ASTAMATRIKAS

According  to the Hindu mythology, Astamatrikas are the divine mother goddess or shaktis. They are variously counted as seven, eight or ten. When they are eight in numbers they are Asta matrikas. They are related with the theme of struggle between the forces of knowledge and the forces of ignorance.

ASHOK STUPAS

Named after Emperor Ashok of India, these stupas are situated at four locations of Patan or Lalitpur: Tyata, Lagankhel, Pulchowk and Eebahi.

It is believed that Emperor Ashok visited the Kathmandu valley and that he himself had built these stupas with a view to protect and sanctify the entire city with divine protection. Built in 250 A.D. along with the advent of Buddhism in the valley of Kathmandu, these Stupas are popularly known as Ashok stupas after his name.  

ASHOK STAMBHA

The famous commemorative   stone pillar known as Ashok Stambha  was erected by Emperor Ashok of  Kalinga Empire, India more than two thousand and three hundred years ago to mark his pilgrimage to Lumbini Gardens situated at the southern slopes of Nepal where Lord Buddha wa born  more than two and a half millennium years ago. For more information, also see Lumbini

ASANA

Asana literally means position or posture. Gods and saints take various postures for depicting various moods and for performing different activities. Many images of Gods are shown in Dhyanasan meaning the meditating posture. But there may be various meditating postures as well, in which the positions of legs and hands may be shown in different positions.  One very popular meditating position is known as padmasana, which means lotus (padma) position. In this position the legs are crossed closely locked with the soles of both feet visible. All Buddha’s and Bodhisattvas are found seated in this position. Another position, Bajrasana, involves sitting atop backwards-folded legs, thighs on shins with both knees touching the ground in front of the person while the soles lie in parallel to each other behind facing upwards. Many different postures have different styles and connotations in both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. Depicted hereunder are some popular Asana’s or positions:

• Padmasana: The lotus position for meditation. This Asana also means a throne or a pedestal. If the pedestal of a lotus is arranged in a single petal row it is called Padmasana. If the lotus petals are arranged in a double row it is called Biswapadmasana.

• Singhasana: The pedestal supported by lions. 

• Kurmasana: The pedestal supported by the tortoise. 

• Sayana Asana: The sleeping pose of Hindu god Vishnu. 

• Nrityamurti Asana: A pose of dancing Shiva and other various tantric Gods are found in this position.

• Dhyana Asana: This meditative pose is also known as padmasana. In this position, the legs are crossed closely locked with the soles of both feet visible. All Buddhas and Bodhisattwas are found seated in this position. 

• Lalita Asana: A pose of ease, one leg pendant and often resting on a lotus flower. The other leg is in the usual position like that of the Buddha’s. Tara, the consort of Dhyani Buddha, Saraswati, Basundhara are found in this Asana. 

• Paryanka Asana, the seated position with knees apart and both legs pendent. This is the popular position of Maitriya Buddha. 

• Rajalila Asana: The position in which one is seated with right knee raised and left leg in the usual position like that of the Buddha’s. While sitting in this position, right arm is hanging loosely over the right knee. Several Hindu deities are often shown in this posture.

• Samapada Asana: The standing position either upright or in various degrees of flexion of body or legs. Boddisattwas are often found in this position. 

• Alidh Asana: Also the standing position, but stepping to the left with right leg. While doing so, the right leg shown straight and upright, but the left leg often bent. This is the aggressive form of a god or a Dakini. Many feroceous and wrathful deities are found in this position.

ASADH

The Nepalese month of Asadh begins sometime in the middle of June. Asadh is basically marked by heavy rains, this month covering the main part of the monsoon season in Nepal. See Months of Nepal.

