SAINTS IN NEPAL

SHIVA SAINTS "JAI BHOLENATH"

BUDDISM IN NEPAL

Buddhism is one of the religions deeply embedded in Nepalese culture and custom. Swayambhu Purana mentions previous Buddhas like Vipassi visited and meditated in Nepal. According to the Asoka pillar found on various sites, Kakusandha and Konagama Buddhas were also born in Kapilavastu in Southern Nepal, hometown of historical Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha.


It is generally believed that The Buddha and his follower monks visited Nepal on several occasions during his life time. 300 years after his passing away , Emperor Asoka of India visited Nepal and built pillars in various sacred Buddhist sites like Lumbini (the Buddha's birth place), and Kapilavastu (the Buddha's hometown). He also built four stupas on four corners of perimeters of Patan which are still well preserved to commemorate his visit to Kathmandu valley in 250 BC (Holy Places of Buddhism in Nepal & India by Majupurias).


One of the Emperor's daughters Charumati Bhikshuni visited Nepal and propagated the Buddha’s teaching. She also built the Charumati monastery where she spent the rest of her life. Buddhism flourished in Nepal during this period.


In modern day Nepal we can find various type of Buddhism practised. Such as:


• Vajrayana


• Mahayana


• Tharavada

HAPPY DIWALI



DEVGHAT, NEPAL
Tradition of Diwali Pooja

The literal meaning of 'Diwali' in Sanskrit is 'a row of lamps'. The most popular tradition of Diwali is filling little clay lamps with oil and wick and lighting them in rows all over the house. Even today, the tradition projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life.

Diwali has many legends and religious accounts associated with it. Lights and diyas are lit to signifying the driving away of darkness and ignorance, as well as the awakening of the light within ourselves. It is the perfect time for family gatherings, foods, celebrations and pooja. Goddess Laxmi plays a major role in this festival, as do Ram and Sita. This autumn festival is a five-days celebration, of which each one has its own significance.

People renovate and decorate their houses and business places. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder (kumkum) all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights.

In order to welcome Goddess Laxmi, the house is kept clean and rangoli is drawn at the doorstep. A pandit is consulted for the best time of puja. The general things needed for a diwali puja are silver and gold coins, suparis, uncooked Rice, paan leaves, kumkum for applying tilak, mithaai (Nepali sweets), camphor, agarbattis (incense sticks), dry fruit (almonds, cashews), flower petals and Lakshmi-Ganesh icon.

The pooja ritual is performed in the evening when tiny diyas of clay are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans are sung in praise of the goddess and sweets are offered to her. Diwali puja consists of a combined pooja of five deities: Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighnaharta; Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in her three forms Mahalakshmi,the goddess of wealth and money, Mahasaraswati, the goddess of books and learning and Mahakali. People also worship 'Kuber'- the treasurer of the gods.



" OM NAMAH SHIVAYA "

Mahashivaratri in Nepal and India

Mahashivaratri is celebrated widely in the temples all over Nepal Pradesh, Kathmandu, pokhara, and all over the Nation . Shiva is considered the Adi (first) Guru from whom the yogic tradition originates. According to tradition, the planetary positions on this night are such that there is a powerful natural upsurge of energy in the human system. It is said to be beneficial for one's physical and spiritual wellbeing to stay awake and aware throughout the night."[2] On this day, artists from various fields such as music and dance perform the whole night.

Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple [3] is one among 108 sivalayas built by Lord Parasurama, situated in Mannar, also known as The Bell Metal Town, a major business town mid way between Mavelikara and Tiruvalla, in Alappuzha District of Kerala state, India, on State Highway 6 (Kayamkulam – Thiruvalla Road). It is believed that the mammoth Thrikkuratti Mahadeva temple compound wall was built by Bhootangal of Lord Paramasiva in one night. The unique festivities of Thrikkuratti temple (Sahasra Kalasam, Maikatti Puja and Sivarathri Nritham) attracts lots of pilgrims. The antique wooden carving of Thrikkuratti Mahadeva temple's Sricovil came to lime light recently through visual media, attracting lots of art lovers including foreginers. At a special Nada (gate) on the east side of the Thrikkuratti temple compound wall, other religious members, in particular, Muslims, present offerings on a daily basis. This practice is believed to be centuries old and this is considered to be a true embodiment of religious harmony. The Thrikkuratti Mahasivarathri Festival, only next to Aluva Sivarathri in terms of mass congregation, attracts thousands of devotees. The West Nada (Parvathi) will be open for ten minutes during Sivarathri Nritham on Sivarathri day only. All other days during the year it remains closed. The Srikovil of Thrikkuratti Mahavishnu temple is built based on North Indian Architecture.

The Mahasivrathri festival at Thrikkuratti Mahadeva temple is different from other temples due to its unique festivities. Though the spectacular and colourful cultural programs are performed by renowned artists during these eleven days, the main emphasis is for Sahasrakalasabishekam, Sivarathri Nrutham and Mahasivarathri Procession.