One of the interesting ways
to understand the beauty and richness of Nepali
culture is through its festivals. During festivals
in Nepal, cultural dances, songs and performances
are practiced. These cultural treasures make
the festivals interesting and entertaining.
People find more joy participating in performances
and watching others perform and so, no festivals
are idle gatherings. Instead, they are lively
and purposeful.
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Festival Nepal
Nepal has more festivals than
the number of days in a year. A festival is
always a meaningful and memorable event in
the life of Nepalese people. Every festival
has some purpose to serve. From bringing in
the rain to honoring the dead or averting
calamities, every festival has something spiritual
about it. Festival is a way of life in Nepal.
With the number of festivals that Nepal has,
it is one of the best ways to understand and
appreciate the Nepalese ways of life.
Dances
Dances are almost always associated
with festivals in Nepal. There are many forms
of popular dances, and their flavor changes
as one moves up from the lowland Terai to
the doons and valleys to the high hills and
mountains. Every dance is performed for some
spiritual purpose. The choreography include
simple wood stick dances in the south to the
intricate details of the trance-induced dances
of the Kathmandu Valley to the furious mask
dances to the north. Basically, the dances
are divided into Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
Dance events are also a form of social gatherings.
The hilly regions have very simple dance forms
which involve the shaking of the hips and
hands, and easy for anyone to learn. It is
worthwhile for visitors to take part in such
dances.
People
Nepal has a population of more
than 23 million consisting of more than 70
ethnic groups having different cultures and
speaking above 70 languages. According to
some recently calculated figures (based on
the 1981/1982 census) 80% of the people are
Hindus, 15% are Buddhists and around 3% are
Muslims. The rest are divided into other religions.
Whatever might be the figures, the perfect
harmony maintained beautifully by people despite
the religious differences is truly remarkable
in Nepal. The distribution of the different
ethnic groups reflects the geographical diversity
of the country. The majority of Nepal's population
is of Indo-Aryan origin the remaining are
of Tibetan and Bhotiya inhabitants of Northern
Nepal (such as Sherpas, Dolpas and Lopas of
Mustang) and the Mongoloid inhabitants of
the central belt (such as Newars, Tamangs,
Rais, Limbus, Sunuwars, Magars and Gurung
communities).
The four main divisions of castes
in Hindu Nepal are Bahun, Chhetri, Vaishya
and Shudra. The family names of some Hindu
castes may reflect locality as well as caste
specific occupation. For instance, in Newari
Society potters are known as Kumal (kumale),
while masons are known as dakarmis. The common
surnames of East and central Nepal are Gotame,
Sharma, Regmi, Acharya, Nepal, Upadhyay, Aryal,
Bhandari, Adhikari and Paudyal; those from
West Nepal include Pant, Joshi, Bishta, Bhatta,
Pandey, Awasthi, Lohani.
Let us now
look at some major ethnic groups of Nepal.
Newars
Kathmandu, the capital city has been the homeland
of the Newars. The Newars are inhabitants
of a Tibeto-Burman origin speaking in Newari(their
own dialect) as well as Nepali. The Newars
are among the largest indigenous groups of
Nepal and Make up the 7% of the total population
(/ 800000). Several Newar Families follow
Buddhism as well as Hinduism. They are usually
inclined towards commerce, trade and farming.
The Newars, who have been divided into 64
occupational groups by King Sthiti Malla,
are a unique testimony of the richness of
Nepali cultural heritages. They have excelled
in arts literature, sculpting, casting bronze
and silver and fascinating forms of architecture.
Brahmins
Brahmins, the priestly class of Indo-Aryan
origin, occupy the highest position in the
Hindu hierarchy. They are said to have come
to Nepal from different Parts of India. Today
they are found in every part of Nepal and
have taken up different occupations.
Chhetris
The Chhetris, who like the Brahmins also have
an Indo-Aryan origin, have been traditionally
classified as warriors and administrators.
They are recognized for their bravery and
administrative skills. Today, they are distributed
in almost all the parts of Nepal and have
been working in different fields. They are
said to have originally come from northern
India during and after the time of the Buddha.
The Khas are generally regarded as Bahuns
and Chhetris who set up their own kingdoms
in the far- western parts of Nepal. Their
language, khas-kura (Nepali) which had evolved
out of Sanskrit, was later introduced as the
state language after the king, Prithvi Narayan
Shah, conquered the Kathmandu valley in 1778.
