Vedic Religious Institution Since Pre Independence Era
The ethnic communities have distinct language, culture, customs and architecture, largest ethnic community provide vibrant cultural presence and warm cordiality of the rural people never fails the mesmerize one. Eearly Lingsey was place of Purohits and Priest but the only place of worships was the Mulkharka Lake ( Manokamana Pokhari). Saligram (Stone) and Shivalinga were placed inside the Lake with the faith by the priest and Purohits enchanting the Veds Mantra. All the Villager use to go there in any occasion for the worship of God.
History of Hareswar Shivalaya Mandir began with the Quote of Saint Hari Prashad Subedi “Yatra Shivalaya Nasti tatra samasanmewa” ( where there is no Shiva Temple, the place is like Graveyard). Gandhiyan Ideologist, the then Vedic saint Hariranga, from Luing Sikkim (Kingship) advice to build a Shiva temple to spread spiritual learning and conservation of Vedic literature and Hindu culture. On the mean time Pandit Shiva Shankar Niroula come here from his higher learning on Vedic culture and Hindu Rituals, took the soul responsibility to build the temple in Lingsey in the year 1944.
On this context Meeting was conducted on 4th December 1944 the all the representative from Lingsey Lingseykha, Kagey, Pabak, Pedong, Khamdong Aritar, Rhenock where present. Meeting conclude that Hariranga Mahayagya had to be held in the Funeral Yard ( Ghat) of the of the surrounded area called Ravang Dovan to destroy the evil spirit of the human being. Outstanding amount from the Hariranga Mahayagya, amounting Rs. 11 and 5 Ana to be being invest in the Construction of Shivalaya Temple at Lingsey. The construction began with this amount.
|Meeting Written on 4th December 1944|
In 15 January 1934 devastating earthquake destroys the man and material in the region and villager felt that the construction of the Shiva temple is only safeguard of the village from natural calamity. So, a Yagya (religious Ceremony) was organized to overcome but now it is a story only no evidence found. The evidence tells us that the faith on religion was the main concept to build the religious institution. Construction had begun with the donation of cash and kind from the entire region in 1944.
Narvadeshwar Shivalinga was brought from Narvada River (Now in Maharastra) is still worshiping by faith. Some of people donated land for the temple and some gold also donated for the Gajur (pinnacle) of the temple.
Along with the Inauguration of Hareswar Shivalaya Temple, the Hareswar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya also started in same year on 14 August 1946. Shiva Aaradhana (Prayer) could not complete by any means so the establishment of the Sanskrit School and reading and performing the Vedic rituals and Shiva Stotras (Rudri Path) is bid more for the completion of Shiva Aaradhana. So the Institution begun with the Headmastership of Devicharan Sapkota and then Vedic Teaching came in the existence in Lingsey. He was the First Pujari (priest) of Hareswar Shivalaya Temple as well as First Sanskrit Teacher of Hareswar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in the Year 1946. Several Sanskrit intellectual in the different post of Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and entire North Bengal were the Product of this Institution. The Institution has affiliation with Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) New Delhi and grants aid to run the Sanskrit college.
List of principal of Hareswar Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Lingsey (1946-Till Date)
1. Devi Prasad Sapkota (1946)
2. Bishnu Bhakta Gautam
3. Devi Prasad Pokhrel
4. Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal
5. H.P Bhandari
6. U.C basistha
7. Krishna Prasad Dahal
8. Thakur Prasad Adhikari
9. Gayatri Prasad Niroula
10. Smt.Bindhya Niroula
11. Khilanath Adhikari
12. R.P. Upadhaya
13. Trilochan Subedi
14. Giridhari Poudyal
The architectural framework of the Entire Building is based simple wooden and Cement, based on Hindu art and Sculpture. Statue of different animals and birds character of different Purans are the main attraction the Temple. Ghesela (Mangolian) was the main sculptor of the entire sculpture and statue. Depiction of the Ashok Chakra (National Emblem) in the wall of Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya was the perfect example of Nationalist Sentiment of the then people of Lingsey before Independence.
