Swayambhunath

Swayambhu Maha Chaitya is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the <a href="/facts/Kathmandu_Valley/ISYywJ6m">Kathmandu Valley</a>, west of <a href="/facts/Kathmandu/0346ho1j">Kathmandu</a> city. The Tibetan and Sanskrit name for the site means 'self-arising' or 'self-sprung'. For the Buddhist <a href="/facts/Newa_people/MyvJzrgn">Newari</a> people, the day-to-day religious practice at Swayambhu occupies a central position, and it is among the three most sacred <a href="/facts/Buddhist_pilgrimage/9z1SFh8a">Buddhist pilgrimage</a> sites. For Tibetans and followers of <a href="/facts/Tibetan_Buddhism/xWbwElWv">Tibetan Buddhism</a>, it is second only to <a href="/facts/Boudha/qa520ewD">Boudha</a>. Swayambhu is the Sanskrit name.

The complex consists of a <a href="/facts/Stupa/0dXQxGA3">stupa</a>, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan <a href="/facts/Monastery/t8MRXpsM">monastery</a>, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on it. Between them, the number one (in <a href="/facts/Pracalit_script/sxYvLyG2">Nepal script</a>) is painted in the fashion of a nose. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. The site has multiple access points: a long staircase leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; a car road around the hill from the south leading to the south-west entrance; and a less traveled stairway that meets the landing leading to the same south-west entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the <a href="/facts/Vajra/SJ4BynTE">Vajra</a>. <a href="/facts/Tsultrim_Allione/HL5Uaqab">Tsultrim Allione</a> describes the experience:<blockquote>
We were breathless and sweating as we stumbled up the last steep steps and practically fell upon the biggest vajra (thunderbolt scepter) that I had ever seen. Behind this Vajra was the vast, round, white dome of the stupa, like a full solid skirt, at the top of which were two giant Buddha eyes wisely looking out over the peaceful valley which was just beginning to come alive.

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Much of Swayambhu's <a href="/facts/Iconography/YUcIQLN7">iconography</a> comes from the <a href="/facts/Vajrayana/pDIn4wcG">Vajrayana</a> tradition of <a href="/facts/Newar_Buddhism/BTXo01EE">Newar Buddhism</a>. However, the complex is an important site for <a href="/facts/Buddhist/G0wsjrSl">Buddhists</a> of many schools and is also revered by <a href="/facts/Hinduism/oxV9YvQh">Hindus</a>.

Swayambhunath open-in-new

Swayambhunath