Gurungs
The Gurungs, originally belonging to the Tibet-Burman
ethnic group, live mostly in the central region
of Nepal in places like the foothills of Kaski,
Lamjung and Annapurna Himal. The Gurung villages
surrounding the hills of Pokhara have attracted
tourists because of their beautifully maintained
stone houses. The Gurungs are good farmers
as well as warriors. They, like the Rais,
Limbus and Magars, have introduced themselves
internationally as the brave Gorkha- soldiers.
They follow Hinduism or Buddhism.
Kiratis
The Kiratis ( Rais, Limbus and several other
minor groups living in eastern Nepal at present)
are among the first group of people ruling
over Nepal. Ancient Hindu texts like Himvat-khanda,
and Mahabharata have mentioned their names.
They basically come from eastern Nepal's Tamakoshi,
Bhaotekoshi, Arun and Tamor. These people
of Tibeto-Burman origin worship their ancestors
and at the same time follow Buddhism, Hinduism,
Animism and so on. They are very good farmers
and warriors. They are rich in culture and
have several languages and scripts called
the Sri-Jung.
Magars
The Magars, having Tibeto-Burman origin, live
in the Kali Gandaki region on the South of
Dhaulagiri. They speak the Tibeto-Burman language
and are Hindu by faith but they also follow
Buddhism. They are mostly farmers but their
martial qualities and physical fitness have
made them good soldiers.
Sherpas
The Sherpas, who are said to have come from
Tibet, speak the Tibeto-Burman language and
live in the Himalayan region of Nepal. They
are hardworking, friendly, and reliable in
nature. The largest Sherpa settlement is in
Solu Khumbu at the foothill of Mt.Everest,
the worlds' highest peak (8848m). The Sherpas
are adventurous mountaineers of international
repute. Tenzing Norgay was the first guide,
who with Sir Edmund Hillary from New-Zealand,
successfully climbed Mt.Everest in 1953. Ang
Rita, Babu Chiri(late), Pasang Lhamu(late)
are a few well known Sherpas in the field
of mountaineering.
Tharus
The Tharus are the only people living in the
forests of the hot Terai along the southern
base of the Shivalik hills. Their age-old
religion has been Animism, which often reflects
their mixed belief in Hinduism and Buddhism.
The Tharus, who are said to be descendants
of the Rajput(ruling class ) of India, have
spread from eastern to western part of Nepal.
We have many Madesi or Terai people living
along the border Between India and Nepal.
They speak Languages like Maithali in the
eastern Terai, Bhojpuri in the central Terai
and Avadhi in the western terai.
World Heritage
Sites
Of the many sites, ten of them
have been incorporated into the list of World
Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The list includes
both natural as well as cultural sites. Of
the eight cultural heritage sites, seven of
them which glorify the Kathmandu Valley, are
within the distance of 20 kilometres. Kathmandu
Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur
Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath
Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Changu Narayan
Temple are within the valley whereas the birht
place of Lord Buddha, Lumbini is the only
cultural Heritage site outside the valley.
Everest (Sagarmatha) National Park and Chitwan
National Park are the two natural heritage
sites.
Famous Pilgrimage
Sites
Besides those many included
in the World Heritage Sites, Nepal has other
heritage and pilgrimage sites as well that
are very important to the people and their
distinctive and respective cultures. These
range from the Nuwakot Palace to Gorkha Palace,
from Mukti Nath to Dev Ghat dham. Most of
these sites are remotely located, and have
communities grown around them. These sites
are important from historical as well from
religious points of view. Most of these sites
are also proven to be very good trekking routes,
as in Muktinath and Gosaikund. Tours to these
sites are highly encouraged not only for religious
purposes but also for witnessing and appreciating
the various cultural and traditional ethos
of this small but diverse country. Most of
these sites are open throughout the year for
tourism because they are considered living
museums.
Educational
Nepal is a premier destination
for Hindu, Buddhist, Sanskrit and Tantric
studies. Community education and historical
surveys are also very popular. Study of the
ancient Bon religion is also gaining ground,
besides studies in animism and shamanism that
are still extant in Nepal. Serious studies
of Nepal are also quite an experience. Most
of Buddhist studies are done in monasteries
located in remote areas of the country. Sanskrit
studies are normally taken up in Kathmandu
and the Terai lowlands. Study visits have
to be pre-arranged. Most of the monasteries
allow students only on special requests. Sanskrit
learning also must be pre-arranged. Visits
to the places of learning can be done through
direct contact.
