Budhanilkantha Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal

History

History of the Budhanilkantha Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal has differing explanations. Origin of the Budhanilkantha statue has many stories behind it. Some believe that the statue had been sculpted and brought by forced labour or devotees to where it is presently in Kathmandu. It was brought here during the 7th century during Monarch Vishnugupta reign. The Kathmandu valley at that time was under the control of Licchavi king Bhimarjun Dev. Some people are of the opinion that many years back a farmer and his wife struck the deity while cultivation and blood started to flow from the ground. This was how the lost statue of deity Budhanilkantha was found and recovered and then placed at the correct position. However, different people have different beliefs.

Attractions

The Budhanilkantha Statue, Kathmandu is a major attraction as it has been carved out of a single black basalt stone block. The statue lies in a reclined position and is about 5 meters in length. The tank of water inside with the statue lies is about 13 meters in length. The Budhanilkantha Statue is also popularly known as the Sleeping Vishnu or Jalakshayan Narayan. The statue of the deity portrays and depicts being reclined on the serpent Shesha, which forms twisted coils of itself. The statue has crossed legs, and Shesha considered to be a servant of Lord Vishnu forms a cradle for the Lord with its eleven heads. Vishnu’s four hands are seen holding objects symbolic of his divine powers. These include a chakra or disc which represents his mind, a conch shell representing the four elements, a lotus flower resembles the moving universe and the club is believed to portray primaeval knowledge.