Image title: Hinduism (Hindu Dharma)

Hinduism, with some of its features possibly traceable to about 3500 years ago, is one of the oldest philosophic and religious systems in the world. It has no historical founder and its origins are multiple. In a form comparable to its present-day expression, Hinduism emerged at about the beginning of this era with an emphasis on the supremacy of the gods Shiva, Vishnu, and the Great Goddess. The latter is a personification of the energy of the gods, named Devi or Shakti. Hinduism is now a body of intertwined religious, cultural, and social practices which has assimilated many forms of worship. It includes Tantrism, a current of esoteric ritual and mysticism found also in Buddhism, in which female symbolism is a dominant element. As practiced in Nepal, Hinduism is colored by two millennia of continuous, side-by-side coexistence with Buddhism.

Nepalese adherents of Hinduism refer to their faith as “Shivamarga,” i.e., the Way or Path of Shiva. This does not preclude the worship of Hindu deities other than Shiva, of many popular deities like the Buddhist Mahakala and Red Macchendranath [Matsyendranatha], or a host of Mother Goddesses and forces of nature. They are all differing aspects of the Infinite, a single diamond with multiple facets, say Hindus. In worship, ritual is emphasized. Pure offerings, such as flowers and fruit, are made to gods such as Shiva and Vishnu. Animal sacrifice, and offerings of meat and alcohol, are made to fierce and dangerous gods such as Bhairava and the Mother Goddesses.

Hindu deities have numerous manifestations; the same deity can be benign in one aspect and fierce in another. They are frequently portrayed with multiple heads and limbs. This distinguishes them as superhuman and permits them to hold a variety of emblems that define their personality and assist in their identification. With multiple hands the gods can hold multiple weapons. All are needed to combat malevolent forces in engagements that bear cosmic consequences.

Nepalese text (not proofread):

हिन्दू धर्म—हिन्दू धर्मको केही विशेषताहरु लगभग पैतिस सयवर्ष अघि देखिको नै पाउन सकिन्छ। यो विश्वमा नै सबैभन्दा पुरानो दार्शनिक र धार्मिक परम्परा हो। यसको कुनै ऐतिहासिक संस्थापक छैनन् तर उत्पत्ति धेरै ऋषिवाट भएको छ भने एकप्रकारले हिन्दू परम्परा शिव, विष्णु र दुर्गाको प्रभुत्व बढेको बखतमा शुरु भएको हो भन्न सकिन्छ। दुर्गाले देवताहरुको शक्तिको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दछिन् र यिनलाई देवी वा शक्ति भनिन्छ। अहिले यो परम्परा धेरै धार्मिक, सांस्कृतिक सामाजिक चाल-चलनहरूको र विभिन्न प्रकारको पूजा आजाको संयुक्त रूप हो। यसले तन्त्रलाई पनि अगालेको छ जसलाई रहस्यमय कर्मकाण्डहरु, विश्वासहरु विचारधाराहरु जुन बुद्ध धर्ममा पनि पाइन्छ इत्यादिलाई पनि अंगालेको छ। यसमा शक्तिरुपा नारी नै मुख्य तत्वको रुपमा रहेको हुन्छ। नेपालमा प्रचलित हिन्दू धर्म २००० वर्ष देखिको बौद्ध धर्मसंगको लगातारको सह-अस्तित्वबाट एक अर्काको पूरक भएर रहेको छ। यस्तैगरी यसको अभ्यास पनि गरिन्छ।

नेपाली हिन्दू धर्मावलम्बीहरु आफ्नो भक्ति विश्वासलाई शैव मार्ग अर्थात् शिव ने मुल देवता मानेर अनुकरण गर्दछन् । यसले गर्दा हिन्दू शिवमार्गीहरु अन्य देवताहरुको पूजा गर्दैनन् भन्ने होइन बौद्ध धर्मको महाकाल, रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ, धेरै मातृका गणहरु र प्रकृतिको विभिन्न शक्तिहरुको पनि यिनीहरु पूजा गर्दछन्। यी विभिन्न देवी-देवताहरु हिन्दूहरुको भनाइमा "एउटा अति महत्वपूर्ण हिराको कोणहरु हुन्। पुजामा कर्मकाण्डलाई महत्व दिइन्छ। शिव र विष्णु जस्ता देवतालाई शुद्ध र सात्विक चीजहरु फूल फलहरु चढाइन्छ। पशुवली, मासु, रक्सी, जस्ता नैवेद्यहरु डरलाग्दा भैरव र मातृका गणहरुलाई अर्पण गरिन्छ।

