03/03/2017
Taleju Bhawani Temple
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Nepal.
Taleju Bhawani Temple is the Kathmandu Durbar Square's most magnificent temple stands at its northeastern extremity but is not open to the public every day. Even for Hindus admission is restricted; they can only visit it briefly during the annual Dashain festival.
The temple stands on a 12-stage plinth and reaches more than 35m high, dominating the Durbar Square area. The eighth stage of the plinth forms a wall around the temple, in front of which are 12 miniature temples. Four more miniature temples stand inside the wall, which has four beautifully carved wide gates. If entry to the temple were permitted it could be reached from within the Hanuman Dhoka or from the Singh Dhoka (Lion Gate) facing Durbar Square.
Goddess Taleju Bhawani, a sacred deity who has four heads and ten arms. was originally a goddess from the Simraungar till 1324 AD (1381 Bikram Samvat) and brought to Bhaktapur after destruction Simraungar and established in Bhaktapur between 1324-1333 AD (1381-1390 Bikram Samvat), she became the titular deity or royal goddess of the Malla kings in the 14th century, after which Taleju temples were erected in her honour in Patan and Kathmandu as well.
Bhaktapur is, perhaps, the place to begin, for the city's Taleju Temple, housed in the vicinity of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, is the oldest of the lot. Bhaktapur's Taleju Temple is located in Mulchok Court near the Golden Gate. Traditionally, this Taleju Temple was only open to the reigning kings, but is now open to all Hindus as well. Others can visit the temple, but non-Hindus are not allowed inside. On your visit, pay special attention to the beautifully sculpted archways and window frames, which reveal a fine attention to detail from centuries past.
The second Taleju Temple within the valley is located in the center courtyard of Patan Durbar Square. Patan's Taleju Temple was built in 1671 AD (1728 Bikram Samvat) during the reign of King Shree Niwas Malla. Across from Patan?s Taleju Temple is the Taleju Bell. According to Archaeology department of Nepal, the Taleju Bell was installed in 1737 AD (1794 Bikram Samvat) by King Vishnu Malla so that petitioners could alert him when they had filed a grievance or complaint.
Kathmandu's Taleju Temple is the third (and main) Taleju Temple within the valley was constructed in 1563 AD (1620 Bikram Samvat) by King Mahendra Malla. It is located in Kathmandu Durbar Square in Trishul Chowk, which is attached to the Hanuman Dhoka Palace. Perhaps the most visited of the three structures, There is much lore and mysticism surrounding the beginnings of Kathmandu city's Taleju Temple. It is said that the temple was built in the shape of a yantra, a mystical diagram said to have magical powers, due to a suggestion that came straight from the mouth of Goddess Taleju herself.
Taleju, though herself seen as a "sexually mature Mothergoddess" [109 Devi, p. 24] is also the very deity who is thought to be embodied and manifested in the Nepalese Living Goddess, the virgin girl Kumari. Taleju or Tulaja Bhawani is the chief protective deity of Nepal and its royal family, and is sometimes equated with Durga; though the latter is much more fierce. It is thought that the king's power derives from her - and a king who fails to receive her blessing was most likely to lose his kingdom.
A tour of the three Taleju Temples combines a number of appealing aspects of exploring the Kathmandu Valley: Hindu religion, architectural grandeur, ancient legends and Malla-era history. Stop by one of the Taleju Temples, or all three to compare and contrast the grandiose wonders of the centuries-old structures. The goddess is also worshipped in the form of the Shri Yantra.
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