Nepal: Lord Vishnu on his mount Garuda at the Kumbeshwar Temple, Patan, Kathmandu Valley (1996)

The Kumbheshvara Temple a little to the north of the Golden Temple, is dedicated to Shiva in his manifestation as 'Lord of the Water Pots' (kumbha translates as 'water pot' or 'clay pot') and is considered Patan’s most important Shiva sanctuary. Its significance is founded on the belief that Shiva spends the six winter months at this site, returning for the summer months to his cool abode on Mount Kailash.

Notably, the temple is one of only two in the valley with a five-tiered roof, the other being the Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur. Initially the temple had only a double-tiered roof: the upper three tiers were added by King Shrinivasa Malla between 1660 and 1684. In the original construction the roofs were covered with tiles, but over-zealous local politicians had the tiles removed and substituted them with expensive copper sheeting.

The temple was built in its original form in 1392, by a wealthy man named Jaya Bhima, who hoped that the meritorious act would boost the recovery of his ailing wife. She died, however, and after her demise Jaya Bhima and his sons made additions to the temple. The temple features some masterful woodcarvings, including torana and a wooden, brightly gilded Shivalingam with the four faces of Shiva on its sides.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Chaweewan Chuchuay

Credit:

Pictures From Asia