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The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (kotyahuti-yagya), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden torana shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the torana, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (kotyahuti-yagya), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden torana shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the torana, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
The southeastern part of Bhaktapur's Royal Palace compound is taken up by the Palace of Fifty-Five Windows, which was the actual residence of the Bhaktapur kings. The three-storied building boasts some masterly carved doors and windows on its lower floors, and on the third floor there are 55 arcaded windows. In its original form, the upper floor projected out from the building, but after the 1934 earthquake it was reconstructed in the present style.<br/><br/> Inside the compound there is a golden water conduit, laid out in 1688, which brought in water from a source 11 kilometres away. The water was used for the daily ritual bathing of the image of goddess Taleju. Also fed by a subterranean water conduit was the Nag Pokhri, or 'Pond of the Nagas', located at the northeastern corner of the temple complex and constructed during the reign of Jagatprakasha Malla (1743-1772).
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a chudamani (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
Kālī is the Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. 'She who destroys'. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means 'the black one'. Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means 'Time' or 'Death' (as in time has come). Hence, Kali is considered the goddess of time and change.<br/><br/> Although sometimes presented as dark and violent, her earliest incarnation as a figure of annihilation still has some influence. Various Shakta Hindu cosmologies, as well as Shakta Tantric beliefs, worship her as the ultimate reality or Brahman. She is also revered as Bhavatarini (literally 'redeemer of the universe').<br/><br/> Kali is represented as the consort of Lord Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing. She is associated with many other Hindu goddesses like Durga, Bhadrakali, Sati, Rudrani, Parvati and Chamunda. She is the foremost among the Dasa Mahavidyas, ten fierce Tantric goddesses.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (<i>kotyahuti-yagya</i>), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden <i>torana</i> shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the <i>torana</i>, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (<i>kotyahuti-yagya</i>), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden <i>torana</i> shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the <i>torana</i>, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a chudamani (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (<i>kotyahuti-yagya</i>), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden <i>torana</i> shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the <i>torana</i>, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
King Bhupatindra (r. 1696-1722) was one of the great builders of his time. He added new wings to the Bhaktapur royal palace, remodelled its courtyard to accommodate a temple dedicated to Taleju Bhavani, and set a glass pane into one of the windows in the Palace of Fifty-five Windows. The glass had been presented to him by an Indian, and glass still being an unknown commodity in the country, it became an item of intense curiosity. Bhupatindra also built the famous five-roofed Nyatapola Temple, which was to become the unofficial symbol of Bhaktapur.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the mandap and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a <i>chudamani</i> (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the mandap and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.<br/><br/> The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.<br/><br/> Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
The Vatsala Temple, a few metres southeast of the Bhupatindra Pillar, was built in 1672 CE by Jagatprakasha Malla. Its most conspicuous feature is a bell, about four feet high and set in a massive stone frame, which was added by Ranajit Malla in 1737. The bell was rung to call the faithful to the morning prayers conducted for the goddess Taleju.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed. A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed. A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the <i>mandap</i> and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the mandap and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the <i>mandap</i> and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the <i>mandap</i> and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
The southeastern part of Bhaktapur's Royal Palace compound is taken up by the Palace of Fifty-Five Windows, which was the actual residence of the Bhaktapur kings. The three-storied building boasts some masterly carved doors and windows on its lower floors, and on the third floor there are 55 arcaded windows. In its original form, the upper floor projected out from the building, but after the 1934 earthquake it was reconstructed in the present style.<br/><br/> Inside the compound there is a golden water conduit, laid out in 1688, which brought in water from a source 11 kilometres away. The water was used for the daily ritual bathing of the image of goddess Taleju. Also fed by a subterranean water conduit was the Nag Pokhri, or 'Pond of the Nagas', located at the northeastern corner of the temple complex and constructed during the reign of Jagatprakasha Malla (1743-1772).
The main feature of Tachupal Tol is the Dattatreya Temple. This three storey temple was initiated in 1427 by King Yaksha Malla, on the site of an ancient shrine marking the spot where a famous spiritual teacher had died. Yaksha Malla’s construction was originally only a kind of mandap, similar to the Kasthamandap in Kathmandu; and, in common with the Kasthamandap, it was supposedly built from the wood of a single Sal tree and used for the obscure rites of Tantric sects.<br/><br/> In 1558, Vishva Malla renovated the <i>mandap</i> and added a building which was to house an image of Dattatreya, the 'Lord of the Trinity'. Dattatreya is a rare amalgamation of Hinduism’s foremost deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, into a single form. Nevertheless, a Garuda is set high on a pillar facing the temple indicates that the locals considered Dattatreya primarily a manifestation of Vishnu.
The Vatsala Temple, a few metres southeast of the Bhupatindra Pillar, was built in 1672 CE by Jagatprakasha Malla. Its most conspicuous feature is a bell, about four feet high and set in a massive stone frame, which was added by Ranajit Malla in 1737. The bell was rung to call the faithful to the morning prayers conducted for Taleju.<br/><br/> The Chyasalin Mandap is an octagonal pavilion built in the 18th century.
