ANCHAL

Nepal is divided into 14 zones or Anchals in local language. All of Nepal’s 78 administrative districts are clustered into 14 Anchals for coordinated and  balanced development of geographically diverse areas of the country.

Zones Headquarters Square miles 

Mechi Ilam     2799 

Koshi Dharan 3176 

Sagarmatha Tibhuja 4873 

Janakpur Sindhulimadi 3920 

Bagmati Kathmandu 3665 

Narayani Hetaunda 3192 

Gandaki Pokhara 4688 

Dhavalagiri Baglung 4612 

Lumbini Butwal 3650 

Karnali Jumla 5205 

Rapti Manpur 3913 

Bheri Surkhet 3606 

Seti Dhangadi 4861

Mahakali Patan 2753

ANANTA

Ananta literally means endless or infinite. Anybody or anything, which has no end, is Ananta. Ananta is also a permanent entity or an immortal being. According to Hindu mythology, the name Ananta is given to a serpent deity with enormous power and millions of virtues, a protector god of great importance. He is popularly known as Ananta Nag. 

ANALA

Literal meaning of Anala is fire and is also known as the Fire God. It is one of the multiple names of the fire god Agni.

ANKUSH

Ankush is a term  commonly used for anchoring or keep controlling over somebody or something. It is a kind of string for keeping control of persons or ideas or actions.  However, in religious and traditional purpose, it is the term used for some objects made of small wooden handle topped by a strong, sharp metal hook. In Buddhist tradition, the handle is sometimes made in the form of the Bajra, being the attribute of many Tantric deities. When a Bajra surmounts the Ankush, it is, then, called Bajrakush.

AMSHUVARMA

(663BS-678 BS) Renowned as a great king of ancient Nepal, Anshuvarma was also a great patron of art, science and literature. Learned and wise himself, he inspired and honoured talented people. Art and culture of Nepal flourished in his time. As a shrewd statesman, he dealt with his mighty neighbours of those days namely Tibet and India. Tibet in his time was under the reign of Tsrong Tsang Gampo, a charismatic monarch of the times who brought about remarkable developments in Tibet in many fields including economic, social and religious transformation. India was under the reign of another eminent monarch Harshavardhan who consolidated his reign and initiated reformatory performances. King Amshuvarma’s daughter Bhrikuti was given in marriage to Tsrong Tsang Gampo who at her behest spread Buddhism in Tibet and subsequently to China. Bhrikuti was later known as Harita Tara or the Green Star, a true star character in the history, politics and in the texts of Buddhism. Through her talents, behaviour and dealings, King Ansuvarma became successful in consolidating Nepal’s relationship with Tibet and China through the pages of history. 

AMOGHSIDDHI

AMOGHSIDDHI

One of the five Dhyani Buddha’s or five meditating Buddha’s, Amoghsiddhi faces the north. Harita Tara is his escort whereas his vehicle or the vahana is Garuda. The cosmic element he represents is air. Out of the five different colours of the five Buddha’s, he is projected in green

AMOGHAPASA LOKESWAR

Amoghpasa Lokeswar is also a form of Avalokiteswar.  Four-faced and eight-armed, he stands atop the lotus flower. He carries Bajra meaning a symbol of the thunderbolt, a sword, a goad and a bow in his four right hands while the four left hands carry a Ghanta or a bell, a Tridandi,, a noose and an arrow.

AMITHABHA

Buddha Amitabha is one of the Pancha Dhyani Buddha’s or five meditating Buddha’s. In the composite structure of the five Buddha’s, Amitabha faces the west. Pandara or Prajna, who personifies transcendental knowledge, is his escort. His image is projected in red and his vehicle or Bahana is a peacock. The cosmic element he represents is fire. See Buddha Amitabha.

AKSYOBHYA

 Buddha Aksyobhya is one of the five components of the Pancha Buddha. The Pancha Dhyani Buddhas (literally translated as the Five Meditating Buddhas) is blue in its colour, its position is in the east Aksyobhya’s concert is Lochana and its vehicle or Bahana is an elephant. Buddhists see ultimate reality as one and is indivisible. The five Dhyani Buddhas represent the five cosmic elements, which are believed to compose this ultimate reality. The Adibuddha or the Swayambhu symbolizes that ultimate reality.

AKASHAGARBHA

The Bodhisatwa Akashagarbha is also known by the name of Khagarbha. Both “Kha” and “Akasha” mean ‘the sky’ and Akashagarbha is the Bodhisattva who lives in the domain of Sky. Akashagarbha is green in complexion, displaying all kinds of jewels in his right hand. In the left hand, he holds the Chintamani jewelry, which is capable of fulfilling all wishes as the meaning of the word signifies.