Nyatapola Temple: the tallest pagoda style temple of Nepal

Nyatapola is a five-storeyed ancient temple that makes each Bhaktapurians feel so proud. People may have very little knowledge about Bhaktapur city. But, within that tatter of knowledge, they put a page where the mysterious stories of Nyatapola always breathe.

Explaining its accessories. There are 5 Ganesha, 5 tiers, 5 plinths, 33 steps, 108 struts, and  360 battens used in the temple. Whereas, all these numbers have a significant role in tantrism. Besides, it dubiously shows the tantric influence of that time.

Which God is in Nytapola Temple?

Goddess Shiddhi Laxmi, the powerful tantric goddess, is inside Temple.

Who erected Nyatapola?

Whenever we talk about the Malla kings’ of Bhaktapur, the very first name that strikes our mind is King Bhupatindra Malla. Right? Perhaps, because of the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla that was pleasantly postured in front of the Golden Gate of the Durbar Square.

Despite that, we remember him as an ideal King of Bhaktapur. Of course, he contributed a lot to the art and architecture of this tiny burgh. There, Nyatapola comes among them. 

Statues and struts

Statues of Guardians

                                                                                                                                                         

Whenever you pass through those stone steps of Nyatapola. Once in a time, a thought arises in mind, why these stone images are here, and what are they?

Symphonically, there are five plinths in Nyatapola, where each plinth has a pair of stone images.

It is said that they are the guardians of the Goddess Shiddhi Laxmi. From the bottom to the end of the plinth, there is a stone image of Wrestlers, Elephants, Lions, Griffins, and two Goddesses named Sighini and Baghini respectively.

They all are placed according to their strengths. The first two wrestlers named Jai and Pratap are said to be 10 times stronger than a normal man. Along with that, the elephants, who are considered as 10 times stronger species than those wrestlers are placed above them.

With such a ratio, the guardians are placed.

Statue of Shiddhi Laxmi

    

The foremost deity of the Nyatapola temple is the Goddess Shiddhi Laxmi. Since it is a powerful tantric deity. No ordinary people are allowed to enter this temple. So, no one knows how the deity looks besides the priests. But, we can imagine her in our thoughts.

The studies about Nyatapola say that the statue of Shiddhi Laxmi is 9 feet tall, carved in black stone. That statue has 9 heads but in three rows. The very first row has 5 heads and is called Chandi Bhadra kali. Similarly, the second row with three heads is called Pratysngira.

Last, but not least, the top acne is called Shiddhi Laxmi. This immense and bold statue had nine pairs of hands. Also, there are two figures of Mahakal Bhairav and Masan Bhairav on either side of the statue                 

                                                                             

 

 

Oct. 5, 2024, 6:11 a.m.

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