Nyātāpola (
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
: , "''ṅātāpola''", ) is a five tiered temple located in the central part of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
,
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
.
It is the tallest monument within the city and is also the tallest temple of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
. This temple was commissioned by King
Bhupatindra Malla, the construction of which lasted for six months from 31 December 1701 to 15 July 1702. The temple has survived
four major earthquakes and its aftershocks including the recent 7.8 magnitude
April 2015 earthquake which caused major damage the city of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
.
The Nyatapola is noted for its unique architecture as it is one of only two five storey temples in the
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यका; also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley ( ne, नेपाः उपत्यका, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः)), ...
, the other one being the
Kumbheshvara in
Lalitpur and its five level plinth which along with steps to the top part also contains pairs of stone statues of animals and deities serving as the temple's guardians.
Along with the Bhairava temple and other historical monuments, the Nyatapola forms the ''Tamārhi'' square, which forms the central and culturally the most important part of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
and a popular
tourist destination
A tourist attraction is a place of interest that Tourism, tourists visit, typically for its inherent or an exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement.
Types
Places of ...
. Although, the temple itself has no religious significance to the locals, it is culturally used as a symbol of Bhaktapur. Its
silhouette
A silhouette ( , ) is the image of a person, animal, object or scene represented as a solid shape of a single colour, usually black, with its edges matching the outline of the subject. The interior of a silhouette is featureless, and the silhou ...
is used by the municipality in its coats of arms as well as by most of the corporations of the
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
. Reaching to a height of 33 m (108.26 ft), the Nyatapola temple dominates the skyline of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
and is the tallest monument there.
The Nyatapola Square also divides the town of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
into two parts: ''Thané'' () and ''Konhé'' ().
The gates of the temple is only opened once a year in July on the anniversary of its establishment during which the ''
Avāla'' subgroup of the
Newars
Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...
plant a triangular flag on its top and the ''
Karmacharya'' priests perform a ritual on the deity. Since the public is not allowed in, the deity housed inside is also not known to the public although it is generally accepted that the temple houses a powerful
Tantric incarnation of the mother goddess.''
'' Even the contemporary manuscript dealing with the construction of the temple does not mention the name of the deity housed inside.
Etymology
![Detail of a Newari manuscript 694203838373](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Detail_of_a_Newari_manuscript_694203838373.jpg)
Nyatapola is regarded as unique in terms of its name as it one of the only few temples which is not named after the deity residing inside it. Its name is derived from the local
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
name "''ṅātāpola",'' where "''ṅātā''" means something with five storey while "''pola''" means roof in the
Bhaktapur dialect of
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
.
Newar people
Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...
outside of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
use the term "''Nyātāpau"'', where "''nyātā''" has the same meaning as "''ṅātā"'' and "''pau"'' has same meaning as "''pola"''.
The name " (''ṅātāpola'')" has been in use since its construction as the temple was referred as such in the
ledger
A ledger is a book or collection of accounts in which account transactions are recorded. Each account has an opening or carry-forward balance, and would record each transaction as either a debit or credit in separate columns, and the ending or ...
of its construction work. Historian Purushottam Lochan Shrestha found an inscription being used as a stair stone by soldiers housed in
Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
The inscription, which was heavily damaged by the act and only three words and a date survived talks about the inauguration of the temple on 15 July 1702 and uses the word " (''ŋ̊ātāpola'')" to refer to the temple.
Raj Man Singh Chitrakar
Raj Man Singh Chitrakar ( ne, राजमानसिंह चित्रकार; IAST: rāja māna siṃha citrakāra) (1797 – 1865) was a mid-19th century Nepalese artist, who worked for the British and Nepalese courts producing a larg ...
who drew a sketch of the Nyatapola temple in 1844 AD has inscribed this temple as "Gniato Polo temple of Devi". Similarly,
Henry Ambrose Oldfield who painted this temple in 1854 AD has inscribed this temple as "Temple of Devi Bhagwati at Bhatgaon".