Museum &
Galleries
Nepal and its heritage sites,
historical landmarks and pilgrimage destinations
as well as the peoples and their communities
are all open museums The three Durbar Squares
of the Kathmandu Valley have all been open-air
museums for decades. Most of the museums in
Nepal are dedicated to the arts and craft
of the past centuries. There is also a museum
of natural history, and some others that are
dedicated to contemporary arts. The most important
museum in Nepal is the National Museum. It
is located at the western end of the Kathmandu
Valley. This museum holds a large collection
of weapons, art and antiquities of historical
and cultural importance. Another famous museum
is the Hanuman Dhoka Palace. One museum of
historical significance is the Kapilvastu
Museum located at Lumbini, the birthplace
of Lord Buddha. This museum has a unique collection
of coins, pottery, toys and other artifacts.
Art &
Craft
The art and craft of Nepal are
basically based on the religious themes taken
from Buddhism and Hinduism. Nepalese art has
been influenced and promoted since the earliest
recorded times by the Newars. The history
of arts in Nepal is divided into five major
periods prior to the Gorkha dynasty. These
are Pre-Licchavi, Licchavi, transitional,
Early Malla and late Malla periods. Pre-Licchavi
art is represented by the many terra-cotta
figures being discovered and excavated. The
Mallas contributed immensely to the arts and
architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. Buddhist
thanka and Newar paubha paintings have been
executed in Nepal since time immemorial. Cave
paintings by Buddhist monks are found in very
remote areas such as the Sagarmatha region
and Mustang. Watching the Nepalese arts and
craft can be a cultural walk in historical
times.
Nepali Music
and Dances
Music and dances have always
been an integral part of Nepali culture. The
many forms of dances and music differing from
one region to another are one of the best
sources of entertainment, which has its own
uniqueness and beauty. Nepali music, unlike
western music, does not have any written notations.
It is based on melody and improvisation.
The different Raaga`s are the
bases of classical music in Nepal. Different
raagas are meant for different times of a
day or different seasons. These raagas are
generally named as Basanta (spring), Malshree
(autumn), Sinyamein (summer), Deepak (monsoon)
etc.
Communities of people like the gaine`s and
badi`s, who pass on their talents from one
generation to the other, still entertain people
with their songs and dances in some parts
of Nepal. The Gaine`s also make good sales-men
as they sell Sarangi`s (the musical instrument
they make for sale and to play themselves).
Music, in Nepal, has also been widely used
for religious purposes. Bhajans and Charya
songs and dances are very fascinating.
The different dances (folk and
classical) are a talent of displaying different
emotions. In these Nepali dances even a flicker
of an eyelid and the movement of a hand would
have a meaning. Dances are performed not only
for entertainment, but also for different
social and religious purposes. Classical dances
like the Gan Payakhan (a panel of eight mother
goddesses) of, Patan, the Nava-Durga dance
of Bhaktapur, The Bhairav dance of Halchowk
are among the wide range of classical dances
in Nepal. These dances and songs are performed
by different public and private organizations
committed to preserve them like 'The Royal
Nepal Academy', 'Rastriya Naach Ghar' etc.
Musical instruments
Many ancient stone statues and
other evidences show that Nepali music was
alive even before the Kirant and the Licchavi
dynasties. 7th century inscriptions show the
existence of a well-organized musical team
(orchestra) even during that era.
There are many musical instruments most of
which are made with the help of local resources.
Nekoo, made of the horn of a water buffalo,
is believed to scare evil spirits once played.
The Panche Baaja is a group of musical instruments
without which no Nepali wedding is said to
be complete. It comprises of five instruments
played together, they are:
Religious
Symbols
SHREE YANTRA
Different yantras, for tantricpuja or meditation,
are used by tantric pundits. Among the many
yantras prevalent the shree yantra (shree
stands for 'Lakshmi' the goddess of prosperity)
is said to be the most important and is called
the king of yantras by the tantric adepts.
Shree yantra is composed of
two sets of triangles one of which is composed
of Shreekanthas (four male Shiva triangles
denoting gradually involved energy) and the
other set of triangles is composed of Shivayavatis
( five female or shakti triangles denoting
five senses of knowledge and action, and five
subtle and gross forms of matter). These two
triangles reflect the unison of Shiva and
Shakti.
