1. History
During the year 1898 A.D. Mrs Garuddhwaj Ramanuja Dasi and her husband Mr. Govindacharya set out on a holy pilgrimage to Tirumala Tirupati Balaji (India) with a few other devotees from Kathamandu Nepal, on foot, train, bayalgada, tam tam and reached Turupati Tirumala in 8 days.
After worshipping Tirumala Balaji they lighted candle in the evening and organized a joint “Kirtan” program throught of the whole night within the temple premises. When the Kirtan was going on during the “Brahma Muhurta,” a clear voice announced Garuddhwaj Ramanuj Dasi “Take me to Kathmandu and worship.” Garudadhwaj Ramanuj Dasi thought that the clear voice was that of Lord Balaji and told then message to her husband as well as to other devotees of the pilgrimage.
After consulting with swamiji and Mahant available in Tirumala Devasthan a small statue of Balaji was brought to Kathmandu and they started worshipping at home. Again in 1900 A.D, because of blessing of Balazi she went to Tirumala and brought Sri Devi, Bhu Devi and Sri Niwasha Bigraha. A large room was constructed within her home premises and they began to worship God with complete surrender.
2. H.H Totadri Swami’s Advice
During 1930 A.D, again for the third time, she visited South India Tirupati Tirumala Balaji and Vaishnav Guru Totadri Swami, the 25th H.H Vanamamalai Totadri Jeeyar Swamiji. The 25 H.H Vanamamalai Totadri Jeeyar Swamiji advised her to expand the area of Devasthan and constructed large Temple and establish the huge achal bigraha and also establish the bigraha of Shree Ramanuja Swami and Sathakopa Swami and begin regular pooja and Archana. Under the advice of their holyness Totadri Swamijes the activities of this temple is being run. After receiving advice from Totadri Swamiji, for the first time, Shree Vaisnav Devasthan was confirmed to be constructed at Gausala, Kathmandu in an area of 8898.5 Sq.ft. (One ropanee and ten anas) of land which was donated for the temple. The construction of temple began with public participation. Devasthan began to run according to the rules and laws of the government. Utsava bigraha was worshipped till the large bigraha of God Balaji was available.
3. Achal Mul Vigraha
In 1951 Large Achal Mul vigraha of God Balaji and Vigraha of Aalwar and other swamiji were brought from South India. Acharya Swamiji was invited from Ayodhya and Varanasi to establish (Prana Pratistha)of Mula Vigraha, Aalwar and Swamiji’s vigraha by Paancharatra Aagam vidhi on the special muhurta and then the regular Pooja, and Aaradhana began in the temple. This was the first Venkatesh Valaji temple in Nepal.
4. Temple Devlopment Plan:
The temple (Devasthan) built in 1949-51 A.D was congested as the Vaisnav devotees in Nepal were increasing rapidly and the temple was built without any planning. It was expanded according to demand of time. Such expansion spoiled the beauty of temple. Further, several other difficulties and problems came by which made worshipping more difficult. In the year 2007 A. D (2064 B.S. Magh) a new management committee was established for the physical construction of temple and two important decision were made by this committee. First decision was to get the extra land near existing Devasthan and construct a Dharmasala. The other decision was to shift Vagawan to the Dharmasala’s hall for a few years and demolish the very old unsaved infrastructure (Temple) structure of Devasthan and make master plan to construct a new Devasthan building with the help of well wisher and devotees. With the financial support of Swami Ram prapannacharya more land (nearly 3500 sq.ft.) was procured to construct Dharmashala a four storey building with basement (worth Rs .20 millon) has been constructed. Currently Lord Balaji has been shifted in a large Hall of Dharmasala (Balalaya) and the regular Pooja Aradhana is going on.
5 At Present:
At the end:- In 1888 A.D Lord Balaji ‘s Voice which stated ‘Take me to Kathmandu and worship’ has materialized. At present there are one million shree vaisnavs all over Nepal and around 2.5 million within Kathmandu Valley. Bhagawaat Aradhana is being conducted according to Shree Vaisnav rituals in the Devasthan. Regular Pooja, Aradhana, Kaikrya, Pujari sewa, Bhog Prasad etc. are being arranged and managed by the help of industrialists, businessmen and local people. The income and expenditure of this Devasthan is audited by authorized auditor every year and is presented to general assembly and concerned government official.
Devasthan even serves foreign devotees (mostly from India )who come to Nepal in order to visit the temple of Muktinath and Pashupatinath.
This Devasthan is registered in Nepal as non government unified religious trust. The members of Devasthan management committee expect financial co-operation from all social and religious organizations to construct of new Temple Complex as per master plan estimated cost of new Devesthan temple complex is nearly 50 million NRs, hostel accommodation for 30 vaishnav students is also designed in the building who will get free fooding and lodging and join Ved vidyashram for schooling near by Pashupatinath premises construction of Devesthan building has related with a free engineering service from a CAGE consulting Pvt. Ltd. and this project is under construction by Marga Devi Nirman Sewa Pvt. Ltd. on the cost to cost basis. Historic maps of the Devasthan building as well as a copy of the map of new temple (Devasthan) have been launched to draw the attention of donors and well wishers.
Jai Sri Mannarayana
Thank You