ARTH406 3.2.4 Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites Nepal

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    Source URL: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/b/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-nepal/Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/arth406/#3.2.4

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    Buddhist pilgrimage sites: NepalAs the birthplace of the historicalBuddha, Nepal is one of the maincentres of Mahayana Buddhism.Over a long period of time it hasbeen a meeting place for Buddhistteachers and scholars. The Emperor

    Ashoka visited Nepal during the 2ndcentury BC and later sentmissionaries there to spreadthe teachings of the Buddha. He hada pillar erected at the Buddha'sbirthplace at Lumbini andconstructed several stupas at Patan.

    Nepal played an important part inthe expansion of Buddhism and inthe preservation of various ancientBuddhist traditions and texts. Many

    manuscripts relating to Buddhistphilosophy, sutras, rituals, art andarchitecture are still kept in National

    Archives in Kathmandu and variousmonastic libraries.

    Nepal was also renowned for

    its production of fine quality Buddhist art. Newari craftsmen produced a wide variety of

    objects, including stone carved architectural elements, wood carving, casting and

    metalwork incorporating the use of precious metals and gems, painted manuscripts,

    frescoes and banners and the production of papier mache and textiles.

    Patan

    Buddha image, Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal. Photograph by

    Dey Alexander, 2005

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    Patan is one of the oldest royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and wasoriginally designed in the shape of the Buddhist 'Wheel of the Law' (dharmachakra).

    According to legend, when Ashokavisited Nepal in 250 BC, heordered that five stupas be

    constructed, one in each of thefour cardinal directions andanother in the centre of the city.Today there are more than 1,000Buddhist monuments scatteredthroughout the city and DurbarSquare has been listed as a WorldHeritage Site.

    The Mahabuddha temple is

    dedicated to Siddhartha Gautama,

    the historical Buddha and is oftencalled the temple of a thousand

    Buddhas because a Buddha image

    is engraved on every brick. The temple is modelled on the Mahabodhi temple at

    Bodhgaya in India.

    Durbar Square, Patan. Photgraph by Peter Dalsgaard

    Nielsen, 2008 (click image for larger version)

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    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan

    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal.

    Photograph by Dey Alexander, 2005

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    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan

    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal. Photograph by Dey Alexander, 2005

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    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan

    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal. Photograph by Dey Alexander,

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    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan

    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal. Photograph by Dey Alexander,

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    Guardian above entrance to shrine, MahabodhiTemple

    Guardian above entrance to shrine, Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal.

    Photograph by Dey Alexander, 2005

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    Entrance to shrine, Mahabodhi Temple

    Entrance to shrine, Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal. Photograph

    by Dey Alexander, 2005

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    Buddha image, Mahabodhi Temple

    Buddha image, Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal.

    Photograph by Dey Alexander, 2005

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    Source URL: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/b/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-nepal/Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/arth406/#3.2.4

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    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan

    Mahabodhi Temple, Patan, Nepal. Photograph Oriental

    Architecture

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    SwayambhunathOne of the holiest Buddhist sites inthe Kathmandu Valley in Nepal ismarked by the great stupa ofSwayambhunath. The namemeans Self Created or SelfExistent and refers to theNepalese legend telling how thePrimordial Buddha manifestedhimself in the form of light or flamefrom a resplendent lotus resting onthe centre of a lake which oncecovered the entire valley. Thecompassionate bodhisattvaManjusri drained this lake with hissword by cutting through the sideof the valley so freeing the land forhuman habitation.

    The stupa is believed to mark theplace where the deity manifestedand to enclose his perpetual flame.The eyes which look out over thevalley from each side of its towerare therefore to be regarded as theeyes of the supreme uncreated Buddha. The first stupa was built by the Buddhist king

    Vrsadeva at the beginning of the 5th century AD. It has been restored many times overthe centuries, particularly in the 12th and 14th centuries. The monument is also sacredto Tibetan Buddhists who continue to visit it as pilgrims. The large central stupa issurrounded by temples, guesthouses and tiny votive stupas added over the centuries bydevotees.

    Image of Amitaba, Swayambhunath, Kathmandu, Nepal. John Huntin ton

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    Swayambhunath stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal. John Huntington

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    Vajra at Swayambhunath stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal. John Huntington

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    Swayambhunath stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal. Photograph by

    Jennifer Tynan, 2001