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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Swayambhu Purana:

Description of Swayambhu Purana:

Jina shree Raj Bodhisattva had asked Jaya shree about the origin of the Swayambhu; the description of the origin as told by Upagupta Bhikshu to king Ashoka has been narrated in the first chapter of the story of the origin of the Swayambhu. It also gives an account of the prophecy made by Shree Shakyamuni to Maitreya Bodhisattva about the origin of the Swayambhu in the middle of the lotus with one thousand petals planted by Bipaswi Tathagata. At the time of Bipaswi, shree Shakyamuni was famous by the name of satyadharma Bodhisattva. In this chapter also shows the then Kathmandu valley was a big lake habited by Nagas (Snakes).

In Second chapter, as a reply to the question of Maitreya Bodhisattva, when did the Swayambhu come into being over the lotus planted by Bipaswi Tathagata?” Shakyamuni Bhagwan replied that Swayambhu originated at the time of Shikhi Tathagata when he was known as Kshemankar Bodhisattva. That chapter also gives a description of the fruits blessing due to worship of the Swayambhu.

In Third Chapter Maitreya Bodhisattva asks the Buddha, “When was the city made by clearing up the water of the lake resided by Nagas? There upon Shayamuni Bhagwan replied, “When I was known as Parbataksha at the time of Biswabhu Tathagata, a person by the name of Manju Devacharya cleared up the water by destroying the forest of Kuruwa, Chabaha, Suryaghat and Gokarna and established city, made Dharmakar its king and made the city famous as Manjupattan.

Maitreya Bodhisattva asks Shakyamuni Bhagwan about the creation of the places of pilgrimage after the founding of the city of Nepal in the fourth chapter. Then after Shakyamuni Bhagwan explained, “oh Maitreya! At the time when human being had a life of forty thousand years, I was living as Jyotipal Bodhisattva in the city called Kshamavati at Krakuchhanda Tathagata’s place. At time shree Krakuchhanda Bhagwan went to visit Shree Swayambhu. Then he narrated to his community and to the people in general about the origin of the holy pilgrimages Bagamati and Keshawati.

The fifth chapter provides:

I. Th e story of Manilingeswor Manichud, the image of Maitreya Bodhisattva on the hill of Manichud.

II. The story of the salvation of the Prince Gokarna, Gokarneswor , the image of Gagangunj at Gokarna.

III. The story of the suppression of Kulik, the king of Nagas, Kileswor Vaitarag, the image of Samant Bhadra at Changu.

IV. The story of the salvation of Sarbapal Vaidya, Kumbheswor Vaitarag. The image of Vajrapani at Kwonti.

V. The story of Manjugarta, who preferred sweets to learning, Garteswor, the image of Manjushree at the field of Phampi.

VI. The story of Omdiyan acharya, Phankeswor Vaitarag, the image of Sarbanibaran Viskambhi in the lake of Phampi.

VII. The story of the troubles faced by Omdiyan due to the testing of god Ganesh.

VIII. The story of Omdiyan Visualizing the effect of Astasiddhi (mastery of eight Skills). Vikramayaswor Vaitaraga, the image of Khagarbha Bodhisattva at Adeswor.

Thus the fifth chapter accommodates things about eight Vaitarag & the story of the salvation of Takshaka Naga at Punya Tirtha, a pilgrimage at Gokarna; the story of the salvation of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati Gokarna; the story of the salvation of Lord Shiva and his consost Parvati at Shanta Tirtha, a pilgrimage at Guheswori, the story of the salvation of the shepherd Gopal by name at name at Shankar Tirtha, a pilgrimage at shankhame; the story of the salvation of the gambler Din chud at Nidhan Tirtha, a pilgrimage at Lakha Tirtha; the story of the salvation of the ignorant king called Sindhu at Gyan Tirtha, a pilgrimage at Karha river; the story of the Salvation of Koti Karna Sharthabaha, who showed impudence and disobeyed his own mother, at Chintamani Tirtha, a pilgrimage at Teku Dobhan, the story of the salvation of the demon Danasur at Danaga; the story of the salvation o fthe wicked king, minister, the sons of merchant of the country of Gaud at Sulakshana Tirtha, a pilgrimage at Bhajanga, and the story of the salvation of the demon the wife of Danasur, at Jaya Tirhta, a pilgrimage at Nekhu.

