Rohit Dev Manandhar is an MA student in Museology and Buddhist Collections at Lumbini Buddhist University, Nepal. His research interests include documentation of and research about cultural objects.

The image of Bhagirath is a common sight around Kathmandu Valley, especially below the sunken water spouts (hiti). Hiti are a system of complex water distribution systems devised during the Licchavi period (4th to 9th century), conveying filtered water from the vicinity of the valley to the inhabited core neighborhoods, generally for household purposes.

According to the popular mythology, a king from Ikshvaku Dynasty learned about the dreadful endings of his forefathers. He then decided to bring Ganga (the holy river Ganges) to earth, for which he did hard penance because only Ganga could liberate the ashes of his ancestors to attain Nirvana (mokshya). However, Ganga agreed to descend from heaven to Earth. It is Bhagirath who is credited for the initiation; hence, we see the deep association of Bhagirath with water spouts around the Kathmandu Valley.

The Licchavi were rulers of North India (where the Ganges River flows) in a region called Vaishali, from where they fled to Kathmandu, which could be attributed with their deep link to the Ganges River and Bhagirath. A few tributaries of the Ganges can be traced to Nepal and the eventual terminus is the river Ganges in India, which has a momentous importance for the Hindu religion as well. In the Kathmandu valley, the installation of the image of Bhagirath underneath stone sprouts seems to be favoured, and was continued during the reign of Malla rulers as well.

 The particular image of Bhagirath shown above is from a stone sprout at ground level near the Bagh Bhairab temple of Kirtipur. Such water sprouts are called Jaru hiti which is not a part of the distribution channel, but a manual filling system for travelers to drink from. These used to be filled by the community every morning when they fetched water from the well or sunken water sprouts. The image of Bhagirath that can be seen below the tap is somewhat atypical, as he cannot be seen holding the conch shell, his iconographic feature. However, the positionality of the image below the tap allows us to identify it as him. Lying on the busy crossroads of Kirtipur, where many travellers doubtless cross, the positionality of this Jaru Hiti could also be justified. Today, the hole from where the water was dispensed has been replaced by a modern tap; thus, an aspect of modernization and practicality could also be observed. During the old days, a wooden stick was inserted in the opening, which clogged the pipe and prevented water from flowing when not in use.

The reason for selecting the image of Bhagirath as a gem was to accentuate its prominence and interpretation, as it rarely receives the consideration of bystanders because of its position below the intricately and elaborately carved stone sprouts. These spouts seem to hide and minimize the focal point of this relief sculpture of Bhagirath and the meaning it conveys. With many restaurants, hotels, and homes trying to blend modern amenities with traditional art forms as fusion, it has become a norm for conventional water taps to be replaced by small replicas of hiti. However, they do not incorporate certain ‘neglected’ elements, such as the image of Bhagirath. To select Bhagirath as a yaksha figure on the hiti would be fascinating, as Bhagirath is not just a decorative motif or a human figure.

References:

The Creatures of the Rain Rivers, Cloud Lakes: Newars Saw Them, So Did Ancient India by Gautama V. Vajracharya, 2009