History
![Bhupatindra Malla in Anjali mudra 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Bhupatindra_Malla_in_Anjali_mudra_2.jpg)
Prior to the late 20th century hardly anything was known about the Nyatapola temple including the deity inside it. All western and local scholars who visited Bhaktapur mostly described the appearance of the temple and reported that the temple was commissioned by King
Bhupatindra Malla, who ruled over
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
from 1696 to 1722. His reign was characterized by the remodelling of important temples and buildings in the kingdom or the construction of new ones. Contrary to all other temples and other important buildings from the Malla dynasty, stone or gilt cooper inscriptions affiliated to the Nyatapola temple were also not present.
The first clue about written evidence about the Nyatapola temple came in 1984 when a scholar at the National Archives of Nepal, while cataloguing
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
manuscripts discovered a palm leaf manuscript titled as "siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā". However, the name of the manuscript was likely written by a former scholar and not by its original writer. The manuscript written in
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
contains the name, wage and work time of every single person who contributed in the construction, details and cost of every single religious ritual performed and the detailed time line of the construction. The manuscript began with the following sentence:
The construction of the Nyatapola was completed in a short period of six months mainly because all the required materials were already preapred. Similarly, citizens from both the Kingdom of Bhaktapur and the Kingdom of Lalitpur either directly helped in the construction or donated raw materials for it. The "siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā" manuscript contains the name and the wages of every people that helped in the construction.
![Detail of a Newari manuscript](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Detail_of_a_Newari_manuscript.jpg)
In Nepalese architecture, wood and bricks are the main materials for construction. For the Nyatapola, timber was collected from November 1701. Workers from all the settlements within the
Kingdom of Bhaktapur
The Kingdom of Bhaktapur () was a kingdom ruled by the Malla dynasty of Nepal in the 15th century.
It was established in 1482 after King Yaksha Malla divided his kingdom into three parts: Bhaktapur, Kantipur, and Lalitpur.
In 1769, It beca ...
were sent to nearby forest of Bhaktapur to chop down
Sal trees. The workers were sent in groups based on their hometown and worked for at least a month and were paid based on the amount of days they worked. The first group which contained nineteen woodcutters from
Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one ...
were paid an average of 112
''dam'' per 28 days of work. The second group contained eight cutters from
Banepa and twenty one from
Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one ...
. A total of 29
''mohar'' and 14
''dam'' were paid to this group who on average worked for 30 days. The third group contained eight cutters form the town of ''Khampu'' were paid 7
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
and 8
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
in total while twelve workers from
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
were paid 7 mohar and 40
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
. Another group containing seventeen workers form
Panauti
Panauti ( ne, पनौती) is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District in Bagmati Province of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996.
Origin
Panauti i ...
worked for 32 days on average and were paid 20
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
and 20
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
in total. Sixteen workers from
Nala worked for 30 days on average and were paid 17
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
and 20
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
in total while thirteen workers from Sāngā were paid 15
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
and 36
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
in total. Lastly, fourteen workers from
Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal. Two major highway B.P. Highway and Arniko Highway passes through Dhulikhel. Araniko Highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's border town of Kodari. Dhulikhel ...
were paid 14 mohar and 12 dam in total. Among the woodcutters, most workers worked am average of 30 days; the workers form
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
worked the fewest in total. A cutter from Bhaktapur named Bvāsama worked for eight days, the least among the cutters and was paid 32 dams while a few cutters from
Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one ...
, Sāngā,
Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal. Two major highway B.P. Highway and Arniko Highway passes through Dhulikhel. Araniko Highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's border town of Kodari. Dhulikhel ...
,
Panauti
Panauti ( ne, पनौती) is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District in Bagmati Province of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996.
Origin
Panauti i ...
and
Banepa worked for 39 days, the highest among the workers and were paid 1 mohar and 37 dam for it.