The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (<i>kotyahuti-yagya</i>), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden <i>torana</i> shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the <i>torana</i>, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
The Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka, marks the entry to the Taleju Temple within the palace complex. The gate was built in 1753 by Ranajita Malla (r. 1722 - 1769) and his wife Jayalakshmi to commemorate the performance of a religious fire rite (<i>kotyahuti-yagya</i>), and it turned out to be the finest piece of gilded copper-work in Bhaktapur, possibly in the whole Kathmandu Valley.<br/><br/> Highly ornate in itself, the panels left and right of the door, depicting ten different deities, are superb examples of the art of repoussé. On the panels, Ranajita is mentioned as the ruler of a territory that extended as far as the Dudhkoshi River in the east, including the town of Dolakha.<br/><br/> Above the door, the golden <i>torana</i> shows Taleju Bhavani with her sixteen arms radiating out like some strange kind of half-insect, half-goddess. Above her, at the top of the <i>torana</i>, an image shows the Garuda with serpents coiling all around him.
The Bhairavnath Temple stands on the eastern side of Taumadhi Tol. Built under King Jagajjyoti Malla (1614-1637), the temple originally possessed only a single floor, but in 1718 Bhupatindra Malla and his son added two floors, and placed a golden roof on top.<br/><br/> The temple is decicated to Bhairavnath, or Akash Bhairav, the destroyer of demons, who was installed 'for the protection of the country and the removal from sin and distress of the people'.<br/><br/> The Bhairavnath Temple is the focus of the Bisket Jatra, the New Year celebrations in Bhaktapur (13-14 April). Small figures of Bhairavnath and his divine spouse Bhadrakali are carried on separate chariots around town, to finally meet at the Bhairavnath Temple in a riotous celebration. Local lore has it that Bhairavnath, when left to his own devices, can become very mean-spirited, and he is in a much better mood when his wife is around. The figure of the feared Bhairavnath, incidentally, is a mere 30 centimetres high, his equally obnoxious wife only 25.
The Malla Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Nepal c. 1201–1769. It was during their reign that the people living in and around the Kathmandu Valley began to be called 'Newars', meaning citizens of Nepal. The Mallas were the ruling clan of the Malla Mahajanapada. They have claimed Kshatriya status themselves.<br/><br/> The first of the Malla kings came to power in Kathmandu Valley around 1200. The Malla period was a golden age that stretched over 600 years, though it was frequently blighted by fighting over the valuable trade routes to Tibet.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
Tara, also known as Jetsun Dolma (Tibetan: rje btsun sgrol ma) in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the 'mother of liberation', and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. In Japan she is known as Tarani Bosatsu, and as Tuoluo in Chinese Buddhism.<br/><br/> Tara is a tantric meditation deity whose practice is used by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism to develop certain inner qualities and understand outer, inner and secret teachings about compassion and emptiness. Tara is actually the generic name for a set of Buddhas or bodhisattvas of similar aspect. These may more properly be understood as different aspects of the same quality, as bodhisattvas are often considered metaphoric for Buddhist virtues.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> Durbar Square is now a relatively large open space, surrounded by buildings on its fringes but clear of any constructions in the centre. On the west side, the square is accessed through Durbar Square Gate, built by Bhupatindra Malla (1696-1722) as a main entry point to the area. He also erected the figures of monkey god Hanuman and Narasinha, the half-man, half-lion deity, along the lines of the Hanuman and Narasinha figures near the palace gate in Kathmandu.
This Nyatapola Temple was built in 1708 by King Bhupatrindra Malla (r. 1696 - 1722). Bhupatindra placed a chudamani (a jewel worn in a head-dress) in the foundation to give the temple supernatural strength, and started the construction by personally carrying three bricks to the site. The king’s example spurred the populace into rapid action, and within five days the people of Bhaktapur had brought together all the materials necessary for the work.<br/><br/> In the earthquake of 1934, when all buildings around were shaken to the core and many were completely destroyed, the Nyatapola Temple escaped almost unscathed.<br/><br/> The Nyatapola Temple was most likely dedicated to the mysterious Tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, whom it was hoped would neutralise the negative influence of the adjacent Bhairavnath.
That the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur appears so much less cluttered than its counterparts in Kathmandu and Patan is simply due to the earthquake of 1934. The earthquake devastated a large number of buildings in the square and they were never reconstructed.<br/><br/> A minor earthquake in 1988 did further damage. According to the Nepalese chronicles, Bhupatindra Malla had laid out 99 courtyards within the palace compound; in 1742, only 12 remained, and today there are but six.<br/><br/> The Vatsala Temple, a few metres southeast of the Bhupatindra Pillar, was built in 1672 CE by Jagatprakasha Malla. Its most conspicuous feature is a bell, about four feet high and set in a massive stone frame, which was added by Ranajit Malla in 1737. The bell was rung to call the faithful to the morning prayers conducted for the goddess Taleju.