A noted Nepali Scholar says
that Shakti is always in unison with Shiva,
existing within each and every being as the
inner self; the state of existence, consciousness
and bliss. Shiva is the Ashraya (basis) of
Shakti which in turn, being his creative faculty,
is the basis of the whole universe. Hence,
she is known as Shree the primordial energy
existing within Shiva and yantra is her divine
extension network. Without her operation,
this visible cosmos would not be possible.
This universe and all it's contents
are basically composed of panchtatva or five
basic elements comprising of Prithvi (earth),
Apas (water), Tejas (light), Maruta (wind)
and Aakaash (sky). It is believed that our
body is also composed of the same basic elements
called pinda. The unison of Pinda, the individual
body, with Brahmaanda, the cosmic body, is
beautifully represented by this great yantra.
The objective of meditation on Shree-yantra
is to unite with the universal mother, in
her forms of mind, life and matter, to attain
consciousness and divinity. The Yantra is
therefore transformed from a material object
of lines and curves into a mental state of
union with the universe.
Satkon
The Satkon is composed of two sets of overlapping
triangles. One is the symbol of Shiva, which
stands for eternal being (static by nature),
and the other is a symbol of Shakti, the most
active female. This popular symbol of the
union of Shakti and Shiva, that indicates
the union of the two, is represented in several
Nepali works of art like the Mandala paintings,
windows and doors etc. The beautiful temple
residence of Devi Annapurna Ajima, at Bhotahiti
Tol in Kathmandu, has one of the most exquisite
Satkon patterns in its windows. Many people
seem to mistake the Star of David, which has
nothing to do with it. The Satkon signifies
the five basic senses and the extra sensory
perception, that significantly makes it the
six -pointed star. This symbol is believed
to have originated from ancient tantric Hinduism.
On the other hand the Buddhist story about
the Satkon says that it symbolizes the perfection
of the highest form of wisdom (Pragya), however,
the Mahayanists accept it as a great symbol
of Pragya (knowledge or enlightenment) and
Upaya (active force or the power of the female
principal) united. This ancient symbol appears
to be the central core of all the highly sophisticated
symbols in Nepali religious culture.
Swastika
Swastika, a Sanskrit word which means doing
good for all, is a very ancient oriental symbol.
This symbol can be seen in wood -carvings,
bronze castings, thangka paintings and many
other traditional forms of art.
In Buddhism, the four hands
of Swastika signifying Maitree (friendship),
Karuna (compassion), Mudita (happiness) and
Upershya (indifference), are four divine merits
or talents. This theory is very dominant in
our culture. According to Sadhanmala(one of
the most authentic Buddhist texts), the four
merits represent four ideal ways to Nirvana
every aspirant should mediate on.
It is believed that the Mahayanists, in due
course of time, developed an iconography based
on all those four merits and soon created
Swastika to proudly add to their pantheon
of gods. The many deities were all given the
same merit names like Maitree, Karuna, Mudita
and Upekshya. Hindus as well Buddhists worship
them in Nepal. Among many such deities of
Nepal, the four most beautifully built bronze
statues of these merit gods can be seen in
Hiranyavarana Mahavihar(Golden temple)of Patan
built by Vaskar Varma in 12th century.
Shiva Linga
The linga is the phallic symbol of lord Shiva
and it displays supreme power generally identified
analogue of cosmic deity. It occupies the
"womb cell" in temples while the
outer structure of this double sex diety signifies
its determined creative function. Creation,
in tantra is described as sexual self-relation.
The Brihadaranyaka Upanisad says that one
alone knows no delight and so the female partner
was generated.
According to the Puranas, Lord
Shiva assumed the form of Lingam(the phallic
symbol of universal pro-creation), on the
night of Shivaratri, to save the universe
from a big threat of destruction. It is said
that when Lord Shiva swallowed the Halahala
poison, which had emanated from the intensive
churning of the milky ocean, the heat of the
poison proved to be so unbearable that he
could not wait for a Himalayan shower. Ganga,
the river goddess, is said to have rushed
to him and poured all the water she had in
possession. This helped him and so, even today,
holy water is offered through Jalahari(a copper
cup that hangs above the Shivalinga). It is
believed that Shiva was not cooled enough
even after Ganga poured all the water she
possessed over him. He was cooled only when
the whole of the moon was tucked in the matted
lock of his head. Shiva, after having cooled
himself became ecstatic and started dancing
the Tandava Nritya.
