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Gods, Men, and Territory

Author: Anne Vergati

Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13:

The Newars who live in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal are well known for their urban civilisation as well as for the social organisation of their territory, which they have conserved for centuries. The author shows that for the Newars there exists a complex relationship between gods and men and also that their notion of territory is inextricably linked with the sanctuaries and temples, where gods have precise sites. Even though political power has always been in the hands of the Hindus, the co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism since the fifth century and the influence of Tantrism later on has given rise to a complex pantheon. The sanctuaries and temples are not merely decorative, they are functional as well. Each festival takes place around a temple and these mark out the territory the Newars inhabit. The Newar town not only has a religious centre but a political centre as well. For instance, at Bhaktapur the royal goddess Taleju is the political figure head and the goddess Tripurasundari the religious figure head. The royal goddess Taleju being the sovereign deity of the town, it is obvious that the political centre has primacy over the religious centre. The seats of the deities within a territory are situated in concentric circles. Published in association with Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi.

In the Kingdom of the Gods

Author: Desmond Doig

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13:

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Description of the Kathmandu valley.

Nepal, where the Gods Live

Author: Michèle Béguin

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9788172341602

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For most people Nepal conjures up images of the Himalayas, but Nepal is much more than that. It is the sanctuary of the main Asian religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shamanism, where most traditions have been left untouched by foreign influences. In fact, the Kathmandu Valley keeps itself alive with the antique traditions of the virginity cult. The living Goddess or the Kumari Devi is the most important character for any traditional Nepalese. She is the Goddess protecting the country and it is only after her benediction that the King of Nepal had the permission to lead the country's affairs for the following year. Nepal is also a sanctuary of nature and races. Its climate, flora and fauna are extremely rich and shelter a number of ethnic groups. These little groups live precariously within harsh natural elements, through heat and cold, subtropical rains and high altitude deserts, and have astonishing communal organisations, which could be considered as a model in our modern society. The arts of Nepal are splendid and in plenty. The country is known of course for its architectural treasures mainly present in the Katmandu valley. The wooden sculptures of their struts are unique in the world as are the excellent golden bronzes admired in the public places and the numerous temples of Buddhist and Hindu religions. The Buddhist Thangka paintings are world famous and the murals of the monasteries and temples evoke envy. Nepal is home to mysterious festivals and many rituals are still practiced with as much faith and belief as they were centuries ago. Festivals to call the rain through Macchendranath, to celebrate the memory of the dead, to thank the God of rains after the season and celebrate the protective Goddess of the nation and later the call of the Goddess of Wealth Laxmi to shower riches on the family. It is endless, there is more than a festival a day. Only the people of each of the different communities are aware of their own fetes. Nepal is a place of rich and multiple activities, full of diversities, a refuge of races and the cultures they elaborate. Contents : 1. Looking Back / 2. Exploring the Land of the Gods / 3. Past Tense in Gods' Country / 4. The Ethnic Mosaic of the Nepalese People / 5. Religions in Ne's Country / 6. The Divinities in All their States: Gods and Goddesses of Nepal / 7. Let's Greet the Gods of Nepal: Festivals / 8. Epilogue.

Himalayan Passages

Author: Andrew Quintman

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2014-08-12

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 161429092X

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Explore new research on the religious and cultural traditions of the Himalayan Buddhist world. Over decades, hundreds of American undergraduates spending a semester abroad have been introduced to Tibetan culture in India, Nepal, and China by Hubert Decleer. A number went on to become prominent scholars in the field at institutions such as Yale, Berkeley, and Georgetown, and as a tribute to him they have put together this collection of cutting-edge research in Himalayan studies, bringing together contributions of this new generation with those of senior researchers in the field. This new research on the religion and culture of the Himalayan Buddhist world spans a broad range of subjects, periods, and approaches, and the diversity and strength of the contributions ensures Himalayan Passages be warmly welcomed by scholars, travelers, and Tibetan Buddhists alike. Highlights include: Donald S. Lopez, Jr. tells the story of Gendun Chopel's unusual visit to Sri Lanka in 1941. Leonard van der Kuijp examines the Bodhicittavivarana, an ancient work on the enlightened resolve to free all beings. Kabir Mansingh Heimsath compares Western and Chinese curatorial approaches to Tibetan modern art. Alexander von Rospatt illuminates the fascinating history and artistic details of the famous Svayambhu stupa in Kathmandu. Sarah H. Jacoby translates the short autobiography of Sera Khandro, the celebrated female Tibetan mystic of a century ago. Additional contributors include Franz-Karl Ehrhard, Ernst Steinkellner, Jacob P. Dalton, Iain Sinclair, Anne Vergati, Punya Prasad Parajuli, and Dominique Townsend.