The gods occupy an important place in the life of the Nepalese. The main religion is Hinduism (80%),but the country also has Buddhists (10%).
The main Hindu gods and their incarnations
The divinity is so diverse that it is often confusing. Each God or Goddess has multiple names; between which he or she alternates with each reincarnation. And then we would forget the female counterpart (Shakti), who also has her own name. All these mythical figures have different images and attributes.
The Hindu trinity: Brahma – Vishnu – Shiva
Brahma is the founder, his female counterpart is Saraswati, Goddess of art, literature and science. His vehicle is the swan.
Vishnu is the keeper of life and the world. He has lived under 10 reincarnations. In Nepal he is often revered in his incarnation as Narayan. His shakti is Lakshmi. In the 7th reincarnation he is called Rama, the main hero in the Ramayana epic. The kings in Nepal were considered to be the incarnation of Vishnu. The vehicle of Vishnu is the Garuda.
Shiva is the transforming force, both destroyer and creator, usually depicted with a trident. His terrifying incarnation is Bhairav. As a protector, he is known as Pashupati. His wife is Parvathi (friendly incarnation), sometimes Durga (dangerous incarnation). The vehicle of Shiva is the bull Nandi (symbol of fertility).
Another important god is Hanuman, a symbol of loyalty and courage and we don’t forget the god Ganesh, the sympathetic god with the elephant head, son of Shiva and Parvathi. As god of wisdom, prosperity, and understanding, he is omnipresent. His vehicle is the rat.
Buddhism.
Two thousand five hundred years ago, Siddharta Gautama (born in Lumbini-Nepal), under the Bodhi tree in northern India, fathomed reality and became a Buddha, an “awake” or “awakened one.”
By this deep insight, he destroyed his desire, hatred, and ignorance, the shackles that bound him to the round of rebirth (samsāra), and thus freed himself from all suffering, all stress, all dissatisfaction (dukkha). Out of love for the world, the Buddha decided to teach his way to liberation. When we speak of Buddhism today, we mean this teaching, the Dhamma.
WORLD HERITAGE
This patrimony is the heritage of the past that we can now enjoy and pass on to the next generation. Our cultural and natural heritage are two irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.
In Nepal, Kathmandu Valley is home to beautiful Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, Buddhist Stupas of Bodhnath and Swayambu, Hindu Temples of Pashupatinath and Pearl of Changu Narayan, National Parks of Chitwan and Bardia, International Park from Sagarmatha (Everest) not forgetting Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini.
In Nepal, Kathmandu Valley is home to beautiful Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, Buddhist Stupas of Bodhnath and Swayambu, Hindu Temples of Pashupatinath and Pearl of Changu Narayan, National Parks of Chitwan and Bardia, International Park from Sagarmatha (Everest) not forgetting Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini.
Nepalese cuisine, a spicy wealth of scents and colors
