Budhanilkantha
The Kathmandu Valley
is soaked with ancient temples and sacred sites, but
Budhanilkantha is the exceptional among others. The
focal point of the devotions at Budhanilkantha is a
large reclining statue of Vishnu as Narayan, the
creator of all life, who floats on the cosmic sea.
From his navel grew a lotus and from the lotus came
Brahma, who in turn created the world. The 5m -long
Licchavi-style image was created in the 7th or 8th
centur from one monolithic piece of stone and hauled
here from outside.
Vishnu is another trinity of Hindu gods, along with
Brahma and Shiva. His role as the preserver of the
universe ensures his presence in many parts of the
Valley. The worship of Vishnu dates far back to the
days of King Hari Datta, who built several Vishnu
shrines.
For centuries, however, the worship of Shiva
overshadowed the cult. In the 14th century, King
Jayasthiti Malla patronized the worship of Vishnu
and established himself as an incarnate of Vishnu.
The king of Nepal is still regarded as an
incarnation to this day. Vishnu, in the form of
Narayan, is often portrayed as lying in the primeval
ocean sheltered by the giant snake, Ananta. The most
impressive statue of this pose is found in
Budhanilkantha, a township eight kilo meters (five
miles) from Kathmandu. There, a five-metre (16-foot)
stone imageVishnu, nestled within Ananta's 11 hoods,
and bearing four powerful symbols in his four
arms-lies in a shallow pool. The discus in the upper
right hand symbolizes the mind, while the mace in
the upper left hand represents knowledge, a conch in
the lower left hand the five elements, and a lotus
seed in the lower right hand the universe.
Sculpted at least 1, 400 years ago, it was probably
brought in from outside the Valley. From certain
angles, the entire statue is reflected on the water
of the pool which gives the illusion of two
identical statues joined at the back.
The temple is popular with worshippers, who adorn
the statue with flowers, vermilion, coins and rice.
Each morning the face of the god is washed by a
priest.
Vaishnavism (the worship of Vishnu) was the main
sect of Hinduism in Nepal until the early Malla
period, when Shiva became the most popular deity.
The Malla king Jayasthiti is credited with reviving
the Vishnu cult by claiming to be the latest
incarnation of this oft-incarnated god. Every
subsequent king of Nepal has made the same claim,
and because of this they are forbidden, on pain of
death : from seeing the image at Budhanilkantha.
Vishnu is supposed to sleep through the four monsoon
months and a great festival takes place at
Budhanilkantha for Haribodhini Ekadashi-the 11th day
of the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November)-
when Vishnu is said to be awaken from his annual
slumber. It's one of the most impressive pieces of
sculpture in Nepal, and only Hindus can approach the
statue to leave offerings of fruit and flower
garlands, but visitors can view the statue through
the fence that surrounds the sacred tank..
Sightseen Tour Around Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the prevalent valley in the Himalayas
which has relished a virtually uninterrupted history
because of its location. The preservation of the
culture and traditions of the Nepali people are
nowhere more evident than this fertile valley. The
earliest settlements in the valley go back beyond
2,500 years, their initiation was absolutely
surrounded by the ancient myths and legends. History
of valley goes back to the kiratis, around the 7th
century BC, the foundation of Kathmandu itself dates
from 12th century AD, during the time of the Malla
dynasty. Kathmandu valley is peppered with the
stupas among which Swoyambhunath and Bouddhanath are
the central point for the tourists. The flight to
Kathmandu is one of the most vivid experiences you
can ever savor. It seems as if you are flying into
an impenetrable mountains wall until the heights
swiftly unbolt. To the east is Bhaktapur and to the
west Patan, the two ancient sister cities of
Kathmandu.
The best place to start your travels in Nepal is
certainly none other than Kathmandu. The city and
its neighbouring areas are the strongholds of Newari
culture, which has embossed its influence all over
this prolific valley. One of the best ways to enjoy
the city is to wake up with it in the morning. As
you explore the city, you will discern the radical
beliefs of the Nepali people represented by the
several shrines and temples on almost every streets.
To really glimpse the soul of the city , u got to
take a walk through the backstreets, and the
capital's timeless cultural and artistic heritages.
The most enthusiast things that could be encountered
in this perpetually celestial city are divinely boon
as well as clustered around the majestic Durbar
Square and its surrounding backstreets.
Nepal being a
landlocked country is entirely embraced by the
Himalayas between India and China. Nepal is totally
covered by the white dazzling mountains and
subtropical jungles in the northern and southern
region respectively. Beauty of Nepal lies in its
perpendicular perspectives as it contains eight
among the world's 10 highest peaks and each of them
above 8,000 meters (26,250 feet). Besides having
eight of the world's 10 highest mountains, Nepal
also boasts approximately 150 peaks above 6,000
meters (19,700 feet) of which are above 7,000 meters
(23,000 feet). 
