Boudhnath Stupa And Its Environs

BOUDHNATH STUPA AND ITS ENVIRONS: A Vatican of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal Author: Min Bahadur Shakya Institute: Nagarjuna Institute, A center for Buddhist studies email: [email protected]

1. Introduction: The Boudhanath stupa is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in Nepal and in the Buddhist world. It lies about six kilometers northeast of Kathmandu and is one of the largest Buddhist stupa in the world. The UNESCO has declared it as world Heritage Site because of its fascinating and unique specimen of stupa architectural design existing in Nepal. The stupa was built in traditional Nepalese architectural style. It consists of raised plinth, a spherical dome, a cubical steeple, a spire of thirteen discs and a wooden axis and a pinnacle. The traditional Newar stupa design consists of lotus (skt: padmavali), a canopy (skt: chhatra) and a jewel (skt: usnisha chudamani) at the top. The eyes painted on the cubical harmika steeple are one of the special features of Newar Stupa structure. II.Historical Background: The earliest historical references of the Boudhnath Stupa are found in the chronicles of Newars..This places the origin of the Stupa in the fifth century. There is a references in Gopalavamsavali in which there is an account of King Shiva Deva (A.D.590-605) who renovates this Great Stupa. There is yet another reference in which King Amshuvarma (605621.A.D.) was said to have built houses surrounding this great stupa. III.Presentation of Digital images 1. Digital Images of Boudhnath Stupa 2. Digital Images of Sites surrounding the Stupa Trikala Maitreya Vihara (Sakyapa ) Thrangu Tashi Choeling (Kagyupa) Kanying Shedrupling Monastery (Kagyupa- Nyingma ) Shechen Tennyi Dhargyeling (Nyingmapa) Tharlam Monastery-Sakyapa (Sakyapa) International Buddhist Academy( Sakyapa) Kopan Monastery ( Gelugpa) IV. Conclusion: Today Boudha has become a remarkable center for Dharma Practice.After 1959, with the influx of high Lamas from Tibet all the Tibetan Buddhist Schools have built substantial monasteries around the stupa.Everyday the stupa is visited by hundred of pilgrims, and the Tibetan community in exile in the Kathmandu valley has made Boudh the vatican of Tibetan Buddhism.