Farewell to Nepal. You are in my heart forever. Nepal is a very spiritual country. Here are believers who worship their Gods day after day. Nepalese are not very educated people, exactly the female gender, but they know the story of what they worship as five fingers. This emphasizes their loyalty. People who live in Nepali are happy, although they are not rich, they appreciate what they have. These people respect tourists and help, though not with money, of course, but they are always happy to suggest something. There were cases when I asked one from Nepalese how to get to a certain street, and he not only told me where it was, but he himself took me to that place, even though I told him not to waste his time, he answered me: "nothing , I'll walk along at the same time! ". I am grateful to this man and will never forget his age. And in general, Nepal is in my heart.

Bodnath

I posted my first photo on which - Buddhist temple. In the center of the temple there is a large Buddhist stupa, around it there are dozens of Tibetan monasteries of different schools and directions.

Bodnath is the main center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. This stupa was built in the VI century, it is mentioned in historical documents. It was Bodnath who was on his way from Tibet to India. Many pilgrims stop here.

It is a spatial mandala, its base symbolizes the earth, a hemispherical arch - represents water, a spire of 13 steps (according to the number of steps to Nirvana) - fire, umbrella - air, and the crowning of all the belvedere - the sky.

Descent from top to bottom with terraces, on each terrace there are small stupas. Everything is surrounded by a fence and on the circumference there are prayer drums. The stupa can be bypassed either around the fence, rotating drums, or terraces of each level. The first tier - rough steps, which break off a few meters above the terrace - it is through these steps that the spirit descends. 

The second photo shows Buddha Shakyamun, the spiritual master.

The teacher Shakyamuni left his physical body in 80 years. He stayed in the palace for 29 years. When the teacher attained Enlightenment, he spent his first summer at the turning point of the Wheel of the Law. In Veluvan passed his 2 and 4 years. 5 years in Vaishali. 6 is in Gol. It's been 7 summer - on the stone of Armonig. 8 is Shishumaragiri. 9 years have passed in Kaushambi. 10 - in Kapitzhit in the forest of Parleikivan. 11 summer in Rajagrih. His 12th summer flew to the village of Verandzh. 13 is in Chaitagiri. In the temple Raja Jetavan passed his 14th summer. 15 is in Nyag-rodharma. In Atavak - 16. 17 in Raja. 19 summer - in Gwalini. 20 years, like 11 and 17, were held in Rajagriha. 4 consecutive summer stays in Mragamatra ara. After 4 years in Mragamatra, his 21-year vacation in Sravasti. In Nirvana, the Buddha went to Shala Grove in Kushinagar, in the country of Malla. I did not write the 3rd summer, because I do not know this, perhaps the Buddha spent in Veluvan.

History of Buddhism in Nepal

Nepalese Buddhism is peculiar because Nepal has experienced a strong influence of Indian culture and statehood. From India, the first dynasty of the Nepalese rulers of the Lichkhavs, who ruled the country from the 4th century, took place. Nearby were the Indian centers of Mahayana and Vajrayana that contributed to the development of the Buddhist Great Traditions in Nepal. But the main religion in Nepal was Brahmanism (Hinduism).

Became very popular Buddhist cults. And Nepalese residents believe that they were all born in their country.

Then Buddhism again pushed Hinduism, the religion of India, which greatly influenced Nepal as a neighboring country. Since the XIV century. Buddhist monks are called the highest Hindu caste (banra). They married and still live in monasteries that became included in the system of Hinduism. Some monks became masters of tantric rituals serving worldly purposes. This caused the decline of Buddhism and the emergence of Hindu Tantrism with a notable Buddhist contribution.

The territory of Nepal for some time was part of the states ruled by the Indian ruler, the history of Buddhism in Nepal is associated with the history of the emergence of Buddhism as a world religion. On the land of Nepal, Buddha Shakyamuni was born and raised. Through the country of Nepal, Buddhism penetrated into Tibet, China and the countries of Southeast Asia. Buddhism in Nepal has been developing since the time of the Buddha himself.

Indigenous Buddhists rely on the Sanskrit texts of the Buddhist canon, nine of them are revered.

Holy water.

My rest from a long journey, and a light breakfast.

Very sweet papaya.