![Detail of a Newari manuscript 6942075322466](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Detail_of_a_Newari_manuscript_6942075322466.jpg)
Apart from that
Sal timber was donated by citizens form all the districts of the city of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
and from other towns all over the
kingdom
Kingdom commonly refers to:
* A monarchy ruled by a king or queen
* Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy
Kingdom may also refer to:
Arts and media Television
* ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...
. The "siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā" manuscript contains the dimensions of every single timber donated by the public. Apart from that,
Sal timber was donated by soldiers and officials of the kingdom was well. Citizens from the all over
Kingdom of Lalitpur
The Kingdom of Lalitpur ( ne, ललितपुर राज्य) was a kingdom ruled by the Malla dynasty of Nepal.
It was established in 1500 after King Yaksha Malla divided his kingdom into three parts: Bhaktapur, Kantipur, and Lalitpur ...
including all the districts of the
capital
Capital may refer to:
Common uses
* Capital city, a municipality of primary status
** List of national capital cities
* Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences
* Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...
,
Bungamati
Bungamati (), is a settlement in Lalitpur Metropolitan Region, Ward No. 22 in Lalitpur District, Nepal. Bungamati is a Newar town on a spur of land overlooking the Bagmati River
The first stele of the Licchavi king Amshuverma was found in Bun ...
,
Khokana
Khokana is a former Village Development Committee (VDC) which has been merged with the neighbouring VDC's of Bungamati, Chhampi, Dukuchhap, Sainbu and other 38 VDC's to form the Metropolitan City of Lalitpur in Lalitpur District in the Bagmati ...
and other cities within the kingdom donated
Sal timber was well.
Most of the stones for the Nyatapola temple were donated by citizens and local heads of the twenty four historical districts of the city of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
while some were donated by the people of
Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one ...
,
Banepa,
Panauti
Panauti ( ne, पनौती) is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District in Bagmati Province of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996.
Origin
Panauti i ...
and
Nagadesh. Except for the one used to carved the deity, most of these stone arrived during the latter part of the construction. The manuscript reports that 1528 stones were used for the construction. While the dimensions of these stones were not given, it is written that it took 12–31 workers to transport the stones from the
quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envi ...
to
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
. The stone in which the deity housed inside was carved was brought in April 1702 by 636 workers who were paid 53
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
and 1
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
in total. The statue of the deity was entirely carved in three months by a group of thirty artisans. The group was led by Tulasi Lohakarmi who received a
tola
Tola may refer to:
Places
* Bella Tola, a mountain in the Pennine Alps in the Swiss canton of Valais
* La Tola, a town and municipality in the Nariño Department, Colombia
*Tola (Shakargarh), a village in Pakistan
* Tola, Rivas, a municipality ...
of gold as a reward during the inauguration along with his wage. Other sculptors who also received gold as a reward included Vishvanāth, Raksharāma, Daksharāma, Manoharasingha and Keshavarāya.
![Idol in front of Nyatapola 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Idol_in_front_of_Nyatapola_01.jpg)
The statues of two wrestlers at the lowermost plinth were carved by a group of fourteen sculptors from
Lalitpur, four of whom as been labelled as 'child' in the manuscript. The sculptors labelled as 'child' were Krishna Raj, who worked for 37 days, Raksmidhil, who worked 28 days, Chandrasingha, who worked for 27 days and Meru, who worked for 10 days. The statues of the wrestlers were carved in 40 days at most and 4 days at least.
The Nyatapola temple was made with 1,135,350 bricks plus additional 102,304 bricks were used to pave the plinths. Additionally, bricks were used to pave the road and courtyards in the local Tamārhi district as well. For the bricks,
kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produces temperatures sufficient to complete some process, such as hardening, drying, or chemical changes. Kilns have been used for millennia to turn objects made from clay int ...
s were established in December 1701 at five spots around the city gates. However, most of the bricks were bought from dealers and the siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā manuscript contains the name of the seller and the cost of bricks purchased.
From 20 February 1702, the manufacturing of the ''gājula'' (golden pinnacle placed on the top of a temple) started. The gājula was manufactured by a team of 40 smiths with Navamising as their leader who received one
tolā of gold as a reward during the inauguration. The gājula took 99 days to manufacture and was placed on top of the temple during the inauguration day.
