Newar Buddhism
Newar Buddhism is the form of Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It has developed unique socio-religious elements, which include a non-monastic Buddhist society based on the Newar caste system and ...
is one of the branches of
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
. One of the major elements of this branch of Buddhism is ''Mahavihara'' (महाबिहार) or ''Baha'' or great monastery. These monasteries have served as centers of learning in Newar Buddhism. These monasteries generally are built as a courtyard surrounded by two storied buildings consisting of halls.
Some of these monasteries have been founded as early as fifth
[ to twelfth century Many of these mahaviharas are listed as historical monuments of Nepal.][ The following is a list of these mahaviharas ][Historical and World Heritage sites of Lalitpur (Nepali)]
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See also
* Buddhism in Nepal
Buddhism in Nepal started spreading since the reign of Ashoka through Indian and Tibetan missionaries. The Kiratas were the first people in Nepal who embraced Gautama Buddha’s teachings, followed by the Licchavis and Newar people.
Buddha was b ...
* Newar Buddhism
Newar Buddhism is the form of Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It has developed unique socio-religious elements, which include a non-monastic Buddhist society based on the Newar caste system and ...
* Kindo Baha
Kindo Baha ( new, किन्द्व: बहा:), also known as Kinnu Bāhā, Kindol Bāhāl or Kimdol Bāhāl, is a vihara in Kathmandu which was the hub for the resurgence of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal from the 1920s to the 1940s.
Loca ...
* Pranidhipurna Mahavihar
Pranidhipurna Mahavihar ( ne, प्रणिधिपूर्ण महाविहार) is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in Balambu, Kathmandu which was a key base in the revival of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal in the 1940s.
Informally known ...
* Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal
Lumbini is the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. There are number of historical Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal.
Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal
* Lumbini (There are over 60 excavation sites including ...
* List of Buddhist stotras in Nepalbhasha
* List of monasteries in Nepal
* List of stupas in Nepal
Stupas in Nepal date back to the Licchavi (kingdom), Licchavi period; a stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Bhikkhu, Buddhist monks or Bhikkhuni, nuns) that is used ...
* Bahal, Nepal
Baha (Nepal Bhasa:बहाः) is a type of courtyard found amongst Newar communities in Nepal. It is the most dominant type of courtyard in Newari Architecture. Baha is a term for Buddhist Monastery and derives its name from a Sanskrit word Bi ...
References
External links
Official Website of Itumbaha (Keshchandra Paravarta Mahavihara)
Ancient Buddhist Monasteries of Nepal
Youtube channel
with an ongoing collection of clips of monasteries
{{Buddhism topics
Newar Buddhism
Buddhism in Nepal
Buddhist monasteries in Nepal