Thursday, May 5, 2016

Nepal: Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple


My first postcard from Nepal! Swayambhunath is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. 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. 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 Manjushri, 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.


Stamps:
Moths of Nepal: Eudocima salaminia, issued on 09.12.2014.
Bungy jumping, issued on 28.12.2002.


Thank you very much Pradip!


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