Similarly, ''nyākalis'' or metal workers started their work of making small wind bells from 16 November 1701. For the bells,
Bhupatindra Malla 493
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
for 322 kg of brass and bronze while around 107
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
from the savings of the Taleju temple were used to buy 250 kg of brass and bronze. Altogether, 529 wind bells were made; 48 were hung on the topmost roof, 80 on the second, 104 on the third, 128 on the fourth and 168 were hung on the lowermost roof. Among the 529 wind bells one remained as extra which the locals called an "unlucky bell".
Where the Nyatapola temple exists today, there may have been a smaller five tiered temple. The temple has been referred as "''ṅātapula''" in the "''siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā''" manuscript. Although, no other historical records of the "''ṅātapula''" has been found and the manuscript itself only lists the temple once when it states that "the ''ṅātapula'' was demolished in order to construct the Nyatapola". In order to make space for the construction of the temple, the acquisition of houses took place in Tamārhi district. The "siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā" manuscript does not mention these events but Dūkhi Bhāro, whose property was seized for the construction has mentioned it in his version of
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
that he authored.
There is an area in eastern part of Bhaktapur called "''palikhela"'' meaning "land given in exchange" in
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
which seems to be the spot where some of the people were given houses in exchange for the acquired lands for the construction of the Nyatapola temple . Dūkhi Bhāro states that he was given a new home in Bhōlāche district in the northern part of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
but was saddened by the loss of his ancestral land and coped by authoring a
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
in
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
. He directed the play in various parts of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
. Bhāro further writes that:
Starting from Thursday, 25 December 1701, around 40–69 workers were hired to first demolish the "''ṅātapula''" and then to dig the foundation for the Nyatapola temple. It took the workers six days to demolish the ''ṅātapula'' after which the required rituals for the new temple was completed. On 4 January 1702,
Bhupatindra Malla inaugurated the foundation by carrying three bricks on his shoulder and laying them on the foundation thereby commencing the construction work. After the inauguration waves of people from
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
,
Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one ...
,
Sanga,
Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal. Two major highway B.P. Highway and Arniko Highway passes through Dhulikhel. Araniko Highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's border town of Kodari. Dhulikhel ...
,
Banepa,
Panauti
Panauti ( ne, पनौती) is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District in Bagmati Province of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996.
Origin
Panauti i ...
,
Chaukot,
Shreekhandapur
Shreekhandapur (Nepal Bhasa: खम्पू) is a city situated in the Dhulikhel municipality in Kavrepalanchowk district in Nepal.This historical town is about 28 km east from Kathmandu. The city is located roughly at 1400m above sea level ...
and the
Kingdom of Lalitpur
The Kingdom of Lalitpur ( ne, ललितपुर राज्य) was a kingdom ruled by the Malla dynasty of Nepal.
It was established in 1500 after King Yaksha Malla divided his kingdom into three parts: Bhaktapur, Kantipur, and Lalitpur ...
started coming regularly to assist the construction. Since the raw materials were already prepared the construction picked up pace and after two months the five level plinth had been constructed. In April, as the festival
Biskāh jātrā approached, construction was temporarily halted for 15 days. After the festival ended,
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...
season came near. So, the construction picked up speed; citizens from all over the
Nepal Mandala
Nepal Mandala ( ne, नेपाल मण्डल) is an ancient confederation on the Indian subcontinent, marked by cultural, religious and political boundaries which lies in present-day central Nepal. It consists of the Kathmandu Valley and ...
assisted the construction and by 7 May 1702, the lowermost floor was tiled.
Siddhāgni koṭyāhuti yagya
The ''siddhāgni koṭyāhuti yagya'' was a
yagya ritual where ten million oblations were offered into the yagya fire.
