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106 kilograms of 22-carat gold in the holy pond of Pashupatinath

ByGlobal Darpan

Jun 26, 2023

Kathmandu: On February 12, 077, the then President Bidya Devi Bhandari unveiled the gold jalhari (water spout) at the Pashupatinath Temple. The weight of the gold jalhari was measured on Sunday. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had conducted tests to measure the weight and purity (carat) of the gold jalhari placed on the Shivalinga of Pashupatinath.

According to sources, the combined weight of the two compartments placed in the jalhari was found to be 4325 kilograms of gold. The weight of the thorn used to make the gold jalhari was found to be 1.375 kilograms. The gold used in the jalhari was tested and found to be 22 carats.

According to religious beliefs, the jalhari placed on the Shivalinga cannot be removed once it is installed. However, after a controversy arose regarding the weight of the gold used in the jalhari, the Pashupati Area Development Trust performed an apology ceremony and removed the jalhari to measure its weight.

The Pashupati Area Development Trust performed the apology ceremony on Saturday. According to sources, a pandit was called from South India to perform the apology ceremony at Pashupatinath.

In the annual report of the Office of the Auditor General, it is mentioned that 10 kilograms of gold was used in the jalhari placed at Pashupati. The Pashupati Area Development Trust had purchased 103 kilograms of gold from the Nepal Rastra Bank, equivalent to 80 million rupees. Among them, the weight of the gold used in the jalhari, jaladhara, Naga, Naga statue, and other decorations was found to be 96 kilograms and 514 grams.

After the construction of all these, the remaining 10,976 grams of gold was used to make the ring and was installed in the jalhari, as mentioned by the Trust. However, the Office of the Auditor General’s report does not confirm whether the ring was made from the gold used in the jalhari or not, as there is no paper evidence submitted by the Trust.

It is mentioned in the report of the Auditor General’s Office that 103 kilograms of gold, which was purchased at that time, was mixed with 2 kilograms and 890 grams of copper, 1 kilogram and 249 grams of silver, and 12 kilograms and 750 grams of zinc, resulting in a total of 107 kilograms and 490 grams of gold. However, there is no mention in the report by the Office of the Auditor General about the bill for the ring made from more than 10 kilograms of remaining gold.