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The Legend of Mukunda Sen, Raja of Palpa, Owner of The Sacred Sword
Excerpt taken from An Ethnohistorical Study of Bandipur by Linda L. Ilitis

Many years ago, Mukunda Sen, Raja of Palpa, gained control over all the surrounding areas, including Bandipur, which at that time was inhabited by many Magars and some Kamis, and became ruler over many types of people. He had unified many under one throne, yet his accomplishments were not satisfactory. He felt something lacking, and longed for spiritual strength. He decided to go away from his palace and stayed in a shelter on the Mutschuk Danda (hill) above Bandipur. One night, having shed his finery, he disguised his identity, dressed simply, and wandered out from his place to a small Brahman settlement not far away called Jhapri Phant. Here an old woman (Brahman) took him in. She offered him rice and a place to spend the night, The meal included some 84 varieties of curry, milk, yogurt, and pickle. But when Makunda Sen received them, he mixed all the curries together and ate everything combined. The old woman sadly looked on and commented, “You are just like Makunda Sen Raja. Just as you have taken all these unique foods, each with its own character and flavour, and have combined them all so that no taste is different from the other and all the unique flavours are lost, so Makunda Sen has taken people of many lifestyles and combined them under one throne to lose their unique identities. Makunda Sen and you should learn to enjoy each thing separately as it is.”

Makunda Sen was so moved by these words that he decided to give up his kingdom for good and become a religious devotee (sadhu). He left his material wealth behind and went to Devghar, where he built a temple and later died. It is said that he went into a stone which had been brought up from the Narayani in a fish net just before he died. Among the material possessions left behind with the woman in Jhapri Phant was a sword. This old woman had locked away in a room in case the owner returned for it. After many years, the home began experiencing bad omens. Animals died, brothers fought, and the harvest was poor. Finally a Jhankri (Shaman) was summoned to determine the causes of the ill fortune. The c asked if there were any objects in the house which were foreign. The old woman, suddenly remembering the sword, unlocked the door where the sword was kept. In the corner the sword was standing on end, trembling and shaking of its own accord. The Jhankri knew the sword was a devta – no doubt dangerous – and ordered it to be removed at once. It was later placed on a hill in Bandipur in a specially constructed temple. This powerful Devta is called Khadga Devi. Once a year, from the first day (Ghatasthapana) to the tenth day (Tika) of the festival of Dashain, a series of special worships takes place. On the seventh day (Phulpati) a sheep must be sacrificed between the two sons of the old woman, and a tug-of-war contest determines who keeps the mutton for the feast.