The sixth Chapter incorporates accounts of the coming of Dharma Shree Mitra to Nepal to comprehend the meaning of the twelve alphabets mentioned in Namasangiti and the accounts of his being king of Nepal & making of Shree Swayambhu famous by the name of Dharma Dhatu Vagiswor.

The seventh chapter gives an account of how the gods including Indra erected the stups as a fulfillment of the wish of shanty Karacharya to cover up Dharma Dhatu Vagiswor to make bowl shaped dipa over it, & also provides accounts of the establishment of image of gods including Basapur, after invoking them.

The eighth chapter describes about the prophecy of lord Bhagwan as to how the Nepal Valley will face drought for seven year and how Gunakama Deve, as instructed by Shanti Karacharya, Made the rain fall by bringing Karkotak, the king of Nagas. The ninth chapter comprises of the prophecy of lord Bhagwan as to how the twelve year long drought would be put to an and Bandhu Datta, the pupil Shanti Karacharya, King Narendra Dev and Lalit, a farmer serving the king, by bringing lok Natha (the Lord of the world) from Kamaru Kamaksha; if also provides the name of twenty one upa-Tirthas.

In tenth chapter are the story about the Chuda Bikshuni and the highlights about the rules of telling and listening Swayambhu Puran and also the blessing one gets for telling, telling, listening, making others listen, writing or making others write it.

Swosthani Brata:

Swosthani Brata: Month-Long Veneration...

Most of the Nepalese Hindu households have a tradition of reading out the Hindu scripture called Swosthani beginning on the full moon day called Milla-punhi in the bright fortnight of the month called Poush and ending on the next full moon day called See-punhi in the month of Magha in the Vikram calendar. This year, it starts on Dec 31.

Nepalis believe that reading out and listening to the Hindu scripture called Swosthani help them in keeping away evil spirits and inauspicious things from their home. Some women take a Swosthani brata (a day fast) for the whole month. They believe that such undertakings please Goddess Swosthani, and she meets their wishes. Goddess Parvati, believed to be another form of Goddess Swosthani, had undertaken such religious worship to achieve her goal of receiving Lord Shiva as her spouse.

People dedicate this auspicious month of Magha to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. They spend the whole month on in service of and in praise of this divine couple. A month long religious fair is held at the river called Salinadi in Sankhu about 20km northeast of Kathmandu. People venerate Goddess Swosthani and demigoddess Chandrawoti who suffered the consequences of the insult she had inflicted on Goddess Swosthani. Later on, Chandrawoti undertook the Swosthani brata for a month to atone for the sin and she got relief from her suffering and became a demigoddess.

The Nepali version of the Holy Scripture called Swosthani begins with the description of the creation of heaven, earth, divinities, demons, humans, ghosts, animals and birds. After the creation of the heaven and earth, the story goes on telling about the lives of divinities, and how one divinity insulted another. It goes on describing the life of Lord Shiva with his first spouse called Satidevi, and then with the second spouse called Parvati, and then the life of human called Gomaiju, her son Navaraj, and his spouse called Chandrawoti. The story ends with the elevation of Navaraj and Chandrawoti to the status of king and queen by the grace of Goddess Swosthani.

Narration of these stories takes one full month for a person reading out a number of pages for about an hour every evening during the winter month called Magha dedicated to this religious service. The reader performs a small puja to the scripture before opening it to read. A small wicker plate of popcorn and fried peanuts or of any other ready to eat sweet item is set beside the scripture so that it also would listen to the scripture. All household members and neighbors who do not have such a scripture to read or no person to read joining the household members listen to the story of Swosthani. At the end of reading the scripture, the reader makes offerings of the food set aside to Goddess Swosthani and then distributes it to the listeners as the blessing from the Goddess.

After the story of creation of earth, heaven, divinities, demons, humans, animals and birds, the story of marrying one daughter after another of Hindu demigod called Dachhe prajapati begins. Dachhe prajapati had tens of fabulous daughters married to various divinities. Lord Shiva alone remained unmarried among the deities. When Lord Shiva came to know Dachhe prajapati had given his daughters in marriages to deities leaving behind a single senior most daughter with him. Lord Shiva thought that Dachhe prajapati must have set her aside for him to marry her. So, Lord Shiva himself approached Dachhe prajapati for the hands of the senior most daughter called Satidevi. Dachhe prajapati and his wife did not give her in marriage to anybody because they wanted her to be with them during their old age. When Lord Shiva approached Dachhe prajapati with the proposal of marrying Satidevi, he not only rejected the proposal but also insulted Lord Shiva in public. Dachhe prajapati was a conservative Hindu whereas Lord Shiva was a liberal one.

