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Guhyeshwari Shakti Peeth (Nepal)

South bank of the Bagmati, near Pashupatinath, Kathmandu

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Guhyeshwari Shakti Peeth (Nepal)
Photo: Rajesh Dhungana, CC BY-SA 4.0

Traditions differ: The Nepal Mahatmya places the fall of the knees at a separate Mahamaya shrine near the meeting of the Vishnumati and Bagmati rivers in Kathmandu, and treats Guhyeshwari as a different seat. English Wikipedia follows this view.

About

Guhyeshwari is one of the most important Devi temples of Nepal, on the south bank of the Bagmati river about a kilometre east of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. Its name joins 'guhya', hidden, and 'ishwari', goddess. There is no murti: worship is offered to a kalash set over a natural spring, from which water keeps flowing. The temple is in the Nepali pagoda style with gilded serpent finials, and King Pratap Malla restored it in the 17th century. Newar priests perform the daily tantric worship, with Vedic rites on special days. Vajrayana Buddhists also hold the place sacred.

The story

The Shakti Peeth story tells that after the sorrowful events at King Daksha's yagya, Shiv ji carried Devi Sati's body in grief, and Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra divided it. The Tantra Chudamani says that in Nepal both her knees fell, with Mahamaya as the Devi and Kapali as the Bhairav, and the Hindi and Bengali lists, Bharatkosh and Art of Living place this peeth at Guhyeshwari.

Nepal's own texts, such as the Himavat Khand of the Skanda Purana, link the temple with a hidden (guhya) part of the Devi's body, which gives it its name. The Devi Bhagavata calls the presiding Devi of Nepal Guhyakali, and the Tripura Rahasya says 'Nepale Guhyakeshvari'. Some tantra texts name Guhyeshwari as the Shakti of Pashupati, so devotees like to have darshan of both together. In Buddhist tradition this is a seat of Vajrayogini, and it is believed to be the root of the lotus on which the Swayambhu stupa rests.

Visiting

In Kathmandu, October–November and February–April are the most pleasant months; Dashain brings large crowds. Pilgrims often walk along the Bagmati to have darshan at Guhyeshwari and Pashupatinath together. Dress modestly and follow the temple's rules about photography.

Festivals

  • Dashain (Navratri)
  • Maha Shivratri

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources