Bapacha: The Living Hero of Patan - Part II
The next day before dawn, the boy left for Kwatha. As expected, the Kirati soldiers ignored him, thinking he is just a small boy. He opened the main gate and performed his duties. Lastly, he prepared breakfast for Sakyamuni Buddha and placed it in front of him.
The boy was curious to why Shakyamuni Buddha did not take his meal. Thus, he waited patiently.
He then made a modest request, “ My dear Buddha, please! Please wash your hands and face. Your breakfast is ready and getting cold. My parents are occupied with their household chores, thus have sent me to attend to you.”
There was no response from Shakyamuni Buddha. The boy having the purest heart kept on repeating his humble request. He did not know that he is talking to an idol made of bronze.
The boy continued requesting Shakyamuni Buddha, but his cries were unanswered. He then stated, “ Oh my dear Buddha, if you do not accept my request, then I will have to stay here, and I will go hungry.”
The idol then slowly moved, took the holy water fetched by the boy and washed its hands and face. It then took the breakfast the boy had prepared. A gentle smile came on the boys face, as he watched his beloved Lord accept the meal he prepared.
At home, his parents anxiously waited for his arrival. They heard the door creak; it was their son. They hugged him dearly and asked, “ What took you so long?”
To which the boy answered, “ I performed all tasks that you told me, father. At the end of which, I served Shakyamuni Buddha his breakfast. But he did not take his meal, I requested him many times, but my cries were unanswered. I then told him that if he does not take his meal, that I would have to wait here and I would go hungry. It was only then, Shakyamuni Buddha cleansed himself and ate his meal.”
The boy's parents were rendered speechless. Thus they decided to follow their son and see it for their own eyes.
The next day, they looked from a distance as their son perform his tasks. He brought holy water and breakfast, which he placed in front of the idol which slowly cleansed itself and ate.
The boy's parents were in joy as they witnessed an extraordinary event.
Once they reached home, the priest said to his wife, “ My dear, how long will we do this? Send our son, amidst such danger. It will not be long before the soldiers become suspicious of him.
To which his wife answered, “I agree, but what can we do?”
The priest called his son and requested, “ My dear boy, tomorrow once you finish performing the daily tasks, I want you to put forth a humble appeal to Shakyamuni Buddha. Please let him of the Kirati ruler and his followers actions which has removed all security from our lives.”
The boy, gentle and obedient; did as his father requested.
To his appeal, Shakyamuni Buddha responded, “ When you come tomorrow, bring a cup of cows milk.” He returned home and told his parents of the Buddha’s response. The next day, he performed his tasks and then placed the cow's milk before Shakyamuni Buddha.
“ Do you know of the bauga (a pit made to dispose objects used in religious activities), near the fort of the Kirati ruler?” asked Shakyamuni.
“Yes, my dear Buddha.”
“Pour this cup of cows milk into the bauga while you head home.”
The boy did as instructed and poured the cup of milk into the bauga. A mild buzzing was heard, which got louder and louder.
To his surprise, thousands of hornets flew out of the pit. They created a great noise and began stinging followers of the Kirati ruler. The hornets swarmed the fort next, and created mayhem.
The Kirati ruler and his family became terrified and ran away.
Many died that day, and only eight hundred escaped from the northern gate of the city. This locality is as Chyasa, meaning eight hundred in Nepal Bhasa.
At last, peace returned to the city of Lalitpur.
Centuries have passed since and even till this day, the Bapacha: a young, smart, gentle boy is the head priest of the Kwa Bahal. The monastic community has successfully preserved the old practices and ritual conducts, and shall never forget the extraordinary feat of the Bapacha.