हिन्दू देवताहरुको असंख्य अवतारहरु हुन्छ एउटै देवता कतै शान्त, कतै उग्र हुन्छ। तिनीहरु अक्सर गरेर धेरै शीर र हातहरुले युक्त बनाइन्छन्। त्यसैले गर्दा उनीहरुलाई साधारण मानिस भन्दा भिन्न र हातमा विभिन्न आयुधहरु लिन र उनीहरुको व्यक्तित्वको परिचय दिएको हुन्छ। धेरै हात भएका ईश्वरहरु, धेरै हतियारहरु लिन सक्छन्। यी सबैको आवश्यकता उग्र शक्तिहरुको र खराब तत्वहरुको विनाशमा विश्वको संरक्षणका लागि प्रयोग गरिन्छ।

English translation (automated):

Hinduism—Some features of Hinduism can be traced back to about thirty-five hundred years ago. It is the oldest philosophical and religious tradition in the world. It does not have any historical founders but it can be said that it originated from many sages and in a way the Hindu tradition started during the rise of the dominance of Shiva, Vishnu and Durga. Durga represents the power of the gods and is called Devi or Shakti. Now this tradition is a combination of many religious, cultural social practices and various forms of worship. It also embraces Tantra which embraces mystical rituals, beliefs and ideologies which are also found in Buddhism etc. In this Shaktirupa woman is the main element. Hinduism prevalent in Nepal has been complementing each other through continuous co-existence with Buddhism since 2000 years. It is practiced in the same way.

Nepali Hindus follow their Bhakti belief in the Shaiva path, meaning that Shiva is the main deity. This does not mean that Hindu Shivamargis do not worship other deities, they also worship Mahakala of Buddhism, Rato Machhindranath, many matrika ganas and various powers of nature. These various gods and goddesses are, according to Hindus, "the corners of a very important diamond. Rituals are given importance in worship. Pure and sattvic things are offered to deities like Shiva and Vishnu. Animals, meat, wine, etc.

Hindu Gods have numerous incarnations, the same God is sometimes calm, sometimes fierce. They are often made with multiple heads and arms. That is why they are different from ordinary people and have different weapons in their hands and introduce their personality. Gods with many hands can carry many weapons. All these needs are used for the protection of the world against the destruction of violent forces and evil elements.

Transcription:

Hindū dharma—hindū dharmako kehī viśeṣatāharu lagabhaga paitisa sayavarṣa aghi dekhiko nai pāuna sakincha. Yo viśvamā nai sabaibhandā purāno dārśanika ra dhārmika paramparā ho. Yasako kunai aitihāsika saṃsthāpaka chainan tara utpatti dherai ṛṣivāṭa bhaeko cha bhane ekaprakārale hindū paramparā śiva, viṣṇu ra durgāko prabhutva baḍheko bakhatamā śuru bhaeko ho bhanna sakincha. Durgāle devatāharuko śaktiko pratinidhitva gardachin ra yinalāī devī vā śakti bhanincha. Ahile yo paramparā dherai dhārmika, sāṃskṛtika sāmājika cāla-calanaharūko ra vibhinna prakārako pūjā ājāko saṃyukta rūpa ho. Yasale tantralāī pani agāleko cha jasalāī rahasyamaya karmakāṇḍaharu, viśvāsaharu vicāradhārāharu juna buddha dharmamā pani pāincha ityādilāī pani aṃgāleko cha. Yasamā śaktirupā nārī nai mukhya tatvako rupamā raheko huncha. Nepālamā pracalita hindū dharma २००० varṣa dekhiko bauddha dharmasaṃgako lagātārako saha-astitvabāṭa eka arkāko pūraka bhaera raheko cha. Yastaigarī yasako abhyāsa pani garincha.

