Jana Bahal (Nepal Bhasa:जन बहाः), often called Janabahaa: and also called ''Machindra Bahal'' and less frequently ''Kanak Chaitya Mahavihar'', is one of the few Bahal which have fully fledged storied temple standing in the middle of a court. The main deity residing in the temple is the

Seto Machindranath Seto Machindranath, also known as Janabaha Dyo, Avalokiteśvara, Karunamaya, Guanyin is a deity worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists in Kathmandu, Nepal. The temple of Seto Machindranath is located in Jana bahal, Jana Bahal (also known as Mach ...

also known as Janabaha Dyo, Aryavalokitesvara and Karunamaya.

Historical background

Janabahal originally was known as “Kanak Chaitya Mahavihar”, but after deity of

was mounted here the courtyard began to be referred as Jahabaha:. The name Kanak Chaitya Mahavihar is from a chaitya of Kanakmuni Buddha in front of the temple, situated in the courtyard. From this we can assume that the bahal was originally a place for Buddhist religious activities. It is said that Janabahaa: Dyo: dates back to 4th century BC but the temple at Janabahal was built by King Yaksha Malla in 1502 AD. It is also believed that kings who followed Buddhism erected the image of various Lokeswaras inside the courtyard.

Major cultural activities

Beside the main

Jana Baha Dyah Jatra Jana Bahā Dyaḥ Jātrā () is the chariot procession of Jana Baha Dyah, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, which is held annually in Kathmandu. It begins on the 8th day and ends on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Chaulā (चौला), th ...

(chariot festival), the visitors, mostly Buddhists, visit and pray to the Seto Machindranath deity. They count the beads tied in the

Japamala A japamala, , or simply Japay mala (; , meaning 'garland') is a loop of prayer beads commonly used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It is used for counting recitations ('' japa'') of mantras, prayers or other ...

and move the beads in the process of praying. Newar Buddhists perform (a kind of fasting) every Ashtami by doing and by offering pate (parasol). They also perform during which all are offered in equal quantity of 1000. In the premises of Kanak-Muni Buddha‟s chaitya, Barey Chwiu is done for the young males of Shakya, Buddhacharya and Bajracharya caste. Newars often organizes the program of lighting the palas around the temple or lighting 108 diyos. This shrine is mainly visited on the day of Purnima, Ashtami and Sanhu (Sankranti) by the Hindus. The daily ritual of the temple starts from around 4 am by the priests.

References

External links

{{Buddhist temples in Nepal Bahals in Kathmandu 16th-century establishments in Nepal