The preserver of the Hindu world, Lord Vishnu, and heavenly king Indra saw urgency in easing the insult inflicted on Lord Shiva, as the Hindu world might be in jeopardy if something would go wrong with Lord Shiva. So, they tricked Dachhe prajapati into giving his daughter Satidevi in marriage to Lord Shiva. This was actually a reconciliation Lord Vishnu attempted to bring about between Lord Shiva and Dachhe prajapati. He, however, never forgot the trick played by Lord Vishnu on him. He also never forgave Lord Shiva for the marriage. So, Dachhe prajapati ignored Satidevi and her spouse after the marriage.

When Satidevi came to know that her father Dachhe prajapati did not invite her to the great fire-offering (Yagyan) he had been performing, she rushed to her father and demanded explanation from the father for not inviting her to such a great event. Dachhe prajapati instead of promising her not to repeat such a mistake, continued to insult Lord Shiva, which Satidevi could not tolerate any more, and she in her extreme anger jumped into the burning fire and ended her life.

When Lord Shiva saw the lifeless body of Satidevi lying on the great fire at the altar, he could not control his anger, too. He cut off the head of Dachhe prajapati and tossed it on the fire. With great sorrow and repentance for the misdeeds of Dachhe prajapati, his spouse pleaded with Lord Shiva to return the life of Dachhe prajapati. His mind filled with pity for her; Lord Shiva picked up the head of a sacrificial lamb and fixed it on the shoulder of Dachhe prajapati with its face on backside, and gave him a new life with the head of a lamb.

Lord Shiva carried the lifeless body of Satidevi on his back, and began trotting around the globe, again posing threat to the Hindu world. Gradually, the corpse of Satidevi began decomposing, and fell one piece of her body after another on the ground creating various deities on the site.

Satidevi reincarnated in Parvati. Satidevi was born again as the daughter of king Himalaya. The king named her Parvati. When Parvati reached puberty; her parents wanted her to marry to Lord Vishnu. However, she developed a wish for receiving Lord Shiva as her spouse. To get her wish met, she undertook a month long Swosthani brata and got married to Lord Shiva as a result. The divine couple has two sons called Kumar and Ganesh.

Ganesh became an elephant-headed because Lord Shiva not being able to recognize Ganesh beheaded him in anger when Ganesh refused Lord Shiva an entry into his own abode. Ganesh was keeping a guard while his mother Parvati was taking a bathe in her chamber when Lord Shiva arrived at Kailash. Lord Shiva could not recognize Ganesh as he had been away from his home called Kailash for several years. By the time, Ganesh had grown quite a bit making him unrecognizable. When Parvati saw Lord Shiva in her inner chamber she realized that something must have gone wrong. Realizing the mistake Lord Shiva sent his attendants to get a head of any beings they met on the way at first hand. They met an elephant and cut off its head, and brought it to Lord Shiva who in turn fixed it on the shoulder of Ganesh.

The divine couple decided to grant a boon to their sons: Kumar and Ganesh, as they have come of age. They called on them and asked them to make a round trip to the Mount Sumeru so that they could bless them with a boon on their return.

Ganesh secured the boon from the parents first despite his vehicle being a lousy rat. Kumar has a peacock as his vehicle whereas Ganesh has a rat. Kumar immediately rode on the peacock and flew to make a trip to Mount Sumeru. Poor Ganesh could not dare to ride on the rat and make an almost impossible trip to Mount Sumeru. So, Ganesh was upset. Seeing his master sad, the rat asked Ganesh the reason for being so sad. Thinking useless to tell his problem to the mundane rat, Ganesh kept quite. However, the rat went on insisting Ganesh on telling him the truth. Ultimately, Ganesh gave in and told him what his parents had said to him. The rat smiled and told Ganesh that it was a very simple thing to do for securing the boon first. Then, the rat said to Ganesh, “Master, please go to your parents, ask them to stand together and then go round them three times and prostrate at their feet and tell them ‘you are my parents and you are Mount Sumeru, too for me.’” Then, Ganesh took the counsel of the rat and went to his parents: Lord Shiva and Parvati; Ganesh did to them what the rat told him to do. His parents were very happy with him, and granted him the boon of the rights to receiving the first offerings. So, none of the Hindu deities accept the offerings made to them without making offerings to Lord Ganesh.

