| Budhanilkantha Temple | |
| Native Name: | बूढानीलकण्ठ मन्दिर |
| Country: | Nepal |
| District: | Kathmandu |
| Locale: | Budanilkantha |
| Deity: | Lord Vishnu / Buddha |
| Length: | 5 metres |
| Province: | Bagmati |
Budhanilkantha Temple, located in Budhanilkantha, Nepal, (Nepali: बुढानिलकण्ठ मन्दिर; translation: Old Blue Throat) is a Hindu open air temple dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu. Budhanilkantha Temple is also known as the Narayanthan Temple for Hindus, and can be identified by a large reclining statue of Lord Mahavishnu. However In the Buddhist community, the term "Buddhanilkantha" refers to one of the various manifestations of Avalokiteshvara. The name means "Blue-Throated Buddha."
According to Hindus Budhanilkantha has a Sanskrit origin that means ‘Old Blue Throat’, a title of Lord Shiva that was given by gods after the Lord drank poison to save the world. The statue symbolizes Lord Vishnu, who is regarded as one of the 'Trimurtis', along with Brahma and Shiva. This statue is highly significant to Buddhist devotees because it features a Buddha on its forehead. They believe it represents Avalokiteshvara in the form of a reclining Naga. Many visit Buddhanilkantha, believing its water can cure illnesses specially wounds. The Hindu scriptures Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata refer to Samudra manthan, which is directly related to the origin of Gosaikunda. According to legend the spring that feeds the pond in the Budanilkantha temple is connected to Gosaikunda which makes it to have a direct connection to the water source from Lord Shiva. This is the reason why its name is dedicated to Lord Shiva even though the statue is dedicated to Lord Vishnu since the water pond on which the statue lies, has its source to Gosaikunda dedicated to Lord Shiva which was the result of him drinking the poison and storing it in his throat resulting in him having blue throat.[1]
This temple is regarded as a sacred place for Hindus but is equally well venerated by Buddhists. [2] It is considered as a sign of religious harmony that has existed in the region since ancient times .
Budhanilkantha Temple is situated below the Shivapuri Hill at the northern end of the Kathmandu valley.[3] It is located in Budhanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu District. Its address is Golfutar Main Rd, Budhanilkantha 44600. The Budhanilkantha Temple is about 10 kilometres from Tribhuvan International Airport and is about 9 kilometres from Thamel.
The main statue is carved up on a single block black basalt stone.[4] The statue stands 5 meters tall (around 16.4 feet) and is positioned in the middle of a recessed pool of water, which is 13 meters (42.65 feet) long. He holds the Sudarshana Chakra, Club, a Conch Shell and a gem in his four hands. He is well adorned with a crown engraved with multiple Kirtimukha images which can often be seen being overlapped by a silver crown. The statue is believed to be more than 1400 years old. The temple's main statue of Budhanilkantha is considered the largest stone carving in Nepal.[5]
The Budhanilkantha Temple has become the site where thousands of pilgrims visit when Haribondhini Ekadashi Mela takes place on the 11th day of the Hindu month of Kartika (October–November) every year.[6] This is a special ritual to wake up Lord Vishnu from his long sleep. A big fair is also held at the temple area every year on the auspicious occasions such as Ekadashis, Harishayani and Haribodhini of hindu lunar calendar which marks the 4-month sleeping period of Lord Vishnu.
A legend states that King Pratap Malla (1641–1674) had a prophetic vision. In the vision it was claimed that the king was cursed. If he would visit then they would die prematurely. This vision resulted in him believing that the kings of Nepal would die if they visited the Budhanilkantha Temple.[7] Royal family members including the Nepalese monarchs after King Pratap Malla never visited the Temple in fear of the prophecy.[8]
It was suggested for many years that the statue floats in the pool. Indeed, limited access to scientific rigour in 1957 failed to confirm or refute the claim but a small chip of the did confirm it to be silica-based stone but with a remarkably low density similar to lava rock.[9]
Haridatta barma.This Raja was in the habit of paying a daily visit to the four Narayanas, viz., Changu, Chainju, Ichangu, and Sikhara Narayana, who in Dwapar Yuga disclosed themselves to an inspired devotee. One night Jalasayana Narayana appeared to this Baja in a dream, and said that he was the original of the four Narayanas, and that he was buried under earth and stones, washed down by the Rudramati(Dhobikhola) from the Satarudra mountain. He told him to remove the earth and stones, and uncover him, which the Baja did ; but. while doing so, he struck the Narayana on the nose with the spade, and broke it. To the present day the nose remains in this mutilated condition. The Raja then made a tank for the Narayana, and called him Budhanilkantha, and built a temple for him.[10]
Local legend describes the existence of mirror-like image of Lord Shiva beside the statue in the water even though the statue faces upward towards the sky. The legends also claims that the mirror like image is seen on annual Shiva festival held every year in August.[11]