LAXMAN

Brother of Rama Laxman accompanied him (Rama) during his period in exile for 14 years. A man of great virtues and power, he helped his elder brother Rama in many ways in achieving his goals. See Ramayan.a 

LANGUAGES OF NEPAL

Language is the spoken medium of exchange among people, but they are different with groups and races of people. Though small a country, many languages and dialects are spoken in different parts of the Kingdom of Nepal. According to census reports there are 30 major languages and dialects in Nepal which are based upon three main traditions of linguistic groups namely 1. Tibeto-Burmese 2. Indo-European and 3. Austro-Asiatic.Actually the total number of languages listed in Nepal are 121.  Out of all those languages, 120 are still considered living languages. Only 1 language owned by Kusunda tribe has been lost inspite of the fact that the tribe is still surviving. Some important languages are as follows: Awadi, Bengali,Bhojpuri, Bodo, Chepang, Darai,  Danuwar, Dhimal, Dolpeli, Dzongkha, Gurung, Helambu Sherpa, Hindi, Jirel, Kumhali, Kyerung, Lepcha, Limbu, Linkham,  Magar, Maithili,  Majhi, Marwari, Nepali, Newari,  Rajbanshi, Santhali, Sherpa, Tamang, Thakali, Thami, Tharu, Thulung and Tibetan. 

The National language Nepali is spoken throughout the Kingdom, but it is the native language of and , thus, mainly spoken by the people of middle belts of Nepal like Bramhin, Chhetri, Khas and so on. This important language of Nepal is from Indo-Aryan branch of Indo-European language traditions. Other languages from this tradition are Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magadhi and Avadhi all of which are spoken in the terai belt lying in the southern side of Nepal. Newari, the language of Kathmandu valley is scattered throughout the Kingdom wherever Newar communities are found settled. This language is also regarded as emerged from Tibeto-Burmese group. Out of all these languages Nepali, Newari and Maithaili have richer stocks of literature.

LANGTANG HIMAL

The himalayan range known as Langtang Himal is bounded on four sides by Jugal Himal in he east, Tisuli river in the west, Lngtang khola in the south and Rasuwa Garhi in the northwest. Though there are many peaks above 20,000 ft., the highest peak is Langtang Lirung which I 23,771 ft. high from sea level. 

LAMAISM

Lama means “teacher” or “master”, and the Tibetan version of Tantric Buddhism has been called Lamaism because of the great importance lamas have in it as spiritual guides of those who aspire for salvation. Lamaism too teaches that all is empty; that which we think real is mere illusion bred of igno¬rance. Reintegration with Buddhahood can only Lamaism come about when one recognizes the fallacious reasoning of ignorance, for to recognize is to elimi¬nate.

The Lamaist path to Nirvana is two fold: it calls for : (a) the understanding of the mechanism of our psycho physical life through introversive meditation and yoga, and acting accordingly. By pur¬suing the analysis that ends by abandoning all logical constructs for the pure light of intuition; and, at the same time, (b) showing compassionate love for all beings who are still ignorant of their real condi¬tion and therefore doomed to suffering. The two activities combined produce an irreversible state of mind termed “enlightenment”. Like in other Tan¬tric systems, sexual symbolism is used in Tibetan Lamaism to express ecstatic states and exalted con¬cepts. The male symbolizes “means” (Upaya), or active compassion” (Karuna) and the female “higher knowledge or wisdom” (Prajna or Vidya).

LALITAVISTARA

A holy work of Buddhism wholly in sanskrit verses, this work depicts the life and doctrines of Gautam Buddha. 

LALITPUR

Lalitpur city, widely known as Patan is an ancient city planned in those days with a circular format guarded in four corners by four Buddhist stupas called “Ashok stupas”. Situated quite near Kathmandu towards southeast corner, this city is nothing less than archaeological storage of ancient civilization of Nepal. Artistic temples and chaityas counted here are not less than fifteen hundred and that there are 157 Buddhist Vihar & Vahees ( different kinds of monasteries). The images and idols are in thousands. Durbar Square at the centre of the city is the most revealing  and heart catching area, full of Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines, artistic gateways, images and monuments of various sorts of deities and personages, stone monoliths and medieval kings on top of them and the like. 

Believed to have been built in 299 A.D., this city has its own history most of the times as an independent city state. Patan is specially famous for its skilled artists, craftsmen like mansions, metal workers, sculptors etc., architects and tradesmen. 

LAKES

There are many lakes and springs in Nepal which have peculiarities of their own. It is not that the number of lakes in Nepal is important, but their location, features and peculiarities are noteworthy and interesting. Many of the lakes are visited by tourists, nature lovers and all by amassing enough courage and undergoing adventurous feats. Many lakes are formed by glaciers, landslides and even by earthquakes and so on. A number of lakes are amazingly beautiful or surrounded by beautiful sceneries. Some are famous for historic or cultural importance where as others are peculiar in features, locations and or altitude. Scattered throughout the country, some of the famous lakes are listed below:- 

1. Rara Lake of Karnali zone

2. Phoksumdo Lake of Dolpo district

3. Tilijo lake

4. Fewa Lake of Pokhara city

5. Rupa Lake of Kaski district

6. Begnas Lake of Kaski district

7. Jagdual Lake. situated in the west of Kanjiroba Himal, This lake is
one and half kilometre in breadth and 3 kilometres in length. 

8. Dipand Lake situated in the Pokhara Valley. 

9. Satyavati Lake in Palpa. 

10. Mandan Lake also in Palpa. 

11. Kamini Lake in Bara district. 

12. Suram Sarovar in Bajhang. 

13. Barhakune Lake in Dang. 

14. Sapru Lake in Jajarkot 

KYERUNG

Kyerung is the name of the place as well the name of the language of the communities associated with particular areas like Rasuwa District, Langtang region. It is connected with border areas of Nepal and Tibet. This language is from Sino-Tibetan or Tibeto-Burman group of languages. 

KUSUNDAS

Kusundas are  one of the endangered communities of aboriginal ethnic groups of Nepal. This small community prefer to live separately and alienated from other communities. They choose secluded forest areas for their inhabitation. Sparsely found in the districts of Gorkha, Kaski, Salyan, Pyuthatn, Dang, Dailekh and Surkhet, the Kusundas resemble the Chepangs in their observances. Kusundas are often termed as  Ban Manchhe meaning wild  people and some time as Ban Raja or the kings of the forest. They have their own native language. Some Kusundas call themselves Chhatyals where as many of them do not address themselves by their ethnic surnames. Not to talk of their language and culture, but their communities as well are on the brink of extinction. For their livelihood, they prefer to forage for tubers than to opt for cultivation. They do not drink bovine milk and that cow dung is almost a taboo for them.

KURMA

The second incarnation of Lord Vishnu was in the form of a tortoise i.e. Kurma. In this incarnation, he supported mountain Manthara from sinking into the ocean. It is believed that this mountain on top of the ocean was used by gods as the base to churn the ocean for exploring ambrosia, the nectar for immortality.