The post Swayambhunath, Kathmandu’s Best Loved Temple appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>Origin of Swayambhunath
According to the 15th century Swayambhu purana, Lord Buddha planted a miraculous lotus that radiated a brilliant light and blossomed in the lake that once covered the Kathmandu Valley. This lotus later transformed into a sacred hill on its own and the place came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning ‘Self-Created’ or ‘Self-Existent’.
Swayambhunath is regularly visited by thousands of pilgrims including Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, Newari Buddhists of central and southern Nepal, and even people of other faiths.
The ‘Monkey Temple’
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Swayambhunath is also fondly known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ on account of hundreds of monkeys that abound the hill.
At short distances from Swayambhunath are other historical temples such as the Shiva Jyotirlinga temple of Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Changu Narayan, Dakshinkali and Budhanilkantha.
Swayambhunath houses the famous six meter high image of Shakyamuni, the oldest persona of Lord Buddha. Evening prayers are held every day around this statue along with the chanting of Sanskrit sutras.
Celebration of Festivals
The two main festivals celebrated at Swayambhunath are Buddha Jayanti and Losar. During these occasions, many pilgrims circumambulate the temple while the monks create a lotus pattern on the stupa with saffron-colored paint. The month-long Gunla celebration marking the end of the rainy season is another important event in Swayambhunath.
A Fascinating Experience
Swayambhunath is a mosaic of small stupas, pagoda temples and monasteries, and presents a magnificent view of the Kathmandu valley. Centuries-old statues, thousands of butter lamps, carved icons and the fragrance of incense sticks create a magical atmosphere at this ancient religious shrine.
Some of the prominent monuments in Swayambhunath include the Buddha statue on the western side, the huge gold-plated Vajra ‘thunderbolt’ in the east, statue of the sleeping Buddha, the Dewa Dharma monastery, noted for a bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings, and the temple dedicated to Harati, the goddess of children.
Swayambhunath is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in entire Nepal and must not be missed on a trip to Kathmandu.
Also Read:
The post Swayambhunath, Kathmandu’s Best Loved Temple appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>The post Lumbini, The Holy Abode of Buddhism appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>One of the most-visited locations in Nepal with a great historical importance, Lumbini attracts not only Buddhists but also the people of other faiths and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The place has been divided into two zones, with the Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries situated in the western zone and the Theravadin monasteries in the eastern zone.
Heaven on Earth
Chinese travelers Huan Tsang and Faeihan extolled the beauty of Lumbini in their writings and described the place as “Lumbini – where the lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth and one could see the snowy mountains amidst a splendid garden-embedded with stupas and monasteries!”
Sakymanuni Buddha, also known as Tathagata or one who has found the Truth, is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism. He spent the first 29 years of his life in Lumbini before he renounced the world and achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
Temples in Lumbini
The most popular attraction of Lumbini, the Maya Devi temple is located at the place where Maya Devi gave birth to the Lord Buddha.
Some of the other famous temples in Lumbini include the International Gautami Nuns temple, Nepal Buddha temple and Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Vihara.
The temples of Lumbini are characterized by a medieval architecture with large monolithic images of Buddha.
Other Tourist Attractions
Some of the major attractions of Lumbini include the Lumbini Museum, Gotihawa, Kudan, Niglihawa, Sagarhawa, Ramgram Stupa, Tilaurakot, Ashoka Pillar, Puskarni, Kapilvastu and Aroarakot among others.
The World Peace Pagoda with a huge sparkling and smiling statue of Lord Buddha is another prominent monument of sightseeing interest for tourists to Lumbini.
Popular Culinary Delights
Lumbini is situated on the border with India and hence, Indian food is quite common here in addition to the staple Nepali cuisine.
Vegetarian foods including momos, noodles, curries, pakoda, samosa, tikiya chat and pani puri are the most common delicacies that can be enjoyed in Lumbini.
Top 21 Tourist Attractions in Lumbini
Travel to Lumbini
Lumbini is well connected by road from various places in Nepal with frequent bus services from major cities like Pokhara and Kathmandu.
Two stretches of railway from Raxaul in India to Amlekhganj and Janakpur in Nepal also connect to Lumbini.
Nepal Airlines and other domestic carriers including Nepal Buddha Air, Kathmandu, Cosmic Air, Gorkha Airlines, Royal Nepal Airlines, Skyline Airways and Yeti Airlines fly regularly to Bhairahawa near Lumbini.
A visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, provides a great opportunity for visitors to experience inner peace and spiritual growth.
Also Read:
The post Lumbini, The Holy Abode of Buddhism appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>