NEPAL

Tour of Patan's courtyards with Prakash Dharwha. We visited The Kumari (9 year old living goddess) and her mother at their home. We visited the original Dharwha family home with its many buildings and courtyards - unfortunately some of these homes are badly damaged and in need of repair - others have been locked and the owners now live overseas or in larger more modern homes elsewhere in Kathmandu. We saw many small stupas and temples along the way - some just a few rocks taken from significant monuments so that those who cannot reach Swayambunath (for example) daily, can maintain connection to and pray to that place. Each of these stupas are 3D representations of mandalas (viewed from above) and act like public compasses - nagas always face north, meditation Buddha (hands in lap, face west), hand open and ground touching Buddha face east and south respectively. I found this to be the most interesting piece of information learned from Prakash. We also passed through doorways to courtyards that were plastered with nails, each one placed when a deceased exited the family home for the final time. Some very ancient.Læs mere