Religious
objects and symbols in the context of Nepal
In Nepal, we have thousands
of fascinating old buildings and temples almost
all of which have religious figures and symbols.
It would be almost impossible to know about
each and every one of them. So, we discuss
some important figures and symbols.
Shankha
Shankha is a Sanskrit word used to denote
a sleek and smooth conch shell. It is believed
that if the Shankha is blown with skill, it
can scare away evil spirits and is described
as a killer of germs and enemies. According
to some scholars, it can also be used for
preparing many kinds of Ayurvedic medicines
and that a certain dose of its powder can
cure jaundice, gall bladder, etc.
The Hindus as well as the Buddhists drink
water from a Shankha before they break a fast
and almost all temple prayers are accompanied
by the blowing of the Shankha.
It is strongly believed that
the Shankha had been shaped from the holy
waters showered from heaven. Thus it is regarded
as a divine jewel always held by Lord Vishnu
on his right hand. It was also used as safety
bands for young ladies to wear, around their
hands, in the form of bracelets and its necklaces
were worn to cast away evil eyes.
Chakra (The wheel of right
action)
Chakra or the wheel of righteousness is an
emblem or tool used as a holy symbol by Hindus
and Buddhists. Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation,
always holds a chakra to do away with demons
and to protect his devotees and to make sure
that Dharma(righteousness) does not retrograde.
In Buddhism, some interpret
the Chakra as the wheel of life and see it
as the teachings of Buddha. We might as well
say that it's purpose is similar in Buddhism
and Hinduism because the first teachings of
Buddha began with the turning of the wheel
of Dharma.
Sinhamoo(Ceremonial vermilion
container)
This ceremonial container is used for storing
vermilion powder for religious purposes. The
consecrated vermilion inside the container
represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and
abundance. The upper portion of the Sinhamoo
is either shaped like three, five or seven
tiered oriental umbrella serving as a ceremonial
canopy of Laxmi. Sinhamoo is used in almost
all-religious ceremonies particularly in the
Newari community.
Jwala Nhyekan (A ceremonial
metal mirror)
Jwala Nhyekan, an ancient religious object,
has a plain circle as the central portion
surrounded by stylized flames that come to
the peak at the top. It is indispensable in
all kinds of religious ceremonies in the Newari
community of Kathmandu Valley. This is used
by Buddhist`s as well as Hindu`s to symbolize
inner vision and is also regarded a representation
of Saraswati, the goddess of learning and
creative arts.
Kalasha (a holy ceremonial
water jar)
Kalash is a typical traditional water jar
usually made of brass, which has a round body
with the base and mouth beautifully designed
like a full blown lotus. Kalasha, the symbol
of the universal mother goddess, is supposed
to contain Amrit(inexhaustible elixir) which
never dries and makes one immortal. It was
said in ancient times that the sprinkling
of Kalash- water, accompanied by mantra, over
ones head would ensure plenty, purity and
prosperity.
Lotus (the flower of wisdom)
The lotus is among the most popular motifs
in Nepali arts, it is a symbol of mental purity
and detachment. In Nepal, it is also a symbol
of divinity as some Hindu as well as Buddhist
gods are seen sitting on them showing that
they are divine.
Torana
Torana, a gateway leading to a temple or a
holy place of worship, is semi-circular in
form and is placed above temple doorways.
Torana`s mostly found made on wood or stone
and some are lavishly gilded with brass, others
are even beautifully embellished with several
artistic designs.
Vajra
Vajra, which means "thunderbolt",
is used in the Vajrayani as well as Mahayani
sect of Buddhism. It is described as an ever
illuminating, indestructible and adamantine
element, often identified as a divine symbol
of the changeless absolute, in a Buddhist
text. The Vajra is always accompanied by a
bell, for Vajra stands for the male principle
whereas a bell for the female principle. A
Vajra accompanied by a bell is a ritualistic
requirement for every Buddhist religious ceremony.
In every Buddhist religious ceremony, the
Buddhist priest holds a Vajra on his right
hand and a bell on the other.