Kumar secured the boon but less significant than Ganesh received. When Kumar came back from the trip to Mount Sumeru; Ganesh has already received the boon. Kumar strongly protested against his parents’ granting the boon first to Ganesh, as he did not meet the condition set by them. However, the parents could not revoke the boon given to Ganesh; they made Kumar eligible to receive offerings before Ganesh but in a simple form. So, the Newar community has a stone carved into an eight-petal form Kumar set at the entrance to their houses, and they bring offerings to him in a leaf plate and drop them on it before going to make offerings to Lord Ganesh.

After having a divine boon, Ganesh himself began making favors to his devotees. The first beneficiary was the family of Shiva Bhakta Brahmin. As the couple was poor and childless, Ganesh made them rich, and then granted the couple a daughter. The couple with a beautiful daughter lived happily for a number of years.

However, a great misfortunate befell them. Shiva Bhakta Brahmin lost his wealth; he had to give her beloved daughter called Gomaiju in marriage to an old man without any possessions of wealth. Gomaiju underwent several kinds of sufferings because she unknowingly antagonized the Lord. She brought up her son, Navaraj with a great difficulty.

Gomaiju revered Goddess Swosthani taking a fast every day for a month; as a result, she not only got relief from her sufferings but also got her son Navaraj crowned a king. At that time the tradition had it that an elephant with divine power went around the city-state to choose a king from among the people. The elephant chose Navaraj for a king.

However, his spouse Chandrawoti because of her ego of being a queen insulted Goddess Swosthani rejecting the blessed food offered by the porters carrying her to the palace. When the porters reached the bank of the river called Salinadi; Chandrawoti stopped the porters to have a break for some time. During the break the porters went to watch the group of people performing worship to Goddess Swosthani. They listened to the story of Goddess Swosthani, received the Goddess-blessed food and saved some of it for Chandrawoti. When the porters came to her she was furious with them at spending so much time on wandering elsewhere. They tried to explain to her where they were and why they took so much time to come back. However, she did not listen to their explanation. She tossed away the blessed food offered to her from their hands.

Chandrawoti suffered the consequences of her insult to Goddess Swosthani. In no time, there was a heavy rain. The river Salinadi swelled up with the water from the rain. The swollen river swept away the porters while crossing the river. She fell down the river. She turned into a stone and remained there in-situ. Nobody could recognize her and nobody offered her any food.

Later on, she realized her sins and to atone for the sins, made offerings to Goddess Swosthani for a month. She not only got relief from her sins but also transformed into a demigoddess by the grace of Goddess Swosthani.

Thereafter, Nepalese people set the tradition of revering Goddess Swosthani, Demigoddess Chandrawoti, her spouse Navaraj and the porters at Salinadi during the month long religious fair in the month of Magha.

Women taking the month long Swosthani brata complete their offerings on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of the Magha month. On this day, they perform purification rites, and they fast for the whole day. In the evening they perform special offerings to Goddess Swosthani. These offerings comprise 108-special bread called ‘achheta’ prepared for making offerings to the Goddess on this occasion. After the completion of offerings to the Goddess they offer these blessed bread first to their husband. If they do not have a husband, they offer the bread to their son, if they do not have a son, to the son of their close friends. If they do not have even such sons, they dispose the bread in a holy river.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Solar eclipse ends:

The longest and the last total solar eclipse of the century that begun at 5.45 am, Wednesday has ended at 7.45 am.
A total solar eclipse was seen from fourteen districts in eastern Nepal including Siraha, Saptari, Udaypur, Dhankuta, Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, Ilaam and Panchthar while the rest of the country witnessed a partial eclipse ranging from 96 per cent in Kathmandu to 75 per cent in western Nepal.
In Kathmandu, the eclipse started at 5.45 am, reached climax at 6.42 am, when 96 per cent of the sun was blocked by moon and ended at 7.45 am. Kathmandu's sky was seen partially dark for a few minutes around 6.42 am.
Eastern towns like Biratnagar and Dharan were dark like in the evenings, reports say. However, the eclipse could not be viewed properly as it was raining in Biratnagar.
In Pokhara, the eclipse started at 5.46 am and reached climax at 6.42 am when 93 per cent of the sun will be covered by moon.

