After planning, their son, Belief, showed us all over the Kathmandu valley beginning with a Shrine right next to their home. There are little shrines all over the valley. I have been told that less than 50 years ago there were more shrines than people in the valley.
When I lived in Japan there was a clear distinction between Temples and Shrines, Temples/Buddhist, Shrines/Shinto. Here in Nepal, there seems to be a great sharing of beliefs and it is difficult to tease one religion from the other. To say 'shrine' implies that something is being enshrined. Often I find what is being enshrined are the holy relics of the Buddhist tradition in their stupas.
Don't forget to click on these photos and really explore the detail in the artwork.
Below is Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music and poetry, revered by Brahmans and Buddhists alike.
Winged Lion Guardian
Temple Door, Cheppu, the disembodied head, is both brave and truthful. He guards the doors to shrines. Around the door are dragons, symbols of sacred wisdom, and crocodiles, water deities.
To the right of the door on the wall is Nag Kanya, rain givers and guardians of water. You might remember that 'nag' means snake.
Making an offering
View from the temple
Playing at the temple on a Saturday.
Images of the different aspects of Buddha with and offering in front. Bells are rung to get the deities attention for worship.