Bell
The sound of a bell in Hindu philosophy symbolizes
the Nata-Brahma(seed-sound) originating from
Brahma, the supreme being. The ringing of
a bell has always been an integral part of
prayers for most religions in Nepal. We find
bells in every temple and thus, it is of importance
to every religion.
Prayer Wheel
Almost every Buddhist temple have prayer wheels
which was introduced by Tibetans. These cylindrical
wheels have prayers carved on them. The prayer
seen in almost all prayer wheel is- om mani
padme hum (I bow down to the divine jewel
or Buddha seated on the lotus).
Sukunda
Sukunda is a traditional Nepali oil lamp made
of brass. The front part of a Sukunda is shaped
like the god Ganesha, the god of success and
good luck. It has a tiny cup to put the wick
and a fascinating loop handle designed with
a five- headed serpent raising its head. It
also has a small spoon, with the Naga-kanya
atop, used for replenishing the oil from the
reservoir. The artistic work on this traditional
lamp reflects the remote past of a very famous
Buddhist legend about a Naga(snake) and a
lake. A long time ago Kathmandu valley was
a lake inhabited by snakes. In the middle
of the lake, there was a beautiful flame of
a lotus with a thousand petals. Buddha Mahamanjushree
after hearing about it rushed to the valley,
all the way from China, and he drained the
lake by striking his magic sword at the southern
hill of the valley leaving the valley open
to all. The most famous Buddhist stupa of
Swayambhunath is believed to
have originated from the same legendary lotus-flame.
In Newari language sukunda means a beautiful
lake. It is said that the oil reservoir of
a sukunda represents the legendary lake, its
mouth with the unfolded lotus motif represents
the lotus with a thousand petals and the cup
attached to it in which the lamp is lighted
represents the self- existent divine flame.
The lord Ganesha in front represents the great
guru who is there to teach everyone the supreme
acts of god. No ceremony in Nepal is started
without the lighting of the Sukunda.
Khaadalu
This traditional is a bit different from the
Sukunda. Khaadalu, in Newari, means a hanging
window lamp. Many years ago, when there was
no electricity, these lamps were used for
lighting shrines and the streets of Kathmandu.
We can still see these oriental brass lamps,
with a few mythical dragons watchfully guarding
its flame from both sides, hung in many old
houses but they are only lighted on festive
occasions. As the age- old custom has it,
only housewives are supposed to light this
lamp and many still have faith in the myth
that if this lamp is not lighted after it
gets dark, Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, would
be displeased.
"Shubham bhavatu kalyanam aarogya dhanasampati
mamashatru vinashaya deepajyot namastute"
an old prayer recited while lightening the
Khadaalu means- You, the great doer of welfare
for your devotees, the one who bestows upon
us health, happiness, wealth and the destruction
of our enemies (darkness and ignorance). Salutation
to you, the great divine light.
Janai
Janai, a holy thread, worn around the neck
by Brahmins and Chhetris, is worn to denote
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is believed that
all the three gods reside in the holy thread
making it a divine. The Mantra to invoke the
desired diety Begins with the word "Aum".
It is believed that the one who realizes the
significance of this Mantra will easily reach
god.
Sagun
According to a very old Nepali tradition,
a person planning a journey first consults
an astrologer to figure out the right time
for the person to begin a journey. Then on
the day fixed for the person to leave the
person's family organizes a farewell ceremony
the main highlight of which is a ritual dish
(sagun) which is supposed to bring the person
good luck. The ritual dish consists of a boiled
egg, a thick round lentil cake, a dried fish,
a piece of meat and a piece of ginger. The
sagun is usually given, accompanied either
by alcohol or yogurt and a vermilion mark
on his/her forehead locally called Teeka.
Makara Motif
Makara, meaning crocodile in Sanskrit, is
a traditional motif used in decorative art,
which is very common in Nepal. This motif
can be found used in Nepali temple toranas
(tympanums), traditional water and wine jars,
spouts, bronze containers, jewelry etc. The
makara is shown having watchful eyes, very
sharp teeth, flaming lips, two little legs
and at times it is shown having a tough scaly
body, four legs and a long floriated tail.
Makara is more a symbol of a perennial source
of life than a mere decorative piece of art.
The incessant flow of water from the mouth
of makara in spouts reflects the cycle of
creation.
Popular legends
of Nepal
Why death is not seen
It is believed that death was a visible body.