A similar ritual was performed by King Siddhi Narasingha Malla during the establishment of the
temple of Krishna at
Lalitpur in 1636. Bhupatindra Malla had the ritual performed for the inauguration of the Nyatapola temple and the establishment of the deity inside it as well as for religious purposes like to appease the
Navagraha
Navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu astrology. The term is derived from ''nava'' ( sa, नव "nine") and ''graha'' ( sa, ग्रह "planet, seizing, laying hold of, ...
and the
Ajimā goddesses for the protection of the
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
. The ''gochāya'' (
Nepal Bhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...
: , ) ceremony denoting the
yagya's start was performed on the second day of the dark half of the month of
Vaisakha
Vaisakha; hi, बैसाख, Baisākh; pa, ਵਿਸਾਖ/وساکھ , te, వైశాఖ, kn, ವೈಶಾಖ, Vaiśākha; ml, വൈശാഖം, Vaiśākham; mr, वैशाख, Vaiśākh; ta, வைகாசி, Vaikāci; ne, ...
in Nepal Sambat 822. By then the second roof from the bottom was being tiled. For the occasion, 450 full
bettlenuts, 250 half-cut
bettlenuts and two coconuts costing 2
mohar
The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India and some of the princely states which existed alongside it, the Mughal Empire, Kingdom of Nepal, and Persia (chiefly Afghanistan). It was usually ...
and 23
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
were placed in the spot of the
yagya. The yagya fire was lit on the ninth day of the bright half of
Jyestha
Jyeshtha or Jyēṣṭha ( sa, ज्येष्ठ; ne, जेठ ''jēṭ''; as, জেঠ ''zeth''; or, ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ''Jyeṣṭha'') is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Jyestha is the third mon ...
in
Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat, also spelled as Nepala Sambata, (Nepal Bhasa: , Nepali: ) is the lunisolar calendar used by the Newari people of Nepal. The Calendar era began on 20 October 879 AD, with 1142 in Nepal Sambat corresponding to the year 2021–2022 A ...
822. Several gilt cooper statues of
Hindu deities
Hindu deities are the gods and goddesses in Hinduism. The terms and epithets for deities within the diverse traditions of Hinduism vary, and include Deva, Devi, Ishvara, Ishvari, Bhagavān and Bhagavati.
The deities of Hinduism have evolved ...
was consecrated for the occasion out of which a statue of a five headed
Hanumāna still survives and was auctioned at
Bonhams
Bonhams is a privately owned international auction house and one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. It was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. This brought to ...
.
People from all over the
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यका; also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley ( ne, नेपाः उपत्यका, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः)), ...
started coming with their musical instruments and offerings to visit the
yagya. As per the siddhāgni koṭyāhuti devala pratiṣṭhā manuscript, only 48 people (names given) were allowed inside the yagya including
Bhupatindra Malla. The manuscript also contains the details of all the religious rites performed with the
yagya.
Architectural elements
![Nyatapola Temple Stairs with Guardian Statues, Taumadhi Tole (5241412167)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Nyatapola_Temple_Stairs_with_Guardian_Statues%2C_Taumadhi_Tole_%285241412167%29.jpg)
There are five plinths on the stairways to the entrance of the temple and each of the plinth has a pair of stone guardians. Each of the pair is said to ten times stronger than the one below them.
At the bottom are two
Rajput
Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
wrestlers named Jai and Pratap who are said to be ten times stronger than normal men. Above them are the gaint statues of two
elephant
Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...
s and above them are the statues of two ''Singhas,'' which is a mythical
big cat
The term "big cat" is typically used to refer to any of the five living members of the genus ''Panthera'', namely the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard.
Despite enormous differences in size, various cat species are quite similar ...
and can be found throughout
South
South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...
and
Southeast
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
Asia.
Above the cats are the statues of two ''Sārdūlas'' , a
griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late Latin, Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail ...
-like creature of local Newari mythology.
And in the topmost plinths are the
Tantric deities, Simhanī and Vyāghranī, the
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
ess and
tigress deity who are the strongest of all the guardians.
