monastery on way to Shalagrammam (Mukthinath) - Nepal

A Buddhist religious place photographed by me on 30^th Apr 2018.

 

Mustang Caves or Sky Caves of Nepal are a collection of some 10,000 man-made caves dug into the sides of valleys in the Mustang District of Nepal.    Explorations of these caves by conservators and archaeologists have been going for centuries – they are situate  on the steep valley walls near the Kali Gandaki River in Upper Mustang. Research groups have continued to investigate these caves, but no one has yet understood who built the caves and why they were built.   

We were not exploring but were on pilgrimage to the unique divyadesam outside Bharatha kandam -   situate at an altitude of 3,710 meters (12,172 feet)  at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass (part of the Himalayas) in Mustang, Nepal. Certainly the one situate at the highest altitude.  The name "Mustang" is derived from the Tibetan word meaning, "Plain of Aspiration” ~ and here is our holy shrine Muktinath.   

Jomsom has an airport and is reachable from Kathmandu & Pokhara.  The local name for Muktinath is Chumig Gyatsa (Hundred Waters). The tradional caretakers of Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa are the Tibetan Buddhist Chumig Gyatsa ('Muktinath') nuns.  Muktinath is Sanskrit name, has religious overtone and emotional attachment for Sri Vaishnavas.   Mukthi is salvation and the Emperuman in sitting posture here -  Muktinath, is the provider of salvation.   

From Jomsom one travels by Jeep for an hour or so ~ and from that jeep point – further 45 mins to an hour by walk or on a pony takes to you a small beautiful temple dedicated to Sriman Narayana – this place was seen much closer to our Mukthinath temple.   

Chumig Gyatsa is one of the 24 Buddhist Tantric places. The first Shangpa Rinpoche repaired the spouts in Chumig Gyatsa during his time.  Shangpa Rinpoche rebuilt sevaral monasteries in the Himalayas of Nepal, like the famous Sandul Gompa in West Nepal near Tarakot, and at his inspiration in West Nepal new temples and stupas were built. Just near the pilgrimage site Muktinath-Chumig Gysatsa Rinpoche built a nunnery.  

Reminiscing our yatra  to Mukthinath (Shalagrammam) divyadesam.

 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
22.11.2024