TOO, TOO MANY TEMPLES, BUT THANK HEAVEN FOR THE MONKEYS

Temples come in several flavours (flavors for you, Americans) in Nepal. The government of Nepal considers the country secular but you may get an argument from Hindu's who form 80% of the population. 11% are Buddhists and 5 percent Muslims.

Arriving back in Kathmandu, we spent a few more days visiting temples as well as many stupas, and squares with temples. The shift  from Buddhist to Hindu temples was a nice change. Many of the temples and holy sites were 500 or more years old wooden structures. I was constantly amazed by the plethora of lit candles and incense that inhabited the structures and not a fire extinguisher in sight.




Hinduism does not limit is self to one supreme deity. If one is good then many must be better. Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, just to name a few of the more prominent ones.   I quit counting after 100.  Not everyone rates a temple though. 


Nonie got a little too friendly with a mother monkey.  Next thing we knew, mom brought the whole gang for a visit.










Monkeys were a fixture at many of our temple stops. This temple complex called  Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple. Some of the resident monkeys are considered holy. The back story says that they are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice transformed into these monkeys.


No matter where you went, the third eye of Shiva would follow you around. The third eye is the red circle seen above the eyes. Very spooky.

Meet the Living Goddess of Nepal. They (Not sure who They is?" chose  prepubescent girls on the basis of their 32 attributes of perfection, including color of eyes, shape of teeth and even voice quality. They are then are taken to meet the deities in a dark room, where terrifying tantrik rituals are performed. The real goddess is the one who stays calm and collected throughout these trials. Other Hindu-Buddhist rituals follow to finally determine the real Kumari (Goddess). We were introduced to her at her home in the Hanumandhoka Palace when our guide took us into a tiny, roofed courtyard, perhaps 30' by 30'. Our guide called out her name and surprise of surprises she came to the window and checked us out. She never leaves the palace except once a year during the Indra Jatra festival when she is visited by 1,000's worshippers. Sadly she is evicted from the cushy digs when puberty strikes and a new goddess is selected.  We were not allowed to take pictures so I have used one of her publicity pics.

The ladies were grabbing some shade after spending a long day of worship at Durban Square. A 800 year old square with many Hindu temples and even a stupa ( a mound-like structure containing relics of Buddha)  

Buses and trucks were a visual treat. Each driver personalizing his ride.

Nonie was in her happy place tenaciously bargaining for a piece of fabric. Don't see this catching on at Fabricland.

A 800 year old watering hole.

The local 7-11 franchise. These two entrepreneurs carried  a number of items much sought after by trekkers but best not to look at the Best Before dates.

Happy in his chosen profession. This smiling Hindu's sole 

(no pun intended) responsibility was to guard the shoes removed by the worshippers to the temple of  Kama. Kama was in a position (snicker, snicker) to make a lot of Hindus happy as the God of Love. 

Another contest.  How has  Kami made many Western couples happy?  E-mail your answers to us.