Padma Raj Kaphle

 It is said that the HINDU BRAHMINS entered western Nepal from northern India when Mugals tried to convert Hindus into Muslims. To protect their religious believes many people  lived hiding themselves in different places in Nepal. In such a situation SHANDILYA GOTREEYA BRAHMINS stayed at present SINJA  valley in JUMLA district. This place was difficult to reach for general people. However, they reached there and lived safely. They  made their home near the tree of KAPHALE or they were related with a kind of fruit named KAPHALE, which are found hills in Nepal. They may had used fruit or made the house near the tree or planted at their field. Therefore local people used to say them KAPHALE. Therefore, they are called Kaphle. ( If the tree of Kaphal is available there, it may be near to the truth. It should be researched)

Similarly some people resided in  tarai region and some in hill areas too. They were BRAHMIS, learned and used to read (PATH) of VEDAs three times a day. Therefore local people used to say them in Sanskrit word 'TRI-PATHI' and their sect  began to call TRIPATHI.

The population of KAPHLES began to increase day by day and  lives became hard. Therefore some people migrated to the plain and fertile land of MADI or its around area in PAPLA distrct and some people to the fertile land  near near Palpa to ANDIKHOLA of SYANJA district. The writer of this note is also from Debagiri_Rupase of Madi in Palpa district.

KAPHLES were learned SADHAKAS of YOGA. Devine force of Yoga, they could move long distances easily from one place to other. In ancient time, there were many small kingdoms in Nepal. There was also a king in present KAPHALE THOK which is situated 21 kilometers of present Dhulikhel bazar.

The King had invited the Kaphle brahmin to offer puja in his palace from Palpa. One of the Kaphle Brahmin used to come and go back to Palpa with his divine power of Yoga in a short period of time. One day, unknowingly he had eaten some kind of food which should not be allowed to eat in his family. Therefore his family did not allowed to enter his own home, because he had eaten ABHAKSHYA. The Bhahmin went to king for  complain why his Royal Cooker given him such prohibited food or BHOJANA. After hearing his complain, the king requested him to stay in his kingdom and brahmin accepted King's proposal and permanently begin to stay at present Kaphle Thok. At present there are only 52 houses of Kaphles there. Many families of Kaphles were immigrated to tarai specialy Chandranigahpur area of Rautahat district.

The population of Kaphle's had increased day by day and spread around near by places such as Bhaktapur and Kathmandu too. One of a Kaphle brothere Arjun Kaphle told that there are 82 GHAR DHURI (houses)  of Kaphles in Bhaktapur.

The KAPHLES of  Kaphle thok had invited us to visit our ancestral place. Therefore we, the kaphles residing  in capital decided to visit that place.

Early in the morning on June 15th 2003, I went to Lord Pashupati Nath's temple and from there   directly went to Baneswar where other fellow Kaphles were waiting the reserved buses. At  8 am, our buses were started . There were men, women and children. In the way, we had picked up eighteen fellow Kaphles at Kamal Vinayak of Bhaktapur.

In a joyfull mood in the buses, singing dancing and laughing, we reached Dhulikhel some 31 kilometers east from Kathmand . From Dhulikhel, our buses were plying to the Dhulikhel-Berdiwas newly build road. This road is passing through the jungles and where villages, bank of the rivers and so on. The sceneries are so beautiful around the road.

But I  surprised to see the with of this road. Once our bus was plying from north to south and a truck was coming from the opposite side. Neither bus nor truck could pass  each other, because of the with of the road without going back some suitable place with reverse driving. because the width of the road is not sufficient width for cross each other. Another surprising thing which I thought was that the road will take many MANAWA  BALY (Human sacrifice )  when  big buses will ply from Bardibas - Dhulikhel. Because there is no safety wall lower side of the road. The land is not less than 60 degree sloping just below the road, unfortunately if any vehicle slips slightly from the edge, it may reach hundreds of meters bellow.

However, we reached to a plain land safely. It is between the two hills east and west side. One of my fellow brother told me that  place was called BHAKUNDE BESI. Our bus tern east side left to the main road. Though this road was motor able but it was sleepy  in red  soil without  graveling. However, our bus reached up to local school field and immediately returned back to the  main road because sky was cloudy, if rain falls, road will be so sleepy and  bus could not ply.

We were exited to know that the school where we  left bus, was the starting point of KAPHLE THOK. I stand and saw the side, which is  estimated about the 30 to 60 degree sloping from east to west. We started to go to up on the slanted  hilly corn fields on red soil.  About half an hour climbing upward to the village, we reached to a newly built temple's get where we were welcomed by respected head master of the school, from where we started our climbing, He was Mr. Purna Chandra Kafle.

Just we put our feet on the lawn of the temple, we saw a HAWAN KUNDA, water tab and railing around  the compound of the temple. .

Inside the temple. there were two main images RADHA and Krishna. People were sitting in front of the images and singing HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA  in a sweet sound music was given with a classical instruments such as drum and harmuniams.

In the upper story of the temple. there was big hall where we had rested after reached there. Almost the time was 11.30 am and we were tired and hungry too. Local kaphles had nicely arranged food for us  at two places. Most of us taken our lunch at the same place and few of us invited at the house of head master which was situated top of a hill surrounded by mango trees. The trees were bending toward ground with  bunches of lovely mangos fruits. I stand beneath the tree and touching a fruit in my hand snapped a photograph for memory for future. The wind was blowing slowly and slowly from green natural  trees, compound around the house.

Near the house of head sir, from the  top hill we looked   nice and beautiful scenes of   KAPHLE THOK which has been seen in the  back side of the picture given next page. We scattered to see and enjoy to the different sides of Kaphle Thok. I with few fellow brothers started tracking upside of the village. A small child also was with us. At beginning, the boy was running with joy to see new places and new atmosphere of natural surroundings. when he became tired he made his father a horse and   ride on his neck. The picture of that scene was so memorable of climbing upward. This picture is also given next page..

We saw one of a house, about 6 years old girl child was caring on her back her little sister and their mother was feeding  her buffalo. To see this picture of society, every one imagine the level of education for girl child, economical standard and many other things. You can imagine and guess your self to see the picture which is given next page.

At about 2 pm, we gathered in the hall of temple and offered puja.  Temple authorities told us that  the function of temple is fully sustained by the voluntary contribution, MUSTHI DAN ( small amount of saving rice or corn from a cooking pot before put to fire ). Distressed old men and women stay and take food and shelter there. SHRADDHA, TARPAN AND BIRTH DAY PUJAS also done for the registered donor if he/she requests . They have to do atleast 2 hours KIRTANA within 24 hour hours.

   At about 4 PM we went to the place where DEWALI puja offerd of Kaphles. It was a nice and beautiful  garden just western side of the head sir's home. Mr. Purna Chandra Kaphle, who is head master of a local school, is called head sir by the local people) There is stone written some description about Dewali of Kaphles. It was written in 2026 AD.

Bellow the place of DEWALI puja was about 70 - 80 degree sloping hill from which we were returning to holding rocks by both hands without looking bellow because narrow lane was like a snake shape, if we looked bellow whole body became tremor  and unbalanced. Though it was some difficult  for us, but it was very excitement walking for about 10 minutes distance.