Mahabaudha Temple Of Patan

The temple of thousands Buddha is about ten-minute walk from south of durbar square. It is slightly out of the way and you can have to ask directions as it is located in a courtyard surrounded by buildings and not easily visible despite its height originally constructed in 14th century, the terracotta, the Indian style was severely damaged in 1934 earthquake and later rebuild. Each of the bricks in the building contains an image of Buddha. Inside there is a shrine dedicated to Maya Devi, the mother of Buddha. It is said that this temple is similar to one in Boudhagaya where Buddha was enlighten. You can climb the buildings around the courtyard to photograph the temple and obtain a fine view over the rooftops of Patan.

End of Gunla 2007

The day after Gokarna Aunsi (father’s day) is marked as the end of the Gunla for the year. This year it was on 12th of September. I was so busy with my own world and work that this year, I couldn’t be in Swayambhu for the first time in my life. Throughout my years, I have loved going to Swayambhu, and Gunla is the main festival where lots of people go to Swayambhu throughout the month. It is such a shame that I couldn’t manage a single day to visit Swayambhu this year. I had made plans for more than three to four times but due to my tight schedule; I just couldn’t go there this year. I had never thought that I would miss going there this year.

On the last day, a huge crowd will be gathered in Swayambhu throughout the day. Lots of people visit and pay their respect to goddess Harati Ma on this day and the days throughout the months. Throughout the month, lots of people will go there with their own musical bands with full devotion to the deity. Since this is the last day, most of the people will visit the place and you see the Swayambhu hill covered with people from a long distance today. You will see devotees coming and going from the hills throughout the way of Swayambhu. The crowd is just overwhelming and something different to experience. Too bad, I miss it this year. Well I cannot do anything then regret it and hope and pray that I wont miss it next year.

Mata-ya 2007 (Festival Of Lights)

I haven't been following the regular blog posting for the days of the festivals these days as I have been mostly indoors these days. I have one of my best friends, Smreeti Nakarmi, who went to that festivals and I had asked her to write her own personal views of her journey to this procession. So here are the details that she send me of her procession of one of the most popular festival in Patan area called Mata-ya. It was on 31 August 2007 this year. Below are the details written by her own.

Mata-ya is derived from combination of two different words “Mata” which means light and “Yatra” means journey. According to the Nepali calendar, Mata-ya is celebrated on the month of Bhadra two days after Janai Purnima. Mata-ya is renown by Srinveri or Nekoo Jatra. Many people from different areas come to Patan to watch this festival whereas many worshipers come here to worship to different chaitya (Buddhist shrine) and chowk (Buddhist courtyard) as well.

I also went to Mata-ya this year. I really got the chance to visit Patan areas and four big chatyas of the Patan city. At about 4 a.m. me n my friends came out and went to a place called Nagbahal from where the queue begins with a big crowd to start the procession. I met lots of friends over there who were going for this long journey. I was so much excited that day. I walked 16 hours on that day. Mata-ya procession is carried out for the peace for our ancestors. Mata-ya is celebrated once a year so it is our popular festival of Patan city. There is a very interesting story about the origin of this festival. It goes like, once Shakyamuni Gautama was in deep penance to attain nirvana. The Maras, jealous of unique penance, appeared disgusting themselves in different forms to Buddha. Some of them were in fierce-looking demon and some in Apsara (angel) forms and so on. They made him every possible attempt to reduce him but all in vain. Eventually Shakyamuni Gautama overcame the Maras and Buddha became the enlighten one. Then every soon Maras come to confess their sins to Lord Buddha and worship him with great honor. In other to make this great day, as many believe this festival come in to existence. Everyone (devotees) offer kapur, butter, lamps, money, rice, grains, incense, foods, as they wish. Me and my friends offer kapur for every chaitya. Small children come their with a nanglo (a big round-shaped instrument, mostly used to filter stones from the raw rice) and we give them what we have to offer. Visiting four main chaitya and reaching to same destiny where we started will end Mata-ya of the year.

Gunla 2007

I have been quite busy these days and I don't have much time to go out and participate in this year's festivals. I really miss it but I just cannot help it. All of my friends and family have also been busy so I had been skipping lots of festivals this year. In these two weeks, I missed two of the important festivals, Gunla and Nagpanchami. Well I just have gathered some information about Gunla, and with my experiences throughout the years I lived and enjoyed I am going to write and share it to this blog of mine. I hope you guys will enjoy reading about the festivals of Nepal.

Gunla is the name of the 10th month in the Nepal Era calendar (Newari Calendar). According to Gregorian calendar, Gunla lies on the 14th of August this year (2007). It is a sacred month dedicated to Lord Buddha. The festival commemorates the auspicious "rains retreat" when the Buddha, over 2,500 years ago, led his close disciples into solitary meditation and preached to them the essence of his principles.

Buddhists spend month in prayer and fasting. They visit Swayambhu and other shrines early in the morning accompanied by musical bands. On August 25, groups of devotees make the rounds of monastery courtyards to view Buddha images displayed for the occasion. The Gunla lakhe (masked dancer) enlivens the festival with this street performances.

I have gone to Swayambhu lots of times in that festival in the past. Not only Buddhist but lots of Hindus go to Swayambhu as most of the Hindus of Nepal do pay respect to Buddha as Buddha was once a prince of Newari family. So you will find lots of Newars worshiping and praying to Buddha. This is the time of the year, where you can find Swayambhu crowded with lots of people and devotees of all ages. Mostly you will find lots of young guys and girls, mostly teenagers, wandering around the road going or returning from Swayambhunath temple. On the way back from Swayambhunath, lots of guys and girls stop by one small cheap restaurant where they serve one of the most popular Newari foods for breakfast called Gwaramari (Fulaura in Nepali). I just had to write about Gwaramari as it is one of my favorite food after momo. Well I am sure I will go at least once this month to Swayambhunath temple anyhow. I just love that place.