B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board has made special arrangements to view the eclipse by telescope without damaging the eye from Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) premises in Khumaltar, the Kathmandu Mall and Takshashila Academy in Baluwatar.

Hundreds of Kathmandu denizens thronged Kathmandu Mall, Sundhara and NAST office Khumaltar to view the solar eclipse.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal also went to NAST office, Khumaltar to view the eclipse. Some television channels are broadcasted the telescopic view of the eclipse live.

Meanwhile, the government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday in view of the total solar eclipse. The home ministry issued a press release Tuesday declaring a public holiday in all government offices across the country and diplomatic missions in various countries. Educational institutions have also declared a holiday Wednesday. The last total eclipse seen from Nepal was on Jan 22, 1898 and the next one will occur on May 14, 2124. nepalnews.com

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Mandala at the way of Bajrayogini:

Mandalas at middle of the way :
It has been already explained that there is a stone image with three mandalas (round shaped stones) at the northern rim of Mahadeva temple complex outside the Mahadyodhwakha. There are several mandalas also on the way to Bajrayogini temple from the town. They are usually placed on the middle of the way. When people encounter such a mandala they take round in front of such mandalas to pay their respect to goddess Bajrayogini. Due to which, the goddess Bajrayogini capture the mind of devotees at all time and made them for forgetting the tired of climbing steep hill.

Liswa Mataa Bigu Dyo:

Liswa Mataa Bigu Dyo :

Walking about 50m from the junction, the traditional route takes descending to Kolaga. On the western side of path before descending, there is a rest place Kolaga Phalcha. It was constructed during Rana period. This area is also the burial ground for the Jogi cast. On the south east corner of this rest place is a stone image called Liswa mataa bigu dyo where the visitors of the temple, when returning from Gunbihar pay their respect to remark their last good bye to the deities of the Gunbihar. Liswa mataa bigu means to offer light looking behind, that is to say good-bye to Bajrayogini. Especially, on the day of Bichapuja, three days after the end of Bajrayogini procession (Jatra) when people make their visit to the temple for Bichapuja worship, they have to perform worship to Liswamataa bigu dyo on their way back to home.

Source from:
Mr. Harigopal Shrestha Thesis,

SHRINES OUTSIDE THE GATES :

SHRINES OUTSIDE THE GATES :

There are various shrines and small temples outside the both gates. Narayan, Ganesh, There are shrines of Hanuman, Siva linga and small stone constructed Sive temple out side the Dhunladhwakha; and several Siva lingas, sleeping Narayan, Ganesh shrine etc. and a two tiered Mahadev temple outside the Mahadyodhwakha. Due to that Mahadev temple, the age was named Mahadyodhwakha.
Due to these shrines and temples out side the gates, every one who crosses each of these gates feels that he/she is welcoming for going to a holy, religiously important place. Hence it can be said that these shrines and temples have been placed there to show the importance of the Gunbihar.

Gates for Sankhu to Bajrayogini:

Sankhu GATES:
There are two gates to go to Gunbihar from the historical town Sankhu. Both of them are facing north. One who crosses these gates can see the pleasant view of Gunbihar in front of his/her eyes. The returned devotees, when enter these gates, there is broken the visual linkage between the Gunbihar and them. So one who takes Dhunladhwakha pays his final respect to Bajrayogini at the Dhunladhwakha and if one takes Mahadyodhwakha pays his final respect to Bajrayogini at the northern rim of Mahadev temple complex, where a stone image with three mandalas, believed to be the representative of the goddess Bajrayogini has been placed. Those People may also come at this place to pay their respect to the Bajrayogini who are not able to climb the hill or have no time to go to temple of Bajrayogini.

Picnic Spaces's of Kathmandu:

Picnic Spaces :
The spaces in the Kathmandu valley, where the most of people go to celebrate picnic at their leisure days, can be categorized mainly on religious and non religious.

  • Religious picnic spaces :
Religious picnic spaces in the valley are Daxinkali, Gunbihar, Budhanilkantha, Suryabinayak, Changunarayan, Neel Barahi, Godawari, Bajrabarahi etc.
  • Non religious picnic spaces:
Nagarkot, Tribhuwan park (Thankot), Kakani, etc.