When the time for one to die would come, death
would come to the person and the person would
accept to go to the Yamaloka (the place for
the dead). Death was thus accepted and was
celebrated.
Once, while death was going
through the list of people who had to die
he came across a young blacksmith who was
not ready to die. He still had a lot of dreams
to fulfill, so, when he saw Death come to
him he was polite with death for he wanted
Death to leave him alone. Death would not
leave him. He then told death that he wanted
to show him his work and took him to a multi-chambered
iron building, which he had built. He guided
death to the innermost chamber and asked Death
to relax there. He then locked Death inside
the chamber, locking seven doors. The blacksmith
told no one his secret. Lord Shiva found out
that Death was trapped and entrusted his consort,
Parvati, to carry out a plan to release Death.
Parvati, disguised as a beautiful woman working
in the place where the blacksmith went every
evening to drink, went to the world of the
mortals. She served the young blacksmith many
fine drinks, acting very seductive, and tried
to find out his secrets. The intoxicated blacksmith
revealed all she wanted to know. Then, Death
was released and from then on, death never
went to the world of the mortals in its visible
form.
The Beautiful Queen who got
stuck in mud
There was once a queen, widely known for her
pure and enchanting beauty, simplicity, modesty
and the fact that she never wore any jewelry.
She was a great devotee of the sun god and
her favorite morning ritual was worshipping
the sun god after washing herself. She had
dedicated a sacred pool to the sun god in
the middle of which was a beautifully crafted
crystal column with the statue of the sun
god. There were lotuses all over the pool,
she would gently step on to them to get to
middle of the pool.
One day, when she was attending
a festival she beautiful lady heavily ornamented
with gold jewelry. She felt inferior and asked
her husband to buy her jewelry. The king was
shocked to see that his wife had changed.
He tried to convince her that it would be
sad to trade her precious simplicity with
material luxury, but the queen would not listen.
The saintly king had never collected revenue
for his own luxury and thus had no money to
fulfill her desires. He was forced to ask
his subjects to contribute some gold and soon
a goldsmith was called.
When the queen got her new jewelry,
she couldn't wait to show it everyone. She
attracted everyone`s attention that day and
she enjoyed every bit of the attention. She
was so excited that it was tough for her to
fall asleep.
The next morning, she washed up to go to worship
the sun god but when she foot on a lotus it
would no longer support her. She fell down
and was stuck in the mud of the pool. There
was no one around to help her out, so, she
had to struggle very hard to free herself.
She finally freed herself and rushed to her
room just to find out, while glancing in her
mirror, that she had turned very ugly. From
then on she could neither worship the sun
god nor could she beautify herself.
The King who did not fear
death
There was once a philosopher king, Yoga Narendra
Malla,who believed that he was immortal. So,
to convince people about his belief he installed
a statue of himself in front of his palace.
The statue had a naga forming a canopy over
his head and a bird on top of the nagas head,
which looked as if it was about to fly. The
statue was devoted in prayer to taleju, the
goddess of Patan state. Then the king proclaimed
that as long as the bird perched on top of
the naga, his subjects should know that he
was still alive.
One day the king disappeared mysteriously.
The staue prayed to taleju and the bird had
not flown away. Thus, once a year there is
a big festival at which the golden window
of his palace is left open in the hope of
his return. A dish of meal is also served
for him regularly.
The naga who won the heart
of garuda
Once, a very distinguished Naga (snake/serpent)
wanted to see the great bathing ceremony of
the rato machindra, the famous Buddhist rain-god,
which was to take place on a full moon night
of Chaitra (April). He went disguised as a
human, telling his wife not to tell anyone
about his whereabouts.
Soon Garuda, a mythical bird
and enemy of all naga`s, went to the Nagas`
wife asking where her husband was. Upon the
insistence of the Garuda she told him where
her husband was and that he could be recognized
as he would appear to be the tallest man in
the crowd watching from the Lagan Stupa as
that was the best place from where the ceremony
could be viewed. The garuda went to the ceremony
and found the Naga. The garuda got hold of
him and commanded him to present himself for
the Garudas next meal. Thje naga was neither
surprised nor frightened at the prospect of
being swallowed up by the Garuda, for he knew
that there was no escape. Instead, he pleaded
the garuda saying that he would readily be
the garudas meal if the garuda would allow
him to see the ceremony of the rato macchindra,
to whom he was deeply devoted. The garuda
agreed.
