Kathmandu - Kankeshvari Mandir

The origins of the three-storied Kankeshvari Mandir date back to the founding of the city by Gunakama Deva. He brought the goddess Ratna Kali from Dakshin Kali, installing her here by an ancient river crossing on the Vishnumati. A 7th/8th c. relief testifies to the great age of the site. Like Dakshin Kali this particular temple has acquired considerable notoriety from its association with the blood-thirsty deity. It was the scene of the ritual stone-throwing which, on the instructions of Kumar issued in a dream, was instituted by Gunakama Deva. The participants were boys, probably representing the various districts. The unfortunate losers received terrible injuries and were sacrificed to the goddess. The ritual was only abolished at the time of Jung Bahadur when the British Resident, Mr Collins, was accidentally struck by a stone. He though managed to escape sacrifice. (Under the 1816 Segauli Treaty, Nepal was obliged to accept a British observer stationed in Kathmandu).