Picnic Spaces of Kathmandu:

Picnic Spaces : -
The spaces in the Kathmandu valley, where the most of people go to celebrate picnic at their leisure days, can be categorized mainly on religious and non religious.

Religious picnic spaces : -

Religious picnic spaces in the valley are Daxinkali, Gunbihar, Budhanilkantha, Suryabinayak, Changunarayan, Neel Barahi, Godawari, Bajrabarahi etc.

7.3.2 Non religious picnic spaces: -

Nagarkot, Tribhuwan park (Thankot), Kakani etc.

Historical Documents of Sankhu:

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS:

The original statue of the goddess Bajrayogini is the red-faced, and its replica, which is specially for processing the Jatra (Chairot Festival) at Sankhu, is the yellow faced. They are called by local people of Sankhu in their own language (Newari) as Hyaunkhwa maju (Red faced mother goddess) and Mhasukhwa maju (Yellow faced mother goddess) respectively. They are also called "Gubhadyo". The jungle where the goddess stays is called "Gubhagun" and for going there it is called that "Gubhalay Wanegu". Also the priest "Bajracharya" is called "Gubhaju". The word "Gubha" is nothing more than fast speech form of Gun Baha. Baha is the Newari term for Bahal or Bihar (monastery). Hence Gun Baha is also called Gun Bihar. For the term "Gun", there is more than one view. In Newari language the term "Gun" has two different meanings. One is forest and second is number 'Nine". So there are different views for term "Gunbihar". Some tells it as "Forest monastery" because it lies in the middle of the forest. Others tell it as ninth monastery and also as area having nine monasteries. At past, according to the legend Manishail Mahawadan, there were nine monasteries, nine ponds and nine caves. Therefore, many people assume that from the word "Gun" or nine; it was begun to be called Gunbaha or Gunbihar. Gunbihar is also taken as ninth baha among nine bahas, whether eight bahas are within the Sankhu town. On the Ph.D. Thesis of Bal Gopal Shrestha, it has been questioned that whether the word "Gun" is derived from Sanskrit word "Guna" or not. He has criticized it. He has explained that looking back into the tradition of giving Sanskrit names to Buddhist monasteries such speculation can not be completely denied. Bert Van Den Hoek strongly argued about the possibilities of Gun word being derived from "Guna". As far as written documents prove Gunbaha was already clearly mentioned as "Gun Bihar" but not as "Guna Bihar" during the Lichchhavi time, when the writing of inscriptions in standard Sanskrit was a tradition. At the same time, Gunbaha received a Sanskrit name "Padmagiri Dharma Dhatu mahavihara" that makes it more unlikely if it was called Guna Bihara.
He has further explained that Bajrayogini sanctuary is a great pilgrimage site for both Hindu and Buddhist people. In the introduction to his History of Nepal, Daniel Wright loosely speaks of the Hinduization of Bajrayogini. The sanctuary draws pilgrims from all over Nepal and beyond (e.g. from India, Tibet and Japan).
Nowadays, "Gun Bihar" is called Bajrayogini by those not living in Sankhu, specifically to the red-faced and yellow-faced mothers who are called "Hyaunkhwa-maju" and "Mhasukhwa-maju" respectively by the people of Sankhu. Tamangs (an ethnic group of people) also refer to the goddess (es) as the red-faced and Yellow-faced mothers but in their own Tamang language.

Source from:
Mr. Harigopal Shrestha's Thesis,

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

2day's NEWS:

Govt serious towards fulfilling civil servent' demand:
Finance Minister Surendra Pandey has said that the government is serious towards the demands of the civil servants for an increment in their salary.

In a press briefing held at the ministry Tuesday, Minister Pandey said the demand (of the civil servants) 'is not big' and can be considered.

Reminding the civil servants that the government has increased their allowances substantially, he urged the agitating employees to withdraw their protest and come to the negotiating table to solve the matter amicably.

Responding to criticism that the budget is inflated, Pandey said projections of revenue was made as per the trend seen this fiscal year and that on foreign donations based on the commitments made by the donors for grants and loans.

Accepting the challenges to meet the targets set by the budget, Pandey also claimed the government will implement it well.

Speaking on the occasion, vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Yuva Raj Khatiwada said the size of the budget has unexpectedly increased due to the pressure on the government to address grievances of all sides. He said part of the budget will also be used to prepare the country for its smooth transition into a federal nation.

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