There are also a total of five
Ganesha
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...
idols on four shrines, one on each corner of the structure(one of the shrines, the south western one has two idols on one shrine)
Siddhi Lakshmi
![Wooden tympanum of Nyatapola temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Wooden_tympanum_of_Nyatapola_temple.jpg)
The temple of Nyatapola is dedicated to the Tantric deity of Siddhi Lakshmi who is considered the
ancestral deity of the
Malla royal family of Bhaktapur and is also regarded as the
mother deity of the
Newars
Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...
of Bhaktapur.
She hold the topmost position in
Tantric divinity and as a result her primary visage is kept secret from public. Only the Karmāchārya priests are allowed enter the temple.
Although, representation of her can be seen on carvings all over the temple, the primary image of the goddess is not shown to public.
The image of Siddhi Lakshmi inside the temple is said to immensely beautiful and artistic and stands at least ten
foot
The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made ...
(3.048m) tall. She is said to be standing with her feet on the shoulders of
Bhairava
Bhairava (Sanskrit: भैरव ) or Kala Bhairava is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshiped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva associated with annihilation. In Trika system ''Bhaira ...
, a fierce manifestation of
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
and she herself has 9 heads and 18 arms.
Her image is also surrounded by smaller images of numerous other deities.It is said that because her image was installed using
Tantric methods, her image is hidden form the public.
Cultural significance
Legend tells of the days when the Lord
Bhairava
Bhairava (Sanskrit: भैरव ) or Kala Bhairava is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshiped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva associated with annihilation. In Trika system ''Bhaira ...
, the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
God of destruction was causing havoc in society (1078 AD). Bhairava's temple stood in Taumadhi Square. To counteract his destructive behavior the king decided to call goddess
Bhagavati, then Bhagavati took the form of Siddhi Laxmi and then carried Bhairava in her hand and built a more powerful temple on the honor of Siddhi Laxmi (
Narayani Devi) in front of the Bhairab Temple. To make the brick and wood temple strong and powerful, King Bhupatindra Malla ordered guardians be placed in pairs on each level of the base leading up to the Nyatapola Temple. On the first level is a pair of likenesses of Bhaktapur's strongest man, Jaya mal Pata, a famous wrestler. Next, two elephants followed by two lions, two griffons and finally "Baghini" and "Singhini", the tiger and lion goddesses. After subduing Bhairaba, peace prevailed in the city. The Temple is the tallest temple in the
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यका; also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley ( ne, नेपाः उपत्यका, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः)), ...
and stands 30 m high. It withstood the
1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake
Events
January–February
* January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established.
* January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...
.
The image of Siddhi Lakshmi is locked within the temple, and only the priests are allowed to enter to worship her. The five-storeyed temple, locally known as Nyatapola, stands in the northern side of Taumadhi Square in
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
. This is the only temple that is named after the dimension of architecture rather than from the name of the deity residing inside. The temple was erected in fewer than five months by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1701–1702 A.D.
Impact from earthquakes
The Bhairav kale survived the
2015 earthquake in spite of having the tallest shikhara in the valley. Many other temples were also damaged in the 2015 earthquake. It had also survived the
1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake
Events
January–February
* January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established.
* January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...
that had damaged many other temples. The ziggurat structure, and the 5 story timber and brick tower acts as a robust plinth, which allows for base isolation, separating the structure from the shaking caused by the earthquake.
Additionally, the use of triangulation on the roof means that any debris will fall away from the temple, rather than straight through it, as you might find in newer urban builds.
Historical Sources and records
![Nepal 2018-04-09 (42407412632)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Nepal_2018-04-09_%2842407412632%29.jpg)
These details were found while going into the Siddhagni Kotyahuti Devala Pratistha manuscript.
