Nepaleses Lifestyle :Typical Artworks around the Oldest temple

What's up , everyone! I have been living in this Kathmandu city , Nepal where the by-passers sometimes figures it's the extension of India , but it's not so. It has a very long history which is beautiful and interesting to read. The Nepalese are more fun and friendly : If you happen to learn Nepali language and speak a few words, Nepalese will definitely be loving you ! And I am pretty much sure about this !! 

Taking this Nepalese society and the rituals ,local foods and street crowds which they have been following for years, I will be sharing these stuffs with your from now on in this blog "Nepali Lifestyle" . I will make it simple, interesting and will be fun to read .For today, I have visited a temple which happens to be the oldest temple of Nepal , located about 13 km from Kathmandu. Old as old itself, "Changu Narayan Temple" which dates back to 3000 years. It has a wonderful story behind it . 

Changu Narayan on the Support 

Majestically it stands ! Perched at a hilltop. Originally built at 4th century during the Lichhavi dynasty but reconstructed after some major fire occurred. As we reached there, the view was just too sobbing ! 

While approaching to the main gate of "Changu Narayan" .

Old woman saying to the little girl "ओइ नानी ! धेरै चकचक नगर त ! लडेर घाउ हुन्छ ! " in Nepali.  Translating to English She said that "Not to be naughty around, otherwise you may get hurt ".

Stopping by, we asked this old lady about the story behind this temple. She came out with full energy and told us. 

In the ancient time, there was a cow header named as Gwala who bought a cow from the Brahamin named Sudharshan. This cow was special because this produced a huge amount of milk. Gwala used to take the cow to the Champak tree forest for grazing and during this time, the cow used to go into the particular shade of tree.When it returned to Gwala and took home and stated miling her, he used to get less amount. This happened to continue for several days .So, he surveyed every moment of the cow and told Brahmin about the amount of milk the cow is givving issue.After survey, they came to find out that the cow going to particular shades of tree.To their surprize, they found a black boy coming out of the tree and having a milk from the cow. They believed that the boy was some kind of devil and tree must be his home. So, they decided to cut down the tree and while they were cutting down, they found a fresh human bleed from the tree.They cried loud for creating crime and as soon as Lord Vishnu emerged as told them , it's not their fault and neither the cow's. Lord vishnu told the story about how he killed the Brahmin's or Sudharshan's father while hunting the forest. When Brahmins cut down the tree, Vishnu was beheaded which freed him from his sins . This was the story behind this ! 

 The surrounding was full of Nepalese Mandala and a Traditional Poppets ! Designed in a traditional costumes and dresses , Mandala took me to the childhood where we used to pay 10 cents for the shadow dance by the Poppets. 

You shall be my pet , and also my poppet and my dearest little duck all the days of your life ! 

Traditional Poppets 

During the fourth century A.D., there were the artworks done which was on the Lichchhavi period. This age was called as the golden age period and the artworks were exclusively meaningful . The mandalas and the paperworks were found during the visit ! 

"Bulb holder from a typical Nepalese paper " , I will surely get one ! 

And this just reminded of a film "The Mask". What kind of transformation will you get from wearing this mask , If it includes some magical power in it ? But this one , is a typical Nepali Wooden mask which is hand carved in it . 

Tibet Wall hanging wooden art which is hand carved .

Going through these shops nearby, we happened to stop at one place for some minutes. They offered us with a cup of tea. We had to made a choice which to drink . The stall had the tea bags with different taste. 

Various types of tea 

The taste had a local taste of different areas within Nepal. The stall had a tea from 75 district of Nepal , i.e all over Nepal. The cost was according to the area's development issues. The cost to buy this will be 50% taken by the seller and 50% to that community from which the tea was brought here. 

After the tea break, we had a 5 minutes walk and there comes the temple. 

Surrounded by a Champak tree forest and small village called as Changu. Dunring the entry , it was hard to capture the shot of this temple as the disantce between the camera and the temple was too close, so I happend to click the temple using the available mirror around there. 

Mirror shot of the temple

Monument rich and also the architecture rich temple has some different special things on the door and the gate.Ten incarnations of Idol Vishnu and other goddess are also carved here in the gates.  Scripts are also surrounded around which happens to be the oldest inscriptions in Sanskrit words. 

Due to the earthquake, a major destruction was struck here, but the people are working harded for its repair and re-construction process. The Changu Narayan VDC has formed a community called as Changu Narayan Temple Management Committee which is very responsible for these issues. They protect, preserve and manage the temple. 

The two-storey roofed temple stands on a high plinth of Stone . 

According to the Professor Madan Rimal who works in a Department of Sociology and Anthropology , Tribhuwan University says that the temple is neither in a Shikhara Style nor in Pagoda style. This temple is in a typical local Nepali Style.

Typical carvings

Typical artworks and hand works around the temple. The carvings done on a typical Nepali wood. 

This was all about this temple and the around hand works and art works. Hope to see you on other Nepalese Lifestyle. Thanks for the view ! 

Pictures taken from MI5

With love, 

khatisam4