Introducing Swayambhunath
The great Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath (admission Rs 75), on the top of a hill west of Kathmandu, is one of the most popular and instantly recognisable symbols of Nepal. The temple is known affectionately as the 'Monkey Temple', after the large troop of handsome monkeys that guards the hill and amuses visitors and devotees with tricks (including sliding gracefully down the banisters of the main stairway to the temple).
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Legends relate that the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake (geologists agree on this point) and that the hill on which Swayambhunath stands was 'self-arisen' (swayambhu), much like a lotus leaf risen from the muddy waters of the lake. It is also said that Emperor Ashoka paid a visit to the site over 2000 years ago.
An inscription indicates that King Manadeva ordered work done here in AD 460 and certainly by the 13th century it was an important Buddhist centre. In 1346 Mughal invaders from Bengal broke open the stupa in the search for gold. King Pratap Malla added the stairway in the 17th century.
From its hilltop setting, Swayambhunath offers fine views over Kathmandu and the valley. It's particularly striking in the early evening when the city is illuminated, and the site is also very attractive under the soft glow of moonlight. There are several curio shops around the stupa, as well as a couple of reviving cafés.
Last updated: May 1, 2009
Swayambhunath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swayambhunath (Devanagari: स्वयम्भूनाथ स्तुप; sometimes romanized Swoyambhunath) is an ancient
religious complex atop a hill in theKathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the
Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Tibetan name
for the site means 'Sublime Trees' (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill.
However,Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning 'self-sprung'
.[1] For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice,
Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For
Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath.
religious complex atop a hill in theKathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the
Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Tibetan name
for the site means 'Sublime Trees' (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill.
However,Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning 'self-sprung'
.[1] For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice,
Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For
Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath.
The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the
Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's
eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose - but is the
Nepali symbol of 'unity', in the main Nepali language dialect[citation needed]. There are also shops, restaurants and
hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the
main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the
south leading to the southwest entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra.
Tsultrim Allione describes the experience:
Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's
eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose - but is the
Nepali symbol of 'unity', in the main Nepali language dialect[citation needed]. There are also shops, restaurants and
hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the
main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the
south leading to the southwest entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra.
Tsultrim Allione describes the experience:
We were breathless and sweating as we stumbled up the last steep steps and practically fell upon the
biggest vajra (thunder-bolt scepter) that I have ever seen. Behind this vajra was the vast, round,
white dome of the stupa, like a full solid skirt, at the top of which were two giant Buddha eyes wisely
looking out over the peaceful valley which was just beginning to come alive.[2]
Much of Swayambhunath's iconography comes from the Vajrayana tradition of Newar Buddhism. However,
the complex is also an important site forBuddhists of many schools, and is also revered by Hindus.
the complex is also an important site forBuddhists of many schools, and is also revered by Hindus.
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[edit]
Mythology
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 asSwayambhu, meaning "Self-Created."
lotus. The valley came to be known asSwayambhu, meaning "Self-Created."
The name comes from an eternal self-existent flame (svyaṃbhu) over which a sūpa was later built.[3]
Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts
of the temple. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill
which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long
and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice transformed into these monkeys.
of the temple. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill
which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long
and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice transformed into these monkeys.
The Bodhisattva Manjusri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that
the valley can be good settlement and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, Manjusri cut
a gorge at Chovar. 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.
the valley can be good settlement and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, Manjusri cut
a gorge at Chovar. 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.
[edit]
History
Swayambhunath, is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. According to the Gopālarājavaṃśāvalī Swayambhunath
was founded by the great-grandfather of King Mānadeva (464-505 CE), King Vṛsadeva, about the beginning of the
5th century CE. This seems to be confirmed by a damaged stone inscription found at the site, which indicates
that King Mānadeva ordered work done in 640 CE.[3]
was founded by the great-grandfather of King Mānadeva (464-505 CE), King Vṛsadeva, about the beginning of the
5th century CE. This seems to be confirmed by a damaged stone inscription found at the site, which indicates
that King Mānadeva ordered work done in 640 CE.[3]
However, Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited the site in the third century BCE and built a temple on the
hill which was later destroyed.
hill which was later destroyed.
Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous king
Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king
of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.[4]
Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king
of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.[4]
The stupa was completely renovated in May 2010, its first major renovation in 90 years[5] and its 15th in the
nearly 1,500 years since it was built. The dome was re-gilded using 20 kg of gold. The renovation was funded
by the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center of California, and began in June 2008.[6]
nearly 1,500 years since it was built. The dome was re-gilded using 20 kg of gold. The renovation was funded
by the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center of California, and began in June 2008.[6]
[edit]
Architecture
The stupa consists of a dome at the base, above which
is a cubical structure painted with eyes of Buddha
looking in all four directions with the word "unity"
in the main Nepali dialect between them[citation needed].
There are pentagonal Toran present above each of the four
sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the
torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers there is a
small space above which the Gajur is present.
is a cubical structure painted with eyes of Buddha
looking in all four directions with the word "unity"
in the main Nepali dialect between them[citation needed].
There are pentagonal Toran present above each of the four
sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the
torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers there is a
small space above which the Gajur is present.
[edit]
Symbolism
The dome at the base represents the entire world. When a person awakes (represented by eyes of wisdom and
compassion) from the bonds of the world, the person reaches the state of enlightenment. The thirteen pinnacles
on the top symbolize that sentient beings have to go through the thirteen stages of spiritual realizations to reach
enlightenment or Buddhahood.
compassion) from the bonds of the world, the person reaches the state of enlightenment. The thirteen pinnacles
on the top symbolize that sentient beings have to go through the thirteen stages of spiritual realizations to reach
enlightenment or Buddhahood.
There is a large pair of eyes on each of the four sides of the main stupa which represent Wisdom and
Compassion. Above each pair of eyes is another eye, the third eye. It is said that when Buddha preaches,
cosmic rays emanate from the third eye which act as messages to heavenly beings, so that those interested
can come down to earth to listen to the Buddha. The hellish beings and beings below the human realm cannot
come to earth to listen to the Buddha's teaching, however, the cosmic rays relieve their suffering when Buddha
preaches.
Compassion. Above each pair of eyes is another eye, the third eye. It is said that when Buddha preaches,
cosmic rays emanate from the third eye which act as messages to heavenly beings, so that those interested
can come down to earth to listen to the Buddha. The hellish beings and beings below the human realm cannot
come to earth to listen to the Buddha's teaching, however, the cosmic rays relieve their suffering when Buddha
preaches.
There are carvings of the Panch Buddhas (five Buddhas) on each of the four sides of stupa. There are also
statues of the Buddhas at the base of the stupas. Panch Buddhas are Buddha in metaphorical sense in
Tantrayana. They are Vairochana (occupies the center and is the master of the temple), Akshobhya
(faces the east and represents the cosmic element of consciousness), Ratna Sambhava (faces the south
and represents the cosmic element of sensation), Amitabha (He represents cosmic element of Sanjna (name)
and always faces the West) and Amoghsiddhi (He represents the cosmic element of conformation and faces
the north).
statues of the Buddhas at the base of the stupas. Panch Buddhas are Buddha in metaphorical sense in
Tantrayana. They are Vairochana (occupies the center and is the master of the temple), Akshobhya
(faces the east and represents the cosmic element of consciousness), Ratna Sambhava (faces the south
and represents the cosmic element of sensation), Amitabha (He represents cosmic element of Sanjna (name)
and always faces the West) and Amoghsiddhi (He represents the cosmic element of conformation and faces
the north).
Each morning before dawn hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from
eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance,
and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.
eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance,
and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.
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