Sarada Vedic Sanskrit Library
Along With the Establishment of the Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva and the Vedic Learning Center, Sanskrit Library also came to an existence in the same year 1946. Library has full books of 18 Purans, 108 Upanishads, 4 Vedas, different books of Hindu Rituals and Sanskrit Literature and Grammar.
Books were donated by the different institution from the whole country as well as some personal donated books can be found the library. Evidence show us District collector of Darjeeling sanction the grant of Amount Rs. 1000/- for the purpose of Book in the year of 1962.
|Written documents in 1946|
The establishment of Library was inevitable because the Sanskrit learning was impossible without the handful of books. So the then intellectual felt the necessary of the Library which can fulfill the reader’s and learner’s wants.
Now it is the center of Sanskrit learning of Hindu Rituals and Sarada Vedic Library Fulfill the Demand of the Entire Region of Sikkim and North Bengal. Providing Books from Library only for the Vedic Hindu rituals, Purans and other Yagya since its establishment.
Enrollment of Pupil of the Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya increasing in every session because of the study material provided by the Institution and the library. Hostel Facility is one the cause of drifting students towards the Lingsey for higher Sanskrit Learning from the abroad i.e. country like Nepal and Bhutan. Hostel was run with the donation since the establishment and it is still continues. In the special occasion the Students perform stage Play bases the Ram Leela and Krisna Janma Utsav.
Lingsey, a place of diverse community and their different religious faith but no discrimination in the religious ground and other. Evidence shows, the ideological co-operation in among different community and religions prevails now also. Donation for the establishment of temple and the Mahavidyalaya donated by everyone in the name of god. It is found in the evidence that the Hindu supports Buddhist and vice-versa.
Road way connectivity to the village was rough foot path. Construction of the temple completed through the footpath by head loads. No vehicle were use to carry construction material. 1962 Chogyal (Kings of Sikkim) Donated the sum of Amount Rs. 5000 (Five Thousand Receipt present in the Library) for the construction of the road now it is Rhenock to Lingsey Road. Several villagers have volunteer for the construction of the road. Eye witness said that more then 30 vehicles reached Lingsey along with Kings Chogyal in the Inauguration of the Road in 1962.
In 1995 Yogi Narahari Nath (Raj Guru of Nepal Kingdom)come Lingsey on the occasion of 11 days long Mahavharata Mahapuran. Sankaracharya also visited Lingsey in the same occasion.
Committee of the Hareswar Shivalaya Temple conducts different Maha Yagya annually or alternatively. Throughout the year several Hindu festivals are held in the temple complex. The most important among them are the Sawan Bool Bum, Shivaratri, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, and Bala Chaturdasi. Hareswar Shiva Linga is the main attraction of pilgrimage at the time of Sawan as Bol Bom.
List of Hindu Mahayagya, Puran and Anusthan perform in the Hareswar Shivalaya Temple Since 1946.
1. Hariranga Mahayagya 1944
2. Shiva Pran Pratishan. 1946
3. Bishwa Shanti Mahayagya and Sri Puran 1981
4. Shiva Puran 1984
5. Sri Skanda Mahapuran 1986
6. Mahabharat Puran- 1994
7. Brahma Baivarta puran-1997
8. Balmiki Ramayana-2010
9. Shiva Maha Puran- 2011
10. Ati Rudra Mahayagya-2011.
11. Srimad Bhagawat Mahayagya- 2013 ( Tribeni, Teesta)
12. Tulsikrit Ramayan-2014
Now it is heritage of the Entire region for the religious worship and Learning. Management of the entire institution is in the hand of Hareswar Shivalaya Temple and its different wing like Hareswar Sanskrit Pathshala Committee, Nari Samaj (female society). But the Entire supervision in the hand of Hareswar Shivlaya committee.
Sine 2010 This institution is promoting as a pilgrimage Tourism linked with Shiddeswar Shiva Dham (Char Dham) Namchi South Sikkim.