Kamalamai Temple (Sindhuli)

{{Short description|Hindu temple in Sindhuli, Nepal}}

{{Infobox mandir

| name = Kamalamai Temple

| image = Kamalamai Temple Sindhuli Nepal.jpg

| caption = Kamalamai Temple in 2023

| map_type = Nepal

| map_caption = Kamalamai Temple in Nepal

| coordinates = {{coord|27.166103|85.900402|type:landmark_region:NP|display=inline,title}}

| native_name = कमलामाई मन्दिर

| country = Nepal

| province = Bagmati Province

| location = Kamalamai Municipality

| elevation_m =

| deity =

| architecture =

| district=Sindhuli

| religious_affiliation=Hinduism

}}

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The Kamalamai Temple ({{langx|ne|कमलामाई मन्दिर}}) is a historic Hindu temple located in Kamalamai municipality in Sindhuli district, Nepal. It is situated on the bank of the Kamala river (from where the river gets its nameTachamo-Shah, R. D., Shah, D. N., Doody, T. M., & Cuddy, S. M. (2019). Ecological health of the Kamala Basin 2019. South Asia Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio (SDIP) project. CSIRO, Australia.) and about 200 m off the BP Highway in Bagmati Province.

The Shah dynasty worshipped in the temple.{{Citation | title=कमलामाई मन्दिरको उत्पत्तिस्थलको पर्यटन प्रवर्द्धनमा जोड :: राधिका बुढाथोकी :: Setopati | url=https://www.setopati.com/ghumphir/ghumphir-news/289132 | access-date=5 September 2023}}

{{Citation | vauthors=((दैनिकप्रदेश)) | year=2020 | title=माईस्थानमा हिउद मौसमसँगै वनभोज खान आउनेको लर्को | url=https://pradeshdainik.com/2020/01/9934.html | access-date=5 September 2023}}

Annually on Makar Sankranti, a festival is held where devotees present offerings to the goddess with the hope of having their wishes granted.{{Citation |title=कमलामाई मन्दिरको उत्पत्तिस्थलको पर्यटन प्रवद्र्धनमा जोड |url=https://sunaulonepal.com/content/201096/ |year=2022 |access-date=5 September 2023}} Uniquely, Kamalamai Temple is the sole temple in Nepal where offerings of fish are made as a sacrifice.{{Citation |title=नेपालको एक मन्दिर जहाँ माछाको बलि चढ्छ ! |url=https://lokaantar.com/story/2468/2017/11/6/jiban-darshan/Kwro60hqfE |access-date=5 September 2023}}

In Hindu mythology, Ganga and Kamala are described as divine sisters. During a visit to the Mai River, Kamala accidentally harmed some sesame plants, leading Ganga to suggest that Kamala atone by serving the peasants whose field she had damaged. Ganga left, and Kamala remained. Years later, the peasants, while traveling to Kashi, failed to pass on Kamala's gift of rice seeds to Ganga. Realizing their mistake upon their return, they released Kamala from her servitude as Ganga appeared to confirm that her penance was complete. The temple at this location is unique as sesame seeds are traditionally not offered there, in memory of Kamala's story.{{Citation |title=संरक्षणको पर्खाइमा कमलामाई |url=https://janachasokhabar.com/news/detail/2690/ |access-date=5 September 2023}}