nepālī hindū dharmāvalambīharu āphno bhakti viśvāsalāī śaiva mārga arthāt śiva ne mula devatā mānera anukaraṇa gardachan . Yasale gardā hindū śivamārgīharu anya devatāharuko pūjā gardainan bhanne hoina bauddha dharmako mahākāla, rāto macchindranātha, dherai mātṛkā gaṇaharu ra prakṛtiko vibhinna śaktiharuko pani yinīharu pūjā gardachan. Yī vibhinna devī-devatāharu hindūharuko bhanāimā "euṭā ati mahatvapūrṇa hirāko koṇaharu hun. Pujāmā karmakāṇḍalāī mahatva diincha. Śiva ra viṣṇu jastā devatālāī śuddha ra sātvika cījaharu phūla phalaharu caḍhāincha. Paśuvalī, māsu, raksī, jastā naivedyaharu ḍaralāgdā bhairava ra mātṛkā gaṇaharulāī arpaṇa garincha.

hindū devatāharuko asaṃkhya avatāraharu huncha euṭai devatā katai śānta, katai ugra huncha. Tinīharu aksara garera dherai śīra ra hātaharule yukta banāinchan. Tyasaile gardā unīharulāī sādhāraṇa mānisa bhandā bhinna ra hātamā vibhinna āyudhaharu lina ra unīharuko vyaktitvako paricaya dieko huncha. Dherai hāta bhaekā īśvaraharu, dherai hatiyāraharu lina sakchan. Yī sabaiko āvaśyakatā ugra śaktiharuko ra kharāba tatvaharuko vināśamā viśvako saṃrakṣaṇakā lāgi prayoga garincha.

Transcription:

 hindu dharma—hindu dharmako kehi visheshataharu lagabhaga paitisa sayavarsha aghi dekhiko nai pauna sakincha. yo vishvama nai sabaibhanda purano darshanika ra dharmika parampara ho. yasako kunai aitihasika samsthapaka chainan tara utpatti dherai rishivata bhaeko cha bhane ekaprakarale hindu parampara shiva, vishnu ra durgako prabhutva badheko bakhatama shuru bhaeko ho bhanna sakincha. durgale devataharuko shaktiko pratinidhitva gardachin ra yinalai devi va shakti bhanincha. ahile yo parampara dherai dharmika, samskritika samajika cala-calanaharuko ra vibhinna prakarako puja ajako samyukta rupa ho. yasale tantralai pani agaleko cha jasalai rahasyamaya karmakandaharu, vishvasaharu vicaradharaharu juna buddha dharmama pani paincha ityadilai pani amgaleko cha. yasama shaktirupa nari nai mukhya tatvako rupama raheko huncha. nepalama pracalita hindu dharma २००० varsha dekhiko bauddha dharmasamgako lagatarako saha-astitvabata eka arkako puraka bhaera raheko cha. yastaigari yasako abhyasa pani garincha.

nepali hindu dharmavalambiharu aphno bhakti vishvasalai shaiva marga arthat shiva ne mula devata manera anukarana gardachan . yasale garda hindu shivamargiharu anya devataharuko puja gardainan bhanne hoina bauddha dharmako mahakala, rato macchindranatha, dherai matrika ganaharu ra prakritiko vibhinna shaktiharuko pani yiniharu puja gardachan. yi vibhinna devi-devataharu hinduharuko bhanaima "euta ati mahatvapurna hirako konaharu hun. pujama karmakandalai mahatva diincha. shiva ra vishnu jasta devatalai shuddha ra satvika cijaharu phula phalaharu cadhaincha. pashuvali, masu, raksi, jasta naivedyaharu daralagda bhairava ra matrika ganaharulai arpana garincha.

hindu devataharuko asamkhya avataraharu huncha eutai devata katai shanta, katai ugra huncha. tiniharu aksara garera dherai shira ra hataharule yukta banainchan. tyasaile garda uniharulai sadharana manisa bhanda bhinna ra hatama vibhinna ayudhaharu lina ra uniharuko vyaktitvako paricaya dieko huncha. dherai hata bhaeka ishvaraharu, dherai hatiyaraharu lina sakchan. yi sabaiko avashyakata ugra shaktiharuko ra kharaba tatvaharuko vinashama vishvako samrakshanaka lagi prayoga garincha.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.