Monasteries and temples in and around Swayambhunatha

I come back home with a bounty of knowledge after I have visited any place. Learning never ceases to disinterest me and I realize everytime that I hardly know anything.
When I started writing my last post on Swayambhunatha, never did I know that it would become an unending post! There was so much to write. Every picture had so much I could write about. This post is in continuation to the last one where I just mentioned the stupa.

Apart from the main stupa, there are many monasteries and temples around the stupa. Instead of segregating them into temples and monasteries, I thought I shall proceed in the order they in which they are located. As I had already mentioned that there is a perfect fusion of Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal so, for me to write about them separately would not be doing justice to either faith.

In addition to two major monasteries, there are small temples also. Its very easy not to notice them in front of the gigantic stupa. Once you start descending from the mount, you see another temple, Shantipur. 

Karma Raja Maha Vihar:

This is a Tibetan monastery following Kagyu tradition, one of the important Tibetan Buddhist schools, on the right side of the entrance. Devotees light yak butter lamps and the image of Sakhyamuni Buddha is stunning.

Monastery

Beautiful Sakhyamuni Buddha statue inside the Monastery

Naagpur ( नागपुर ):

Just outside the monastery, on the right is Naagpur.

Naag, is a hooded serpent. Naagpur, thus is a small pond in which there are idols of two serpents under water. These serpents are worshipped to appease other serpents in the valley.

Vasupur ( वसुपुर ):

On the left side of the main entrance is this temple which is dedicated to Devi Vasudhara or Vasundhara.

Vasupur

Goddess Vasudhara

Vasudhara, who is the consort of Kuber (the God of wealth) is  goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is the Buddhist counterpart of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and is worshipped mianly by the Newari community in Nepal.

a magnified view of goddess

I enlarged a portion of the goddess' photo.  The goddess holds different things in her six arms.

In the first arm on the right, goddess holds a pot of water signifying abundance of wealth. In the second arm, she holds a sheaf of grass signifying abundant harvest and is also a symbol of fertility, and the third one has a book, Prajanaparamita Sutra or the book of wisdom.

In the first left hand, the goddess is in varad mudra which is known as the charity mudra symbolizing divine blessings, second arm has jewels, a symbol of wealth,  and third has prayer beads paying homage to Buddha.

The goddess sits in an easy posture on top of a lotus with one foot towards her body and the other resting on the lotus. Since, she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, she wears extensive jewelery.

plenty of Chaityas, White stupa and Dongak Chhlyoling Monastery (at the back)

Dongak Chhyoling Monastery:

This again is a Tibetan Monastery. Shoes need to be taken off before entering the main hall.

main hall of the monastery

woman lighting butter lamps

It is a very common practice to see people lighting butter lamps in monasteries.This has multifold purposes.

Lighting lamps gives merit to a devotee. 

It is symbolic of shedding away darkness of life leading one to enlightenment.

It is also lighted in the memory of a deceased person so that his passage after death is easy. 

It is lighted for someone who is sick so that the suffering is less and he or she may get well soon.

The lamps are also lighted for the long and good life on a person's birthday.

A black chaitya over a yoni- a perfect example of intermingling of Buddhisma and Hinduism, just 

outside the Monastery.

Ajima temple (अजिमा):

Ajima or Harati Devi is the goddess for children. She is also known as Sheetla Devi. She wards off small pox and other children diseases.

a monk pays respect at temple

Photography of the deity is strictly prohibited so I couldn't take a picture. The deity is revered both by Hindus and the Buddhists.

The original one was destroyed by King Bahadur Shah. It is said that his wife contacted small pox which disfigured her. In depression, she ended her life. The King got very angry and destroyed the temple deity. The present idol of goddess is said to be relatively new.

snow lion guarding the temple

a prayer ceremony in progress

worship of mother on Mother's Day

The Mother and Father's Day is different from the ones celebrated in other parts of the world. The date follows a lunar calendar and comes some time in April and Father's day in August. I have mentioned about father's day in my earlier post Nepal.

Behind Ajima temple is a collection of Chaityas in Northwest corner

Anantpur tower, Swayambhunatha stupa, Harati Devi temple ( two tiered pagoda style) and collection collection of Chaityas.

Swayambhunatha stupa, Ajima temple (with pagoda style roof) and Chaityas

This is a 7th century Dipankar Buddha in Northwest part of the temple. A statue of Hanuman under an umbrella sits beside Buddha.

Feeding pigeons

Feeding birds is considered an activity by which one gains merits and can be seen in all stupas.

 Buddha in Abhaya mudra

Abhay or 'no fear'. This mudra or gesture of fearlessness symbolizes peace, protection and harmony.

Agnipur (अग्निपुर ):
A rather neglected temple, Agnipur ( Agni , fire) definitely means the temple of fire.

This temple is of the God of Fire. It is situated in the North-west side of the stupa.

shops lineed up all around the stupa

There are plenty of shops to lure the tourists. It for sure makes you stop to look at the array of jewellery, nepali music cds, strings of beads, conches, masks, prayer bells etc.

Shantipur temple (शान्तिपुर):

Shantipur which actually means the place of peace is a small temple but it is named after a tantric yogi by the name of Shantikar. There is said to be a locked secret door which no one dares to enter. It is also said that the tantric is still alive and meditating.

sign showing way to temple

the temple

The temple was locked so I had to wriggle my camera in between the grid to take pictures.

inside the temple

fresco on wall

The tantric has mystical powers and when Kathmandu valley faces drought, the ruling King must enter the chamber,  meet Shantikar. Only after that is he blessed, the valley gets rain. This is shown in the fresco on walls. 

I trace my way out of the temple and move towards the exit / entrance on the south side where the car park is.

Plenty of prayer flags can be seen fluttering from above

I had in detail mentioned about prayer flags in my post on Bhutan, Some beliefs and rituals in Bhutan where they are called lungdhar. Here in Nepal they are called lungta. Their significance and purpose is the same.

It is considered to bring good fortune to tie prayer flags.

Since monkeys occupy a special place in this temple, on the right side is a swimming pool solely for monkeys!

time for a splash

meeting place !

World Peace Pond

This pond has a statue of Lord Buddha standing on a lotus. It is said that if a person's coin lands on Buddha's feet, good luck comes to him. You see lots of people aiming for Buddha feet and making a wish.

View from the car parking entrance

the other entrance, ticket counter on left side of picture

Bijeshwari ( बिजेश्वरी ):

On way back to Kathmandu from Swayambhunatha, we stopped at this temple. Bijeshwari is a beautiful small temple. Not many tourists visit it.

entrance to temple guarded by snow lions on either side

temple courtyard

view of courtyard from other side

temple, not the main deity

When you enter this temple, there is a door which leads to the main deity. Photography is not permitted there.

the main deity is behind the golden mesh window

Notice the beautiful lattice work.

another goddess temple, it was closed

torana over the temple

That finished my incredible trip to Swayambhunatha and Bijeshwari temples.