[Research Note Work Index Of Nyatapola Temple, Contributions to Nepalese Studies, Vol. 32, NO.2 (July 2005), 267–275.](_blank)
/ref> From the start of digging the foundation to the completion of roofing, it took merely eighty-eight days. The excavation work for foundation lasted for seven days. Then was commenced construction of six plinths. That was accomplished in thirty-one days, and immediately after that started the erection of the superstructure. That was also completed within thirty-four days, after which roofing work was started from top to the lowest roof. In sixteen days all the five roofs were completed paving them with mini-tiles (Jhingati). Then they had to wait for an auspicious day for erecting the icons in the sanctum sanctorum and fix the pinnacle on the top of the temple. For this, they did wait for 38 days. In the meantime, the fire-sacrifice (Siddhagni Kotyahuti Yajna) was going on.
Presented here are six pages (three folios) of the facsimile copies of the manuscript which recorded major events from beginning to the end, as a summary of records in advance, incorporated in the manuscript containing 264 folios. There are fifty major records in the summary six-page facsimile.
The manuscript is preserved in the National Archives of Nepal. It is readily available for readers in microfilm as well, which can be read in the office or could be purchased in photocopy paying certain rupees per page.
The name of the manuscript is recorded as Siddhagni Kotyahuti Devala Pratistha. The name itself kept the enthusiasts on the subject of ancient architecture behind the curtain from knowing it. The accession number of the manuscript is ca. I. 1115 NGMPP micro number A 249/5. The manuscript is written in the Newar script in yellow Nepalese paper coated with Harital (orpiment). The size is 17.2 x 46.5 cm. Each page has nine lines. The manuscript has 264 folios, and the rest are missing Dr. Janak Lal Vaidya thinks. Some folios are ink-stained and some are damaged by rats. All the rest of the folios are in good condition.
Out of these six facsimile pages, Dr. Janak Lal Vaidya has published three folios (1, 2 and 4) without any transliteration and translation in Abhilekh No.8 published by the National Archives of Nepal. It is, however, necessary at least to give a full picture of the detailed records in those six important pages.
There is still interesting information contained in the following folios of the manuscript which were published by Dr. Janak Lal Vaidya in his articles published in Abhilekh, No. 8 and No. 14 and Kheluita No. 11 in English, Nepali and Newar respectively.
Gallery
File:Bisket Jatra festival 2018 at the Nyatapola temple, Bhaktapur.jpg, Festival
File:Nyatapol_by_GP1.JPG, Wooden construction details
File:Nyatpol_Bhaktapur-by_ST-07.JPG, Wooden construction
File:Nyatpola_%26_Bhairav_Temple.jpg, Nyatpola & Bhairav Temples
File:View of Bhairav Temple from Nyatapola Temple, Taumadhi Tole (5242001770).jpg, Bhairav Temple from Nyatpola
File:Taumadhi_Square_(12678623483).jpg, Taumadhi Square
File:Népal_meules_géantes.JPG, Wooden wheels of a disassembled festival cart for Bisket Jatra
File:Bhaktapur Taumadhi Tol.JPG, Bhojanalaya overlooking the temples
File:Natapol Temple-IMG 3655.jpg
File:Natapol Temple-IMG 3622.jpg
File:Natapol Temple-IMG 3621.jpg
File:Natapol Temple-IMG 3620.jpg
File:Natapol Temple-IMG 3619.jpg
File:Natapol Temple-IMG 3617.jpg
File:Bhaktapur Durbar Square Nepal IMG 8403 2018 09.jpg , Wide view of Nyatapola Temple
File:Bhaktapur Durbar Square Nepal IMG 8403 2018 08.jpg , Another Side of Nyatapola Temple
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*{{Cite book , last=Niels Gutschow and Bernhard Kolver , url=http://archive.org/details/BhaktapurOrderedSpaceConceptsAndFunctionsInATownOfNepalNielsGutschowBernhardKolver , title=Bhaktapur Ordered Space Concepts and Functions in A Town of Nepal by Niels Gutschow & Bernhard Kolver , publisher=Wiesbaden , year=1975 , isbn=3515020772
Hindu temples in Bagmati Province
Buildings and structures in Bhaktapur District
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
18th-century establishments in Nepal
Newa architecture