VISIT TO NEPAL ON PILGRIMAGE - SEP/OCT 2015
PART I - KATHMANDU
The North entrance of Pasupathinath temple is the one through which the Royal highnesses used to have darshan. Darshan at all the four sides can be had at the time of abhishekam and aarti and the doors are closed to have darshan from only on normal hours.
Bagamati River
The temple of Pasupathynath is at the banks of the river Bagmati. In the evening time aarthi is performed similar to Varanasi for Ganges. As the time we had been was Mahalyapaksh, several people were doing the pithru srartham in the river bank.
Swayambunath
Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. The temple complex suffered damage in the earthquake of April 2015. Buddhist scripture about the origin and development of Kathmandu is Swayambupurana and this also describes about the first and second buddhas in Buddhism. From a stone inscription in the temple, it is estimated the temple came into being around 450-500 AD. A golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill is the famous Swayambhunath Stupa. Lot of Monkeys are found in the temple and also known as Monkey hill. A collection of legends about the site, the 15th century Swayambhu Purana, tells of a miraculous lotus, planted by a past Buddha, which blossomed from the lake that once covered Kathmandu valley. The lotus mysteriously radiated a brilliant light, and the name of the place came to be Swayambhu, meaning 'Self-Created or Self-Existent'.
I had darshan of Pasupathinath on 30th evening, darshan of morning abhishekam at 10.30 hrs on 01 Oct 2015 and also evening aarthi on evening at 06.30 PM on 04 Oct 2015. Few more postings with more photographs of each temple/pakoda will be done shortly.
Links for Part II : Nepal Pilgrimage and Mukthinath
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2015/10/nepal-tour-and-pilgrimage-part-ii.html
Links forPart III : Nepal Pilgrimage - Manakamana Devi
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2015/10/nepal-tour-and-pilgrimage-part-iii.html
I went from Bangalore to Kathmandu for Nepal tour and pilgrimage for 5d/6N. I joined the rest of the devotees from Chennai at Kathmandu. The season had the best of climates in Nepal but the political climate was not that good with the fuel and other supplies not arriving from India during the period, with the problem of vehicles not available for tourism with restricted and rationed supply.
Still with delay and dropping of some places which had been planned earlier, the group was able to cover Kathmandu, Jomsom, Kandaki river, Muktinath and Manakamana Devi temple with ropeway in Gorka district. The places dropped were in Pokra, Davy falls and temple and in Kathmandu Durbar square. Indian money is accepted and no changing of currency is required in Nepal and conversion rate was INR 100= NR 160.
Pasupathinath Temple
Darshan at Pasupathinath temple was more than once, as we could have darshan at the time of morning abhishekam (10 AM onwards) and Aarti in the evening (6.30PM) and also aarti to Bagamati river which is in the rear of Pasupatinath temple in the evening. The Chief Priest conducting the pooja in Pasupathinath temple is Shri Ganesh Bhat from Karnantaka. Photography inside Pasupathinath temple is not allowed and to take pictures of aarti of Bagamati river, one has to go to behind the temple crossing the river. Pictures cannot be taken from the temple side and also the temple's aarti finishes by 7 PM and even as the river aarti goes on and the temple is closed. Fresh Rudrakshamalas are purchased and are given to be kept at the feet of the lord during abhishekam and also at aarti time and given back to the devotees. The temple nandhi quite big is a treat to watch. Lord Anjaneya's idol is nearby the Nandhi. This Nandi is 20 feet long is covered with pure gold.
Darshan at Pasupathinath temple was more than once, as we could have darshan at the time of morning abhishekam (10 AM onwards) and Aarti in the evening (6.30PM) and also aarti to Bagamati river which is in the rear of Pasupatinath temple in the evening. The Chief Priest conducting the pooja in Pasupathinath temple is Shri Ganesh Bhat from Karnantaka. Photography inside Pasupathinath temple is not allowed and to take pictures of aarti of Bagamati river, one has to go to behind the temple crossing the river. Pictures cannot be taken from the temple side and also the temple's aarti finishes by 7 PM and even as the river aarti goes on and the temple is closed. Fresh Rudrakshamalas are purchased and are given to be kept at the feet of the lord during abhishekam and also at aarti time and given back to the devotees. The temple nandhi quite big is a treat to watch. Lord Anjaneya's idol is nearby the Nandhi. This Nandi is 20 feet long is covered with pure gold.
The North entrance of Pasupathinath temple is the one through which the Royal highnesses used to have darshan. Darshan at all the four sides can be had at the time of abhishekam and aarti and the doors are closed to have darshan from only on normal hours.
Bagamati River
The temple of Pasupathynath is at the banks of the river Bagmati. In the evening time aarthi is performed similar to Varanasi for Ganges. As the time we had been was Mahalyapaksh, several people were doing the pithru srartham in the river bank.
Jalanarayan
Jalanarayan temple is in Buddhalikantha area of Kathmandu and is about 5 kms from city centre. Vishnu in lying posture over the Adisesha has been so beautifully carved and is about 5 metres inlength and lying in a 13 metre long tank. He is in sayana pose in the square water tank and an enclosure as a compound wall has been around the tank separates the other deities here. No photograph is allowed inside the enclosure and no objection is there to take photographs from outside the enclosure. This temple also has Ganapathy and Lord siva sannidhis.
Sree Guhyeswari temple, Sakthipeetam
Sree Guhyeswari temple, Sakthipeetam
There are 51 Shakti Peethas corresponding to the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. Each temple possesses shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava.
This temple is dedicated to AadiShakti and near to the Pashupathinath temple. King Pratap Malla built this temple in the 17th century. The goddess is also called Guhyekali.
In the temple, small statues of Sree Ganapathy and Lord Karthikeya is on either side of Lord Bhairava. The sakthipetam has the Parvathi Mathas pathas (foot) and prayers are offered to this.
This temple is revered by Tantric practitioners and Tantric rites are performed in this temple.
Boudhnath
Boudhnath
The Boudhnath had damaged during the earthquake and work is rehabilitation work is going on and is one of the busiest centres of Kathmandu and thickly populated and huge traffic is always present on the roads leading to the Pagoda. The prakaras around the main temple is full of shops with souvenirs and this place has lot of Moneychanger shops. Vehicles cannot be parked outside the pakoda and have to be parked far away and when darshan is over, vehicles have to come to pick up.
Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. The temple complex suffered damage in the earthquake of April 2015. Buddhist scripture about the origin and development of Kathmandu is Swayambupurana and this also describes about the first and second buddhas in Buddhism. From a stone inscription in the temple, it is estimated the temple came into being around 450-500 AD. A golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill is the famous Swayambhunath Stupa. Lot of Monkeys are found in the temple and also known as Monkey hill. A collection of legends about the site, the 15th century Swayambhu Purana, tells of a miraculous lotus, planted by a past Buddha, which blossomed from the lake that once covered Kathmandu valley. The lotus mysteriously radiated a brilliant light, and the name of the place came to be Swayambhu, meaning 'Self-Created or Self-Existent'.
I had darshan of Pasupathinath on 30th evening, darshan of morning abhishekam at 10.30 hrs on 01 Oct 2015 and also evening aarthi on evening at 06.30 PM on 04 Oct 2015. Few more postings with more photographs of each temple/pakoda will be done shortly.
Links for Part II : Nepal Pilgrimage and Mukthinath
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2015/10/nepal-tour-and-pilgrimage-part-ii.html
Links forPart III : Nepal Pilgrimage - Manakamana Devi
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2015/10/nepal-tour-and-pilgrimage-part-iii.html
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