Baudhanath Stupa Of Kathmandu

One of my favorite places related to the beautiful place and inspired by Buddha after Swayambhu is Baudhanath stupa. You can always find lots of Buddhist praying their doing their regular praying around the area and inside and outside the stupa you will lots of Tibetan artifacts in lots of shops for sale.

Baudhanath stupa is situated at Cahabil of Kathmandu district. This stupa is big and beautiful monument that stands on two-storied plinth. This temple has four Buddhas on four directions. Baudhanath is considered as a specimen of Lichchavi period according to mythical literature of Buddhist. This chaitya (stupa) of Lord Buddha was established in the form of loighe. There are a number of monasteries around the main sanctuary. There are many small manes (small round mobile structure which the prayers spin) and Buddhas around the circumference of chaitya. It is one of the greatest stupa in the Kathmandu valley. This place is important pilgrimage for Buddhist around the world. Different feast and festivals are celebrated in the courtyard of stupa or its premises. Baudhanath stupa was renovated by the king Pratap Malla in 17th century.

The structure really is huge one. There are three pyramid-like layers below the huge stupa. The part where there are lots of manes is the base and it is in circular form. Till you are in front of the gate of the stupa, you won’t find much of happening or peaceful place as the streets are crowded with lots of small shops where you will find lots of souvenirs as well as the shops which provide the daily need of the locals. Right after you reach the gate you will view the beautiful and huge structure of the stupa. Locals and Nepalese people can enter the premises for free whereas tourists are charged with a small price to enter the premises. Inside the stupa you will find lots of prayers here and there praying. Some might find it little bit strange as they pray lying on the ground and then standing up on the knees. Nowadays they have a wooden block placed where they roll over in front of the body and then get up on their knees. It’s the way of their praying. You can view the stupa close by getting up the pyramid-like layer up closer to the stupa. From there you can also view our national airport. Though the surrounding place is not so big, you will definitely find your day full of joy and excitement if you visit Baudhanath stupa

Swayambhunath Stupa or Monkey Temple

Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the area of Kathmandu. It lies over a small hill in the west of the Kathmandu. It the most amazing and beautiful structure up on the hill from where you can view almost all the surroundings of the Kathmandu valley. The monkey temple came with the monkeys found there. There are lots of monkeys wandering around on the way to the stupa. The hill is covered with different types of trees and green vegetation. The feeling you have when you go through the stairs is just so awesome and after you reach to the up hill you will soon find all your fatigueness which you got from the climbing relieved with the view of the big hills and mountains and the Kathmandu valley itself. Though the view of the Kathmandu valley is seen so disorganized as the urbanization is not an organized one you will find it interesting and just pleasurable to just view the scenarios seen from their. I personally suggest the nighttime to visit there as you will see all the lights from the houses and the level of pollution is less at that time.

Something about the Swayambhunath Stupa:

According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning "Self-Created." The Bodhisatva Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. In order to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, Manjushri cut a gorge through the mountains surrounding the valley. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower become the Swayambhunath stupa.

Swayambhunath is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. By the 5th century, it had already become an important destination for Buddhist pilgrims. The history of the site itself dates back to long before the arrival of Buddhism in the Kathmandu valley.
Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous Hindu kings are known to have paid their homage to the temple including the most powerful king of Kantipur (Kathmandu) - Pratap Malla.

So that quite covers about the Swayambhu stupa, the place that gives me peace in my mind and I find myself in serenity. I still remember going their around my exam time when my mind got disturbed. I just went there with my best friend Bishwo and we actually sat there with our textbooks. You won’t believe when I say that whatever we read there was on our question paper. Well that doesn’t mean that all of you guys should go there with your textbook at your exam time and whatever you read will be on your question paper. I would say it was just our pure luck. The point is I find that place too peaceful and I could concentrate my focus into studies when go there.

Lumbini – Birth Place Of Lord Buddha

Like the Mount Everest another pride of Nepal is having been known as birthplace of Lord Buddha. I know many of the people do know about Buddha and Buddhism but majority of them wouldn’t know where Buddha was born. There were some disputes in the past which said the Buddha was born in India. It was nothing but the rumors but now it has been proven that Nepal is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. I had been their while I was a small kid. I hardly remember the details but I am just proud to have been their even though I was a kid back then.

The birthplace where the Lord Buddha was born is called Lumbini. It is situated in southwestern part of Terai region of Nepal in Rupandehi District, Lumbini Zone. This is the holy place where queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautam who later was known as Buddha and found Buddhism. Buddha grew up and lived up to the age of 29 in his palace. So this place is one of the famous and religious places in the world. People from different parts of the world come to offering prayers and homage to this holy place. There is one Ashoka pillar with some writings in it that proves Lumbini is the birth place of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. Lumbini is the symbol of peace, love, and friendship. In Buddha Purnima (full moon day when Buddha was born) many worshipers and Buddhists monk come to pray for long time peace in the world.

Being a holy place it has not only attracted the people from Nepal or other Buddhist but people from all over the world as well. Recently lots of construction has been going on in that area. Lots of the Buddhist countries like China, Japan, and others have built lots of temples in regards to Buddha around Lumbini. Buddhist or not once you are there, you will find the place to good to visit and will surely get some idea about Buddhism and know the history of Buddha of his childhood and his adulthood where he was a prince in his time.