Vidhyeshvari Vajra Yogini Temple

The Vidhyeshvari Vajra Yogini Temple - also known as the Bijeśvarī Vajrayoginī,[2] Bidjeshwori Bajra Jogini,[3] Bijayaswar, Bidjeswori, or Visyasvari Temple[1] - is a Newar Buddhist temple in the Kathmandu valley dedicated to the Vajrayāna Buddhist deity Vajrayoginī (or Bajra Jogini in the Newar language) in her form as Akash Yogini. The temple stands on the west bank of the Bishnumati river next to the ancient religious site of the Ramadoli (Karnadip) cremation ground and is on the main path from Swayambhunath stupa (to the west) to Kathmandu.[3][4]

Vidhyeshvari Vajra Yogini Temple
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
SectNewa
DeityVīdyādharī Vajrayoginī
Location
LocationKathmandu
CountryNepal
Geographic coordinates27.7139409°N 85.2985479°E / 27.7139409; 85.2985479
Architecture
Date established1655 [1]

Significance

In the Kathmandu valley of Nepal there are several important Newar temples dedicated to different forms of Vajrayogini.[5] These temples include the Sankhu Vajrayogini temple, Vidhyeshvari Vajrayogini temple, Parping Vajrayogini temple, Pulchowk Khagayogini temple and the Guhyeshwari temple.[6][7]

Vīdyādharī, the 'Knowledge Holder', is the presiding deity of this temple.[8]

The Temple is an important pilgrimage place for Tibetan Buddhists and there is a recently constructed Tibetan Buddhist temple nearby. Nepali Hindus regard the place as a sacred Shaktipeeth.[9] The Hindu devi temple of Sobha Baghwati stands nearby.

Architecture

The main three storied Newa pagoda style temple is the NW corner of the bahal courtyard which has a gateway facing the river.

Images

In the temple the main image (idol) is of Akash Yogini flying through the sky, her right leg bent up at the knee behind her, and her left leg is pulled up against her breasts with her left arm. Her right arm is behind her holding a vajra above the sole of her right foot. In the crook of her right arm she holds a khaṭvāṅga staff which rests on her left shoulder. This image is about 18 inches high.[3]

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See also

References
  1. "Vidyeshvari Temple". Kathmandu Valley Temples. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  2. Bangdel, Dina (1999). Manifesting the Maṇḍala: A Study of the Core Iconographic Program of Newar Buddhist Monasteries in Nepal (PhD). The Ohio State University. OCLC 55970062.
  3. Dowman, Keith (2007). A Buddhist Guide to the Power Places of the Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu: Vajra Publications. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-9937-506-02-1.
  4. Dowman, Keith. "A Buddhist Guide to the Power Places of the Kathmandu Valley (web)access-date =2016-07-22".
  5. Shakya, Min Bahadur (1994). The Iconography of Nepalese Buddhism. Kathmandu: Handicraft Association of Nepal.
  6. Shrestha, Bal Gopal (2012). The Sacred Town of Sankhu:The Anthropology of Newar Ritual, Religion and Society in Nepal. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 415. ISBN 978-0861713295.
  7. English, Elizabeth (2002). Vajrayoginī:Her Visualizations, Rituals, & Forms. Boston: Wisdom Publications. pp. xxvii–xxviii. ISBN 978-1443837705.
  8. Beer, Robert. "Vidyadhari Akash Yogini (description)". Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  9. "List of Holy Shaktipeeths in Nepal". Retrieved 2016-07-09.

Other sources
  • English, Elizabeth (2002). Vajrayoginī: Her Visualization, Rituals, and Forms. Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Somerville: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 9780861713295. - used to find transliteration of Sanskrit names and additional information on Vajrayoginī.

Further reading
  • Slusser, Mary Shepherd. Nepal Mandala: A Cultural Study of the Kathmandu Valley (Two Volumes), Princeton University Press 1982. ISBN 9780691031286
  • Pruscha, Carl. Kathmandu Valley - The Preservation of Physical Environment and Cultural Heritage - A Protective Inventory, Vol. 2, Wien 1975
  • Seemann, Heinrich. Nepal 2029, Stuttgart 1973


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