining part of ancient Gadh.

According to local old people, this temple is supposed to be 5/6 hundred years old. Inside the temple, there is a 10 feet high elephant replica and an idol of Salhesh has been installed on the seat on the back of that elephant. Adjacent to this, Moti Ram and Buddheshwor are riding on horses. On one side of the elephant Dinamalini is standing with flower basket. According to the local residents, earlier about five/seven hundred years ago a renowned king named Salhesh used to reign there. It is said that this place was established by the same king. It is also said that Salhesh had conquered this region with his physical strength, became king and established his capital in this place.

When we see at the ruins of Gadh (fort) at this place, we can see pieces of bricks. People complain that a team from Archaeological Department had also come to observe/ investigate this place but until today no excavation has been carried out at this place Pakariyagadh: This historical place is situated near the hill side and is located on five kilometer north distance from important Lahan Bazaar of Siraha district. In this place there is an archaeological site which is spread over 1500 feet round area.

It can be easily deduced that this place was some king’s Gadh (fort) in ancient times. According to local folk belief, this archaeological site of Pakariya was king Kuleshwor’s palace. Therefore, if excavation is done there, king’s throne can be discovered. Ruins of wall made of bricks are seen around the Gadh (fort). According to local residents, some years ago some bricks with a size of 10 inches in length and 2 inches in thickness were found in that region. Pieces of bricks are found in plenty near the Gadh (fort).

One can assume that this place could once belong to a great courageous king. There is one temple in the Gadh (fort) and another temple on the east side of the pond. In this temple, an idol of King Salhesh is also installed. In that temple there is also an idol of King Salhesh riding on a horse. In Pakariya Gadh, there is an idol of King Kuleshwor riding on a horse. In that temple there is also an idol of King Salhesh riding on a horse. In Pakariya Gadh, King Kuleshwor is worshipped. Patari: The Patari pond, which lies in the Laxmipur VDC of Siraha district, is a place of historical importance. It is said that the younger brother Harisingh Dev of King Kuleshwor used to live here. At present, there is Harisingh Dev’s palace in this place. According to local folk belief, there used to be idols of king and queen at this place. They don’t look like idols now but two black stones are definitely worshipped.

These stones seem ancient by look. In front of the palace in this place, there is an ancient pond. The devotees coming to observe Salhesh Fulbari (garden) festival reach in that place to take bath, and those who don’t have children make wishes for children. Procedurally, the person who wishes for children take a dip in the Patari pond and whatever object they find down there they have to run with that object in wet clothes. After they reach some distance they change clothes and return home. According to the folk belief, one is blessed with children by taking bath in that pond. A fair is held in this place on 2nd Baisakh. If this place can be excavated, some new findings could be brought in public. Manikdaha: Another historical place related to folklore of Siraha district is Manikdaha. Although this is a historical place, it is considered as cultural place. This lies in Govindpur VDC which is at 14 kilometer distance in north-west direction from Lahan of Siraha district.

This Daha (lake) is in the east direction from Salhesh temple of Mahisotha. Regarding the history of this lake, some say Sen King Manik Sen of Choudandi had made this lake and some say this is an ancient lake which had been renovated. Before the unification of Nepal, this area was Sen Dynasty King’s region. Somewhere nearby this lake there was a place called Ambarpur. This later was established as the headquarters of Saptari. The Sen Kings of Choudandi used to stay in this place for some months to escape winter colds. It may be possible that the Sen Kings were charmed by the beauty of this Manik Daha, renovated the lake and named it Manik Daha. In present times, that daha (lake) is more of religious importance than its historical importance.

There is this belief in Siraha district; folk hero Salhesh used to take bath in Manikdaha every day, then used to pluck flowers from Raja garden near Lahan, and then used to come to Mahisotha and worship royal goddess and Kamalaji. Nearby this lake, there used to be a clean platform, where King Salhesh used to sit, listen to public’s problems and solve them. This is how it is described in the Salhesh folklore. Salhesh Phulbari (Garden): Salhesh Phulbari can be considerd as the ancient place of Siraha district. In fact, this place is considered as a religious place. Public also consider this place as cultural place. This place is situated in the south of highway that stretches to the west from Lahan Municipality. This place, which is well known by the name of “Raja Phulbari” (Royal Garden), seems like a very ancient forest.

People believe that this forest in 9 Bighas was garden of King Salhesh. If we see this garden from some distance, this looks full of natural beauty. In the temple inside the garden, there are two Gahabars (temples). The first Gahabar is of King Salhesh and other one by its side is Malini temple. Inside the Gahabars, beautiful idols of Salhesh and Malini have been installed. According to the priest of Gahabar, there was a glass well behind the Gahabar and the water seemed to flow like a river. Nearby the Gahabar there is a tree named Haram.

An interesting thing here is, in that tree named Haram every year on the last day of Chaitra month one flower blooms for a day in its branches. That flower looks like a garland by look. And on 2nd Baisakh that flower dries up by itself. The sudden flowering in a flower less tree and drying up after 1ST Baishakh by itself, sounds to very exciting and unbelievable. But this is a fact; she keeps on hanging on the branches of Haram that is nearby the temple. She comes in the form of a flower and cries in the search of Salhesh. The hanging of this flower during the non-flowering period is quite inquisitive, and this is fitting with folk belief. This sort of seven hundred years old tradition is seen in Salhesh Phulbari.

There is nothing to excavate in Salhesh Phulbari. This is a forest and in this historic forest a big fair is held on 1ST Baishakh every year. Hundreds of thousands of devotees from India come to observe this fair. This place can be made a tourist centre. There is an open ground called Silhat arena in the north-west corner of the Salhesh Phulbari. People say that Salhesh used to play wrestling with his brother Motiram and his seven hundred wrestlers. In present times, two temples have been constructed in the place called arena.

On the west side of arena there is first temple facing east and inside this temple there is an idol of Salhesh sitting on chest. On the left and right sides of this idol there are small but attractive idols of Malini, Radona and Kusama. Besides this, on the east side of the arena another west faced temple has been constructed; inside this temple there are idols of King Kuleshwor and his brother Harisingh Dev riding on horses. This place is known as the cultural place of the district. On 1ST Baishakh a fair is held in the arena. Thousands of pilgrims come from India to observe this fair. This place also can be developed as a touristic place. Gupta is FNJ President of Siraha