Guhyeshwari Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal

Guhyeshwari Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal

Guhyeshwari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Hindu Goddess Sakthi located at Kathmandu City in Nepal. The Temple is situated very close to famous Pashupatinath Temple. Guhyeshwari is also spelled as Guheswari or Guhjeshwari. It is one of the revered holy temples in Kathmandu, Nepal. This temple is dedicated to Adi Shakti. The temple is also a Shakti Peetha near to the Pashupatinath Temple. It is said that this temple is the Shakti chair of Pashupatinath Temple.

The Guhyeshwari temple, dedicated to Sati Devi, Shiva's first wife, was built by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century. The goddess is also called Guhyekali. It is an important pilgrimage destination for general Hindu and especially for Tantric worshipers. The Temple of Guhyeshwari lies about 1 km east of Pashupatinath Temple and is located near the banks of the Bagmati River. It is an important pilgrimage destination for the Hindus as well as the Buddhists. Non- Hindus are not permitted to enter the Temple.

Etymology

The temple name originates from the Sanskrit words Guhya (Secret) and Ishwari (Goddess). In Lalitha Sahasranama the 707^th name of Goddess is mentioned as Guhyarupini (The form of Goddess is beyond human perception and it is secret. Another argument is that it is the secret 16^th syllable of the Shodashi Mantra).

Legends

Sakthi Peetha:

The mythology of Daksha Yaga and Sati's self-immolation had immense significance in shaping the ancient Sanskrit literature and even had impact on the culture of India. It led to the development of the concept of Shakti Peethas and there by strengthening Shaktism. Enormous mythological stories in puranas took the Daksha Yaga as the reason for its origin. When Shiva was insulted by his father in law, Sati Devi was so angry that she jumped into flames of Yaga (fire worship), an event which gave rise to the practice of Sati, or self-immolation. Shiva was grief-stricken and picked up her corpse and began to wander about as her body parts fell to the earth. The temple marks the spot where her knowledge fell; Guhya means secret knowledge and Ishwari means goddess.

It is often mistaken fact for taking meaning of Guhya as vagina. The genitals of Sati Devi fell on another Shakti Peetha worshipped by the name "Kamarupa-Kamakhya" in Assam. Shakti Peethas are shrines or divine places of the Mother Goddess. These are places that are believes to have enshrined with the presence of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered throughout Aryavartha in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peethas corresponding to the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. Each temple possesses shrines for Shakti and Kala Bhairava. The Shakti is Mahashira and the Bhairava is Kapali.

Vajrayana Buddhism:

Newar Vajrayana Buddhists consider Guhyeshwari to be sacred to Vajra Yogini in the form of Vajravarahi and to be the location of root of the mythical lotus upon which Swayambhunath stupa rests, which is also the umbilical cord which nurtures Kathmandu. In Tibetan the place is called Pakmo Ngülchu (Varahi's womb fluid) and the water which flows from the spring in the well in the temple is believed to be the sexual fluid of Vajra Varahi.

The Temple

The Temple is located at the banks of River Bagmati. The pagoda-style temple has a distinct interior. The temple stands at the centre of a courtyard and is topped with four gilded snakes that support the finial roof. Instead of a standing figure of the Goddess, it has a flat figure parallel to the ground that is worshipped by bowing down. The goddess is worshipped at the centre of the temple in a kalasha (water jar) that is covered with a layer of silver and gold. Next to the divine figure is a pond, the Bhairava Kunda. Devotees put their hand inside the pond and whatever they get is considered holy and is accepted as a blessing from the divine.

Religious Significance

This temple has great value to Hindus as well as the Buddhists. Guhyeshwari Temple is visited before the main Pashupatinath Temple. This tradition is still followed by members of the earlier Royal family. The Guhyeshwari Temple is worshipped first and then other temples are visited. It is because of the belief of worshipping Shakti before Shiva. This Temple is revered as an important Shakti Peetha, by the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. There are 51 Shakti Peethas corresponding to the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.

This temple is revered by Tantric practitioners and Tantric rites are performed in this temple. The temple is also mentioned in the Kali tantra, Chandi tantra, Shiva tantra Rahasya as one of the most important places for gaining the power of tantra. The Newar community performs various Puja at Guhyeshwari Temple. Newari Bhoj (feast) is also held at the temple during festivals. Newar Bajracharya Buddhists worship Guhyeshwari as Vajrayogini.

Festivals

During the first 10 days of Dashain (Navaratri), the main festival of the Hindus, devotees from all over Kathmandu come to worship Goddess Guhyeshwari. A lot of importance is placed in visiting this temple during this time. Statues of different forms of Durga (Hindu Goddess) are placed around Guhyeshwari Temple during this time. Guhyeshwari Yatra is a festival, which is a tour that starts from Guhyeshwari following Pashupatinath Temple and ends at Hanuman Dhoka, Basantapur. This tradition has been prevalent since a long time.

Connectivity

Guhyeshwari Temple is located on the banks of the Bagmati River, north-east of Kathmandu Valley in the eastern city of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Micro Station Bus Stop, 1 Km from Pashupatinath Temple, 5 Kms from Durbar Marg, 8 Kms from Kathmandu Bus Station, 2 Kms from Tribhuvan International Airport and 4 Kms from Kathmandu.

Location