THE MYSTIC NAG POKKHARI

Kathmandu valley is full of surprises; in fact even after living here for last 7 years I could not unfold all the mysteries of this valley. Kathmandu valley consists of two twin cities Kathmandu and Patan; a third part outside the valley is Bhaktapur another ancient kingdom- 200 years old living civilization. Naturally so much here attracts tourist and therefore tourism is the main industry of Nepal.
In Kathmandu there are many pokhari’s, like Rani Pokhari, Pani Pokhari, Khecha Pokhari, Kamal Pokhari and Nag pokhari. All of them are scattered in the town. Some of them are non functional and filled up for construction of bazaars or houses like Khecha pokhari near New Road. Others still functional like Rani Pokhari having a small temple in the center and is one of the landmarks of Kathmandu. The other functional one is Nag pokhari, near the Royal palace; surrounded by green hedge & flowers a huge water tank filled with muddy greenish water and in the center one huge pole having an emblem of snake in yellow metal. May be gold plated. There is a wide passage all around to take a morning or evening walk. I never had a walk there, nor I could dare to, I have passed Nag pokhari many times on a taxi. Honestly when ever I pass that area I get a sensation of fear and mystery. The whole place seems to be surrounded by mystery. It seems that Nag pokhari has enveloped some mystic ghostly story associated with, I wanted to investigate and I investigated the mystery of Nag pokhari.
In search of mystery I went to Babar Mahal library to find some clues, where I found that nag Pokhari is mentioned even in the oldest history book showing that it was very old. One day as I was walking on New Road, I bumped into chief priest of Pasupatinathji. During conversation he told me that Nag pokhari is haunted by a ghost of Rana Prince.
During the rain of Maharaja Prithvi Narain Sah, The Rana’s who used to be Prime Ministers took over kingdom if Nepal and Maharaja has to take shelter in India.
Rana Jag Bahadur became the king of Nepal and Rana’s ruled for almost three hundred years. This haunting is related to this period only. Rana’s only son Dependra J.B. Rana was a bright student and went to England for his higher studies after that came back to Kathmandu. He was named as the Crown Price by the Maharaja. He was fond of horse riding and every morning he used to go for riding.
One early morning he went for riding around and was passing Nag pokhari where he saw a very beautiful girl around sixteen years with golden wavy hair at her back, she was having her morning bath in the pokhari. He got deeply interested in her graceful movements of her half naked body and almost feelt in love with her at the first site. He got down from his horse and went behind a bush to observe her more closely. From there he watched her every action she also saw him and was giving him sweet glances by turning again and again. Finally he came out of bush and cot her hand and asked who she was a girl or a fairy? She said that her name is Anuja and she lived close by, she asked him who he was. At which he was surprised and said ‘How is it she does not even recognize her Crown Prince, air apparent of the thrown of Nepal. They talked for some time and later promised to meet each other next day.
For almost six month’s they continued to meet each other secretly, as the love intensified finally the news reached the ears of the king Rana Jag Bahadur. He asked his son about the truth in the rumor. His son told him the truth. And finally the king agreed. In next few months they were married. But they did not live happily ever after. At the time of marriage Anuja took a promise from the prince on the Nag Panchami day she will be going out of Palace for 24 hours, without telling her whereabouts, and he will neither follow nor try to know where she goes, otherwise a calamity will occur in their lives and he will have to repent a lot for this incidence, an almost irreparable loss shall occur.
As every thing is fair in love and war the price readily agreed to this condition of Anuja. They lived happily for about six years but every year Prince's curiosity increased and finally in the seventh year of their married life he decided to follow her. Very early around four Anuja left the palace on foot, the prince followed her keeping a distance, she walked toward Nag pokhari, where as she was an Echadhari Nagin as, she descended into pokhari her hind portion got converted into a tail of snake, she swimmed and disappeared deep onto water. Inside was Nag loke where Nag deveta was the king. Anuja was his only daughter and instead of marrying some Nag she chose the prince, Nag King was very annoyed at that and he cured her that once a year she will become nagin and leave her human form for 24 hours and if her husband comes to know about it he shall become blind and shall be killed by the king. Ales the same happened to the Crown prince of Rana’s he lost his eye sight immediately as if bulbs in eyes have fused and by a long sword the nag king beheaded him, as Anuja could not tolerate she also committed suicide.
The Rana king tried to investigate into the matter later he wanted to fill this pokhari but as it was so deep he failed to do so. Ultimately the Rana King got a very heavy fencing made around it and put guards so that no one could go near it. Except once a year on Nag –panchami days when it was open to Public. Some times on full moon night Anuja and the Prince are seen roaming around the pokhari and doing boating in it. Since then every year at least one couple commits suicide by jumping into mystic nag pokhari or is drowned into it by accident. The calamity was repeated every year. Till I lived in Kathmandu

Dr. Akhilesh Chandra Jauhari
M.D.
Professor of Pharmacology