When the festival was over,
the naga went home to bid farewell to his
wife. He was not angry at his wife, but he
explained what had happened and went to the
Garudas home on time. The garuda was greatly
moved by his truthfulness and loyalty. The
Garuda then decided that the Naga should be
presented to the rato macchindra. Till this
day, the Rato Macchindra wears a necklace
called 'Satya Naga'.
The potters choice
There was once a potter, who was a great devotee
of the lord Shiva. Once the lord, impressed
by the potters` actions granted him a wish.
The potter wished that all the pots he made
would never break. The lord granted him the
wish, smiling mysteriously. The potter tested
the promised and he found out that his wish
had indeed been fulfilled.
Soon, he was famous far and
wide for his unbreakable pots and everyone
came to buy them. This went on for a few years
but since the pots would never break, people
did not want new pots. His business suddenly
stopped and his family went hungry. He could
not understand how the boon given by Shiva
had brought him misery.
One early morning as he was
praying to Lord Shiva, with utmost sorrow
in his heart. The Lord was moved by the hard
times he was going through, thus the lord
asked why he was unhappy. The potter, falling
at the lords` feet, pleaded the lord to take
the boon back and asked for forgiveness. The
Lord was pleased and so he took back the boon.
From then on, the potter happily made pots
that would break and crack and would need
to be replaced in due course of time.
When Laxmi changed her mind
Once Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, granted
a wish to Vishwakarma, a great architect,
for building a beautiful house for her. When
Viswakarma told her that he would accept anything
she would give, she told him that she would
give him gold enough to cover his body and
a luxurious life. Then she brought an enormous
jar of gold-powder and started to pour it
over his body. The jar of gold did not suffice
and so she went to get more. This display
of magnanimity started to worry Vishnu, the
lord of balance and preservation. Vishnu was
worried that the boon would make him lazy
and forget his talents as an architect. He
made a plan and accordingly put fleas and
ticks inside the gold dust, which made Vishwakarma
to move for relief.
On the other hand, Laxmi was
tired of filling and pouring the gold dust
without succeeding in completing her task.
She finally decided that the Vishwakarma was
moving because he wanted more and more gold.
She, deciding that he was getting greedy,
put a curse on him saying that he must work
hard even on her ceremonial birthday (laxmi-puja
day). At first Vishwakarma was confused, but
he wasn't sad for he was relieved of the fleas.
Thus, in this way everything went back into
order as usual.
Popular Divinities
of Nepal
Brahma
Brahma, the self -created god of creation,
is said to have created the cosmos. Brahma,
in art forms, is depicted as a god having
a long beard, radiant skin, wearing white
robes, with four arms and at times mounted
on a goose.
Legend has it that this event
urged him to create a new world for himself.
After the world was created he started feeling
unbearably lonely, so, he created a female
partner for himself with whom he fell in love
at the very first sight. The female (also
identified as Savitri and Saraswati), who
was extremely beautiful, was awfully embarrassed
because of Brahma's passionate behavior towards
her. She tried to run away from Brahma, but
whichever direction she tried to escape from
a new head of Brahma would spring up. The
female finding no other alternative sprang
up toward the sky and another head of Brahma
sprung up. Brahma grabbed the helpless female
who was his daughter as well as wife. In this
way Brahma got his five heads but it is believed
that his fifth head was cut off as a punishment
for his sinful affair with his wife-daughter.
Indra
Indra, traditionally regarded as the god of
heaven, is the most worshipped and most popular
Hindu god among the plethora of Hindu gods.
The vedas describe him as the valiant fighter
who destroys devils and drought and gives
people rain and food. This could be the reason
for his popularity. The Puranas too speak
highly of Indra, often dramatizing his numerous
battles against non -Aryans. Indra- Jatra
is a very famous festival celebrated in order
to honor Indra.
Saraswati
Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and fine
arts, is often portrayed having a pure white
form seated on a full blown lotus or mounted
on a hansa (swan). The hansa is often regarded
as our inner-consciousness and is said to
be capable of driving away Avidya or ignorance.
Among her four arms the two lower arms are
shown playing the veena and the upper hands
are shown holding a book and a rosary. Manjushree,
the Buddhist goddess of knowledge and inner-
vision is also worshipped equally as Saraswati
is wors
