The Sheshnarayan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple complex in
Sheshnarayan Village Development Committee (VDC). The site is near the ancient town of
Pharping, which lies approximately 20 kilometers south-west of
Kathmandu
, pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name =
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...
, Nepal.
Mythological Origins
The temple is one of the four
Narayana
Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण, IAST: ''Nārāyaṇa'') is one of the forms and names of Vishnu, who is in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, referring to the masculine principle. He is also known as Purushottama, and is co ...
temples of the
Kathmandu Valley, a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. The other three are Icchangu Narayan, Bishanku Narayan and
Changu Narayan
Changu Narayan is an ancient Hindu temple, located on a high hilltop that is also known as Changu or Dolagiri in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District, Nepal. This hill is about 7 miles (or 12km) east of Kathmandu and a few miles ...
. These temples, which stand in the four cardinal directions, are believed to be built during the reign of the
Licchavi king Vishnugupta. Their locations in the cardinal directions and on hilltops was to guard the Kathmandu Valley.
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-02-Hindu-Fest-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-04-Hindu-Fest-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-08-Hindu-Fest-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-10-Hindu-Fest-Tempel-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-14-Hindu-Fest-Tempel-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-18-Hindu-Fest-Tempel-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-26-Hindu-Fest-Haendler-2007-gje.jpg
Pharping-Sheshnarayan-32-Hindu-Fest-Haendlerin-2007-gje.jpg
References
Hindu temples in Kathmandu District
Vishnu temples in Nepal
{{hindu-temple-stub