Nepal: A courtyard in the Pujari Math (formerly living quarters for Hindu priests and now the Woodcarving Museum), Tachupal Tol, or Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley (1997)

In former centuries, the priests of Dattatreya Temple resided in the Pujari Math, a few metres to the east of the temple. The exact date of the original construction is unknown. It is assumed that the Pujari Math was completed a few years after the Dattatreya Temple, so as to provide its priests with a suitable residence. The tradition of adding Maths to temples had been established by the Adi Shankaracharya (a spiritual teacher) in 8th century in India.

The Pujari Math in Bhaktapur was financed by a wealthy 16th century merchant, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri, a follower of the teachings of the Adi Shankaracharya. Having amassed a large fortune in trade with Tibet, Gosain Gurubaksha Giri donated a considerable portion of his wealth for the construction of the Math.

Due to Gosain's excellent relations with Tibet, even the rulers of Nepal’s northern neighbour began to make donations to the establishment. Every year, they would send one tola (11,664 grams) of gold, one tola of silver, a horse, a woollen carpet, 365 walnuts and 216 Rupees (twice the sacred number 108). These donations went on for four centuries and were only discontinued in 1904. Furthermore, prosperous local citizens would present the Pujari Math with grants of land— the Math became probably the most financially secure priests’ residence in the whole country.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Rainer Krack

Credit:

Pictures From Asia