Newar Buddhism is one of the branches of Buddhism. One of the major elements of this branch of Buddhism is Mahavihara (महाबिहार) or Baha or great monastery. These monasteries have served as centers of learning in Newar Buddhism. These monasteries generally are built as a courtyard surrounded by two storied buildings consisting of halls.[1] Some of these monasteries have been founded as early as fifth to twelfth century [2] Many of these mahaviharas are listed as historical monuments of Nepal.[1] The following is a list of these mahaviharas [1] [3] [4] -
| Mahavihara (Pali) | Nepal Bhasa name | Location | Founded | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maitripura Mahavihara | Kwa Baha (Kwatha Baha) | Kathmandu Thamel | Built by Bakbajra who brought Kashisoyambhu (Shreegha Vihar) from Kashi | ||
| Henakara Mahavihara | Dhwaka Baha | Kathmandu | 7th century [5] | Damaged in earthquake of 1934 | |
| Hemvarna Mahavihara | Gan Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Ratnaketu Mahavihara | Nhu Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Ratnachaitya Mahavihara | Jhwa Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Gunakar Mahavihara | Chusya Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Suratshree Mahavihara | Takshe Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Kanakachaitya Mahavihara | Jana Baha | Kathmandu | Annual festival held | ||
| Keshchandra Paravarta Mahavihara | Kathmandu | 1381[6] | Known for Keshchandra and Gurumapa (Official Website) | ||
| Ratnakirti Mahavihara | Makhan Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Mulashree Mahavihara | Mu baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Mantrasiddhi Mahavihara | Sawal Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Rajakirti Mahavihara | Te Baha | South of New Road, Kathmandu | 5th century AD | ||
| Shreekhanda Mahavihara | Shikhamu Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Brahmachakra Mahavihara | Om Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Bajrasheel Mahavihara | Iku Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Munisangha Mahavihara | Mikha Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Kirtipunya Mahavihara | Lagan Baha | Kathmandu | |||
| Kirtipunya Mahavihara | Kohiti | Kathmandu | |||
| Manisingha Mahavihara | Musun Baha (Inner) | Kathmandu | |||
| Manisangha Mahavihara | Musun Baha (Outer) | Kathmandu | |||
| Vikramashila Mahavihara | Bhagwan Baha | Thanbahil, Kathmandu | Visited by Pandita Atisha Shrijana of Nalanda in 1041,[7] houses Saharsha Prajnaparamita dated 1223 AD [8] | ||
| Hiranya Varna Mahavihar | Kwa Baha | Lalitpur | 12th century by Bhaskara Deva Verma [9] | Houses Prajnaparamita dated B.S.1282 (A.D. 1226-1227) | |
| Rudravarna Mahavihara | Uku Baha | Lalitpur | 6th century CE by Shiva Deva[10] | ||
| Ratnakar Mahavihara | Ha Bahal | Lalitpur | |||
| Yasodhar Mahavihara | Bu Bahal | Lalitpur | |||
| Jyesthavarna Mahavihara | Tanga Baha (Chaku Baha) | Lalitpur | Contains an inscription dated N.S. 245 (1125 A.D.) | ||
| Dharmakirti Mahavihara | Ta Baha | Lalitpur | |||
| Dattanama Mahavihara | Dau Baha | Lalitpur | |||
| Yempi Mahavihara | I Baha | Lalitpur | |||
| Gunalakshmi Mahavihara | Dhum Baha | Lalitpur | |||
| Chakravarna Mahavihara | Cuka Baha | Lalitpur | Founded by Manadeva I | ||
| Bajrakirti Mahavihara | Wam Baha | Lalitpur | Inscription dates back to N.S.561 (1441A.D) | ||
| Rudradeva Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Vaishra Varna Mahavihara | Guji Baha | Lalitpur | Housed a manuscript dated N.S. 373 (1253 A.D.) | ||
| Mayuravarna Mahavihara | Bhinche Baha | Lalitpur | |||
| Jayamanohara Mahavihara | Su Baha | Lalitpur | |||
| Sri Vaccha Mahavihara | Si Baha | Lalitpur | Houses a Pancharaksa manuscript dated N.S. 509 (1389 A.D) | ||
| Baladhar Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Akshyashwara Mahavihara | Thuthu Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Raksheshwara Mahavihara | Kothu Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Lokkirti Mahavihara | Na(Naka) Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Napichandra Mahavihara | Duntu Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Gopichandra Mahavihara | Pintu Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Lalitchandra Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Saptapur Mahavihara | Chika Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Padmoccha Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Rajashree Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Manimandap Mahavihara | Dhapaga Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Chandrasurya Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Jayashree Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Gustala Mahavihara | Guita Tole | Lalitpur | |||
| Lokkirti Mahavihara | Kinu Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Thaveer Patra Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Kamukanama Mahavihara | Khwayebahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Itiraja Mahavihara | Ilyaa Bahi | Lalitpur | |||
| Basuraja Mahavihara | Lalitpur | ||||
| Indravarna Mahavihara | Inacho | Bhaktapur | |||
| Jetvarna Mahavihara | Bhaktapur | ||||
| Manjuvarna Mahavihar | Bekhal Tole | Bhaktapur | |||
| Nritya Mandala Mahavihara | Portland, OR, USA | 2009 |