A Sneak Peek into the most famous Stupas of the Kathmandu Valley
Buddhism has inspired many architectures around the world, one of them being the magical stupas. Stupas have a hemispherical base and a triangular top with 13 steps. In general, a stupa signifies an enlightened mind and embodies the wisdom of Buddhism. Worship of a stupa consists of walking around the monument in the clockwise direction. In this article, I will introduce you to two Stupas of the Kathmandu Valley that have great importance in Buddhism.
Boudhanath
Built during the 5th century AD by the Licchavi dynasty, Boudhanath is the center of Tibetan Buddhism. The whole complex is constructed in a mandala style. Boudhanath’s Stupa is one of the largest spherical stupas in the world. The rich blue eyes of Buddha on top of the dome look in all four directions. The architecture of Boudhanath holds the essential elements of Buddhism. The base symbolises the earth, the dome denotes water, the square tower depicts fire, the spires mean air and the umbrella at the top is the space. The Stupa reminds us of Buddha’s path towards enlightenment. There are 13 stages, indicated by the 13 steps on the golden spire, which human beings need to cross in order to achieve Nirvana.
A circular wall around the Stupa holds prayer wheels that are regularly rotated by the pilgrims and tourists who circumambulate the Stupa clockwise chanting the Buddhist mantra Om mani padme hum. There are many souvenir shops around the Stupa. Cozy restaurants and cafés offer thukpa, momos and other Tibetan specialities. What beautifies Boudhanath are the multi-coloured Tibetan prayer flags tied between the top of the Stupa and the circular wall. Try to get a glimpse of Boudhanath in the evening since hundreds of candles lit around it make the complex look incredible.
There are many monasteries around which house Tibetan monks. Each year the Stupa is whitened with new lime for the festival of Losar which is the largest celebration of Boudhanath. The magnificent Stupa was damaged during the earthquake of April 2015. But thanks to private donations, it has been repaired and opened for its countless devotees.
Charumati
The Charumati Stupa is located at a walkable distance from two World Heritage Sites of Nepal, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. Many call Charumati Stupa as the “Little Boudhanath”. The Stupa is named after Charumati, the daughter of the great Indian emperor Asoka. Charumati had married a Nepali prince after which she founded the Charumati Stupa in the 4th century. Charumati followed her father’s footsteps to spread the teachings of Buddha in the Kathmandu Valley. Adjacent to the Stupa, there is a medieval Buddhist monastery called Charumati Vihar. In the past, it used to house the monks who paid a visit to the Charumati Stupa.
The main entrance of the complex is away from the main street on the back side. The white chaitya has a mesmerising golden spire on top. There are many mini stupas built all around the main Stupa. Again it’s the Tibetan prayer flags (called Lungtas) in vibrant colors that make the whole view outstanding. As usual you can rotate the Buddhist prayer wheels encircling the Stupa and light oil lamps. All this makes the atmosphere so peaceful and meditative.
Unfortunately, this beautiful place is located right on the side of a main road with heavy everyday traffic. The Stupa was restored in 2003 on account of damages piling up over decades. During the restoration process many artefacts and manuscripts dating back to the Licchavi era were discovered. Additionally, a brick inscribed with the name of Charumati in Brahmi script was discovered. This discovery finally confirmed that it was Charumati who had laid the foundation of this gorgeous monument.
Stupas are like Buddha's crown that radiate his wisdom
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