Art of Newar Buddhism, Nepal

Summary:

• General Information on Buddhism, Nepal, and its Sacred History ( by John C. Huntington)
• Ongoing Artistic Traditions
• Festivals and Pujas
• Early Sculpture
• "Asokan Caityas/Stupas"
• "4 Great Stupas"
• Bahas and Bahis
• Avalokitesvara/Macchendranath/Lokesvara Shrines
• Yogini Shrines

Map of Nepal and the Kathmandu Valley

Introduction to Buddhism (Text & illustrations by John C. Huntington)

Sacred History of the Kathmandu Valley, as depicted in Two Contemporary Thangka Paintings:

• BodhisattvaManjusri's Draining the Sacred Lake
• The Emergence of Swayambhu Jyotirupa

Metal Craftsmen from Mahabaudha in the city of Patan, working in the Traditional Lost Wax Casting Method. Contains images of:

• Artists making wax models
• Artists preparing and heating of the metal
• Artists pouring the molten metal
• Artists cleaning and fire gilding the images

Puja (Vasundhara puja and Pancadana Festival conducted at Haka Baha, Patan)

Ratha Jatra (The festival in which Rato Macchendranath-Karunamaya is taken from Patan to Bungamati)

Early Sculpture

Sculpture from the Licchavi Period (ca. 330 - 880)

• Pre-Licchavi Sculpture
• Licchavi Images in Museums
• Licchavi Images In Situ
• Licchavi Sculptures at Swayambhu

"Asokan Caityas/Stupas of Lalitpur "

• East Caitya, in Patan
• South Caitya, in Lagankhel
• West Caitya, in Pulchowk, Patan
• North Caitya, in Patan

SWAYAMBHU MAHACAITYA

• Distant views of the Caitya
• East Gateway at base of Gosingu Hill
• East side stairway
• Overviews of Mahacaitya
• Details of Mahacaitya Superstructure
• Dharmadhatu Vagisvara Manjughosa Mandala

• JINA BUDDHA SHRINES
• East Side (Aksobhya)
• ESE Side (Vairocana) and Vajradhatvisvari shrines
• South Side (Ratnasambhava)
• West Side (Amitabha)
• North Side (Amoghasiddhi)

• JINA PRAJNA SHRINES
• SE Side (Locani)
• SW Side (Padmini/Panduravasini)
• NW Side (Arya Tara)
• NE Side (Mamaki/Sapta Locani)

• Sacred Space and Pillars on west side
• Tara and Bhrikuti Shrine on the west side
• Hariti Shrine

• Four Puras
• Santipur
• Santipur Interior Wall Paintings depicting the Swayambhu Purana

• Manjusri Stupa
• Other Buildings in Courtyard

• PUJAS: Sapta Vidhanottara (Sat) Puja , Karttika Puja, and Jyapu Initiation (Kayta) Puja

Bandegaon Caitya and Lokesvara (Avalokitesvara) shrine

Baudha Stupa

• Overviews of the Caitya
• Sculpture at the Site
• Ajima (Bya rDzima) Shrine

Namo Buddha Stupa

• Overviews of the Caitya
• Details of the Hala and Shrines

Gum Baha (See also Khadgayogini Temple under "Yogini Shrines")

Haka Baha in the city of Patan. Contains images of:

• The exterior of the baha
• The interior courtyard of the baha and its contents
• Details of the south wall , 1st level (where the main, public shrine is located)
• Details of the exterior of the main shrine
• Details of the interior of the main shrine
• Details of the 2nd level of the south wall
• Exterior and interior views of the Vajrasattva shrine on the west wall
• Pujas conducted at Haka Baha

Chusya Baha in the city of Kathmandu. Contains images of:

• The exterior of the baha
• The interior courtyard of the baha
• Sculpture in the courtyard
• Toranas on the south (shrine) wall
• Miscellaneous sculpture on the south (shrine) wall
• Strut figures and window details
• Shrine interior

Bungamati Temple: houses Rato (Red) Macchendranath (Bungadyah) for six months of the year.

• Exterior of the temple
• Some items in the courtyard
• Shrine interior

Rato Macchendranath Temple, Patan houses Rato (Red) Macchendranath (Bungadyah) for six months in Patan

• East and West Entrances
• Courtyard Overviews
• Details of the Temple

Seto Macchendranath Temple, at Jana Bahal, Kathmandu (Janbadyah)

• Exterior of temple and Courtyard Overviews
• Shrines and Ritual Spaces in the Courtyard
• Details of the Temple and Shrine Exterior
• Shrine Images
• Pujas at the site

Co Baha, Chobar: Anandadi Lokesvara Shrine

• Exterior and Vestibule
• Courtyard
• Shrine

Laskadyaya Baha, Bhaktapur: Laskadyo (Avalokitesvara) Shrine

• Exterior views and details of the Laskadyo Shrine
• 2nd Level Torana and Shrine Interior

Lokesvara Baha, Nala: Lokesvara (Avalokitesvara) Shrine

• Exterior views of the Lokesvara shrine
• Details of the Lokesvara shrine
• Paintings on the Lokesvara shrine
• Lokesvara shrine interior

Minnath Temple, Patan

• Exterior views of the courtyard entrance
• Exterior of Minnath Temple
• Interior of Minnath shrine

Ta Baha, Thimi: Lokesvara (Avalokitesvara) Shrine

Yogini Shrines

Balaju: includes images of the Hariti Shrine and the Guhyesvari Shrine

Mhepi Ajima Shrine

• Exterior views of the entrance and shrine
• Interior of the shrine
• Paintings in the chanting hall
• Ritual implements

Four Yogini (Catur Yogini) Shrines

Puran Guhyesvari

• Exterior and Interior Views of the entrance to the courtyard and the exterior of the shrine
• Prints and Photographs from the Chanting Hall (including images of Guhyakali and photographs from the shrine renovation)
• Shrine Interior

Vajrayogini Temple, Pharping (Vajrayogini)

• Exterior Views and Details of the Temple
• Avalokitesvara Shrine on the first level
• Ritual Implements

Gum Baha/Khadgayogini Temple (Khadgayogini) at Sankhu.

Contains images of:

• Early caves at the site
• A temple dedicated to Khadgayogini
• A temple dedicated to Swayambhu

Bijesvari Temple (Akasa Yogini) at Bilasa Bahi

• Entrance and Exterior Views
• Details of the Temple

The creation of this site was made possible through the efforts of various individuals.

Textual information was provided by Dina Bangdel, Cathleen Cummings, Janice M. Glowski, and John C. Huntington
The images were selected by John C. Huntington. Chaya Chandrasekhar, Janice M. Glowski, and Anu Vedagiri
scanned and/or edited the images.

URL http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/Nepal/nepal.html

© Unless otherwise noted, the copyright to all text, images, maps, and other drawings contained in the "Research and Teaching" section of this site are the property of John C. Huntington and/or Susan L. Huntington. Unauthorized use or electronic dissemination is prohibited by applicable law.

This Web page may be linked to any other Web pages; permission is not required. The contents, however, may not be altered. Note that the information contained within all Huntington Archive Server pages is under copyright. Unauthorized use or electronic dissemination is prohibited by applicable laws. Please contact the Director for permission to re-publish any material.