mounteverest

PASHUPATINATH


Situated 5 km east of Kathmandu city center, Pashupati literally means “Lord of Animals” and is considered to be the patron of Nepal. Pashupatinath is regarded as one of the holiest sites for Hindus all over the world.

Pashupatinath temple is a pagoda style two-tiered golden roof with exquisitely carved four silver doors containing in its sanctum
a phallic idol with four faces facing each direction and the other fifth one is looking up toward the zenith. A temple dedicated to Shiva was constructed at the present site by Licchavi King Supushpa Verma according to an ancient chronicle. However the present temple is claimed to have been built by King Bhupalendra Malla in 1697 A.D. Legend has it that a cow would frequently escape from its herds and offer milk on a Jyotirlinga ( phallic symbol of Shiva ) which denotes the point where the temple stands today. It is said that a certain cowherd much to his surprise found the self- generated Jyotirlinga ( phallic symbol of shiva) when he dug the spot where the cow would give milk. The spot immediately became the center of worship that been continued till today.

Legend also mentions that the Pandavas after the great Mahabharata battle were told that only by sighting Shiva would they be absolved of their sins and it was at this very spot that they saw the Lord. Hence, this most scared abode of Shiva, who is the God of the gods – Mahadeva – merits a visit by all Hindus, at least once in a lifetime, to be truly blessed and cleansed. It is believed that pilgrimage to the four dhams like Dwarika, Kedar, Rameshwor and Jaganath of India becomes meaningful only after a final darshan of Pashupatinath and by taking a holy dip in the Bagmati River and conducting a proper puja. There are temples of other Hindu deities in Pashupati premises like Bhairavnath, Vasuki nag, Parbati temple, Ram mandir,Vishwo rup,Goraknath, Kirateshwor temple and dozens of temples dedicated to different gods and goddesses.

A considerable part of the temple vicinity is converted to rest and prayer areas. Behind the temple on the banks of Bagmati is a crematorium for Hindus. It is the wish of every Hindu to be cremated on the bank of the Bagmati river near the temple. AT the other end of the Pashupatinath Temple area is the temple of Guheshwori dedicated to Shiva’s consort Parvati also known as Satidevi.There is also a deer park at the back of the temple across the Bagmati river. It is also interesting to watch the monkeys roam in and around the temple freely. One may also observe Sahus smeared with ashes and dressed in lion- cloths and the Hindus Brahmins offering Tika and blessing to the visitors. Pashupatinath attracts thousands of pilgrims on spring festival Maha Shivaratri ( Feb- March), the day dedicated to Shiva, Hari Talika/ Teej ( Aug- Sept.), Janai Purnima ( July-August) and all Mondays of the month of Shrawan (July-Aug).

In October 1979 Pashupati area was declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the temple is being managed by Pashupati Area Development Trust. The temple activities can be observed from the back of the temple.

SWAYAMBHUNATH

Located on a lovely little hillock, Swayambhunath Stupa lies about 4 km west of central Kathmandu. There are 360 steps leading all the way to the top commanding a magnificent view to the top commanding a magnificent view of Kathmandu valley and the brath-taking panoram of the snow-clad Himalaya range. The tradition in the Stupa follows the Vajrayana form of Buddhism which is a trantric variation of the Mahayana Buddhism ( the great vehicle). The stupa seem to have been constructed during the Licchavi Period. Religious and literally sources give numerous accounts of the establishment and the patronage of the Swayambhunath premises. It is also interesting to note that the stupa went a series of renovation during the Malla period in the medieval times with donations made by merchants, monks, pilgrims.and Buddhist followers.
As the ancient legend goes Kathmandu valley was a lake long time ago. Right in the center of this lake was a full blown lotus with the divine light atop. When Maha Manjushri a saint from China heard about this he came all the way from China to the valley. He cut through the southern hill of the valley with his divine sword. The cleft made by the sword immediately drained the entire lake water making the valley floor ready of habitation. Hundreds of votive shrines and other historical monuments built in and around this stupa speak a lot about the significance and antiquity of this famed stupa. The Stupa of Swayambhunath stands on a typically stylized lotus mandala base. The hemispherical part of the chaitya is made of brick and stone and on top of the hemispherical part lies the hermika which carries the eyes of Vairochana watching in all the directions and believed to have been painted in the Malla period. The stupa is also laden with the 13 gold plated spires which symbolizes the 13 stages to salvation. The spire is crowded by a golden umbrella supported by a pole from within the center. Devotees pour lime down the chaitya to cure illness of family members.

Harati Temple: It is two- tiered pagoda temple dedicated to Vajrayana deities were built by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century. Anantapura temple was named after his consort and both these temples represents the Shikhara style of architecture.

Bajra Dhatu Mandala : The Mandala depicts 12 animals representing the twelve months of the Tibetan year. The gilt Bajra installed by King Pratap Malla in the middle of the 17th century represents the sword Chandahasa of Manjushree.

Forms of Buddhas and their Consorts: The ten niches around the stupa represents the different forms of Buddha and their consorts. Clockwise representation are Aksobhya, Vairochana, Vajradhatvesvari, Mamaki Tara. Ratnasambhava, Pandara, Amitabha, Tara, Amogha Siddhi and Saptalochini.