ARUN RIVER

Arun River, with its source in Tibet region of China travels a long way thorough Sikkim in India to enter Nepal through Kumbhakrana Himal of Pallo Kirat. It joins the Sun Kosi river at a place known as Pagnam in Bhojpur district.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

The things Nepalese are mostly proud of are their pieces of arts, architecture and crafts etc. Nepalese arts reflected in ancient stone carvings and wood works, paintings, temple crafts and arts done in metals etc. Still earmark the height of Nepalese arts. Many other sorts of craft works such as weaving, molding of idols and other arts, making of pots, utensils, baskets blankets and clothing materials, so called curio goods and hundreds of other varieties have been catching the eyes of the world till to-day. Art works in Nepal is often found much older than its recorded history leaving much food for speculations and research works. Ashok Stupas of Patan are most probably older than 2,000 years, but question mark still exits regarding its time of construction. Was it built by Emperor Ashok of India in memorial of his visit to Nepal as popularly believed? No scholastic proof is found about it. Similar is the case with many other religious shrines and images of gods. Legendary justification of these takes us to a world, which is far away from scientific approach. However, all the art works made during 2 or 3 thousand years in Nepal as can be seen elsewhere in the kingdom, especially Kathmandu Valley, reveal artistic mastery of Nepalese artists and craftsmen. An idea can be formed about it by going through the descriptions of temples shrines, places of interest and several other subjects in this volume. Regarding pattern of art, it seems basically Nepalese, but because of intimate contacts with India and China, styles of these countries also see to have influenced Nepalese arts and crafts. As Arniko of Nepal popularized Nepalese style of arts, bronze works and temple-craft etc. In China in the 13th century, Nepalese artists got very much influenced by Chinese arts as well.  

ARTS OF NEPAL

Nepali art has been deeply influenced by religion since the very early times. Early art of Nepal can be seen as stone sculpture and temple architecture. Other art include Newari Paubha and Tibetan Thanka paintings, wood and metal crafts, ceramics and clay pots, textiles, paper, Tibetan carpet, music and literature. Contemporary Nepali art represents two distinct segments or schools, traditional idealistic paintings and the contemporary western style works. The contemporary painting is specially noted for either nature based compositions or compositions based on Tantric elements or social themes. Nepali painters have also earned international reputation for abstract works based on these themes. Kathmandu Valley houses a number of museums and art galleries displaying art work of the past and present. Some are: The National Museum at Chhauni, Museums at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Museum of Natural History at Swayambhu, National Library at Pulchowk, Kaiser Library at Thamel, National Birendra Art Gallery at Naxal, Asa Archives at Tangal, National Art Gallery at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, National Woodworking Museum at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bronze and Brass Museum at Bhaktapur, Nepal National Ethnographic Museum at Bhrikuti Mandap. Museums outside the Kathmandu Valley are such: Dhankuta Museum, Hattisar Museum in Bhimphedi, Mustang Eco Museum in Jomsom, Tharu Cultural Museum in Thakurdwara and International Mountain Museum in Pokhara. 

ARJUNA

The third of the five Pandava brothers, the prominent characters of the Indian epic, Mahabharata. The central character in the epic, Arjuna is an accomplished archer,  quintessence of a leader who leads his army in the battle of Kurukshetra. Arjuna was brave, sensible and kind. He was also emotionally attached to his family, as was evident from his reluctance to fight his cousins, the Kauravas, in the middle of the battlefield. This was the moment when Lord Krishna motivated and eventually convinced him to fight his cousins – because, from ethical and religious points of view, that was his duty. Lord Krishna’s sermon of that time is known as Geeta or Shreemad Bhagwat Geeta, which, in course of time has become a highly respected and sacred religious text, central to Hinduism. Convinced and inspired by Lord Krishna, Arjun fought the war of Mahabharat and led his army to victory. The Geeta or Shreemad Bhagwat Geeta, is a sacred text based on the true meaning of life and its purpose, on creations and demolitions, on sould and the body as also  the meaninglessness of relationships and thus, philosophical justification of the battle or the fighting against cousins in case the mission is for noble and selfless cause and justice.

ARHAT

In Buddhism, Arhat is the one who has attained the state of enlightenment and has no desires nor emotions, thus, has freeing himself from the wheels of existence. To reach this state of mind, one has to follow strictly and practice rigorously the eight-fold path enunciated in Buddhist philosophy as shown by Lord Buddha. Besides,the person must be spotless in behaviour, bright, knowledgeable and perfect in all ways, with an understanding of the realities of life and all the creations.