The Vairochana is represented by the eyes painted on the hermika. Amitabha is the main deity of the Chaitya.
Five Elements of Life: Temples and sacred sites representing the five fundamental elements of nature are said to have been founded by Shantikar Acharya. The five elements of life represented in the premise of the Stupa are Vasupura ( earth), Nagapur (serpents, the lord of water).Shantipura or Akashpura ( space of sky), Vayupura ( air) and Agnipura (Fire).

Important Days to visit this Holy Site:
1. Buddha Purnima, the birthday of Lord Buddha which falls on the full moon day of Baishakh ( April-May).
2. Gunla, the holy Buddhist month according to Newari calendar (Aug-Sept, early morning).
3. Kojagrath Purnima (Sept-Oct), Samyak day of Magh (Jan-Feb) (once in every twelve years).
4. Lhosar

BOUDANATH
Boudanath, the biggest stupa of Nepal, is located 5 km east of central Kathmandu. The Stupa stands on a three-tiered platform raised over the crossed rectangles in order to bring out the yantra form.

The claims made in various religious and literary texts regarding the erection of the stupa is varied and conflicting. However, the stupa is believed to have been built in the 5th century A.D. during the reign of the Licchavi Kings.

As in other stupa architecture, this stupa also has vairochana at the center followed by Aksobhya, Ratna Sambhava, Amitabha and Amogha Siddhi in east, south, west and north directions respectively. Similarly, there are one hundred and eight small niches around the stupa accommodating the icons of Buddhas, Bodhisatavas and other female deities along with conjoint figures in erotic poses. Likewise, at the bottom level, it is surrounded with famous mantra Om Mani Padme Hum fixed in more than hundred and forty niches.

According to a very popular legen, in ancient time there was a poor girl in a Magat village of Nepal. She was called Jyajima and was very pious and charitable by nature. She had a deep desire to spread the faith of the Master and approached the King for a piece of land where she should build a stupa. Hence she built the stupa with the help of her four sons as it stands today.

According to another very popular legend, in the ancient days Kathmandu valley was under severe drought and this causes the King Dharma Dev much concern and anxiety. Finally, the King was advised by an astrologer that only the sacrifice of an ideal man with 32 virtues in front of the dry royal water could bring rainfall in the country. There were hardly anybody with such a great virtue except the King himself. So the following night he commanded his son to go the dry water spout near the royal palace at mid night and behead the person clad in white robe without looking at him. The Prince (Mandev-the Licchavi King) obeyed his father and to his great horror found that it was none other than his own father that he beheaded.

In order to atone for the heinous sin, he prayed to goddesses Vajrayogini who ordered him to erect a stupa and practice
rigorous penance. He practiced great penance in Gumvihar where Vajraogini rests and it was due to his great devotion there sprang out the present stupa of Boudanath.

Oldfield an Orientalist has written that a Lama from Tibet had died on his pilgrimage to Nepal and the stupa was erected with his relics and named it as Khasa Chaitya after his name.
During Buddha Jayanti ( birthday of Lord Buddha, April-May) on the full moon day, a religious procession takes place with the icons of Buddha on a chariot. During Lhosar festival (Jan-Feb) the pilgrims worship the Buddhist deities, light the incense and butter lamp day and night. On the full moon day of Janai Purnima (scared thread festival, Aug- Sept) the stupa is decorated with prayer flags and lights. Every twelve years a special ceremony is also observed denoting the fact that it took 12 years to built the stupa. Some Buddhist texts also mentions thast it took 2555 days (7 years) to complete the construction of the stupa. Dance, musical instruments, chant and hyms are performed to mark the event with great festivity.

The stupa along with the monasteries are centers of learning, cultural activities, prayers and meditation.

CHANGU NARAYAN
Located on a magnificent hill top commanding a fantastic view of Kathmandu valley, Changu Narayan – the temple of Lord Vishnu – lies 6 km north of Bhaktapur. The temple is full of magnificient art works in metal and wood. In fact, it is one of the finest examples of Nepalese architecture. The first epigraphic evidence of Nepalese history found in the temple premises during the reign of the Lichhavi King Mandeva dating back to 464 A.D. shows that Changu had already been established as a sacred site in the 3rd century A.D. The present structure was probably constructed in the 17th century, though older elements have been incorporated during the restoration. The pagoda style temple has several masterpieces of 5th and 12th century Nepalese art.

Some of the important sculptures here are:
1. Viswo Roop- Lord Vishnu in his all pervasive universal form Vishwo roop represented in a serpant bed- the- symbol of the endless water. This sculpture dates back to 8th century A.D.
2. Vishnu Vikaranta- Lord Vishnu in his most powerful form measuring the space by his feet. The stone bas-relief images is dated back to 8th century A.D.
3. Vishnu mounted in his vehicle Garuda- the mythical man bird.
4. Nr-singha Vishnu in his half human and half lion’s form.
The myth behind the conception of the Changu Narayan Temple portrays the religious significance and importance of the place. According to a legend, Lord Vishnu beheaded a Brahmin thinking it to be a demon and only discovered it later that he had committed a heinous crime. He then wandered on earth on his mount, the ‘Garuda’ eventually descending on the hill at Changu. There he lived in anonymity, surviving on milk stolen from a cow belonging to a hermit sage called Sudharshan. When Sudharsan noticed about the stolen milk, he attacked and beheaded Lord Vishnu which freed Lord Vishnu from his sins. Ever since that day, the site has been held sacred and the temple has been revered.