355. Divya Desam Travelogues – Muktinath, Nepal

Muktinath is an ancient Vishnu temple located in Mustang, Nepal. The temple of Muktinath, known as 'the lord of liberation', is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists whom they worship as an abode of Hindu deity Vishnu and Buddhist deity Avalokiteśvara respectively. The term Muktinath is derived from the Sanskrit word “Mukti” and “Nath” where Mukti refers to “Salvation or Moksha” while Nath stands for “God”. Located in the Muktinath valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass, it is one of the world's highest temples at an altitude of 3,800 meters. The temple is given a status of one of the 108 (105th) Divya Desams of Hinduism and the only Divya Desam located outside India. It is also one of the 51 Shakti pithas, associated with the head of goddess Sati. The temple complex is known as Mukti Kshetra, which literally means "the place of liberation (moksha)" and is one of the Char Dham in Nepal. Source – Vedicfeed and Wikipedia.

For Buddhists, Muktinath is an abode of dakinis - goddesses known as Sky Dancers and is considered one of the twenty-four Tantric places. Tibetan Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters" and the murti is revered as a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.

Muktinath temple is seen as a symbol of religious harmony in Nepal where both the Hindus and Buddhists have been historically worshipping on the same spot, mutually respecting and including each other.

There is a belief that after completing the pilgrimage of four special religious sites, Chardham Yatra of India, the pilgrims must visit Muktinath Temple once.

The main temple of Muktinath is a pagoda-style dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Whereas, Buddhists worship Vishnu as Avalokiteshvara. The temple consists of a metal statue of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati, Janaki, Garuda, Lava-Kush, and Sapta Rishis.

There is also a religious belief, it is only one place on the planet, where you can see all the five major elements; fire, sky, water, air, and earth in one place.

                                                                    The Main Deity

According to Hindu Legend Muktinath is one of the most ancient temples of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu stories, there was a huge battle between Lord Shiva and Jalandhar (powerful king of Asuras). Jalandhar was evil-minded, he crossed the limit and attacked Kailash to achieve Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva).

Then Jalandhar used his power and change himself to duplicate Shiva. Since Parvati has spiritual power, she easily notices reality and quickly called Shiva for help. Soon after the battle started between them, but he (Jalandhar) was quite safe because of his wife’s (Vrinda) faithfulness.

Later other gods decide to use a little trick to destroy a massive evil. In this, Lord Vishnu utilizes his power and turns into a duplicate of Jalandhar, and presents himself to Vrinda. She (Vrinda) failed to notice and behaved like her husband. After this, she loses her devotion, and Lord Shiva slaughters Jalandhar.

At last, Vrinda learns the truth and she curses Lord Vishnu to spend the rest of his life as Shila (stone). Thus, after that Lord Vishnu takes birth as Shaligram in the Muktinath area. After giving a curse, Vrinda destroys herself and from her ashes, Tulsi Plant was born.

Lord Vishnu respects and loves Vrinda, as he was really impressed by her faithfulness. Therefore, while worshiping the Shaligram it is necessary to have a Tulsi leaf.

Muktinath has many stories. Another is according to Swasthani Brata, after the death of Sati (the first wife of Lord Shiva), Lord Shiva carried her body and wandered places. The places where her body parts fell are famously known as the Shakti Peetha. Muktinath is one of them. There is a belief that Sati’s mouth (Mukh) fell here in Muktinath and hence it was honored with the name “Muktinath.”

Also, nearby Muktinath Temple, there is a famous lake known as “Damodar Kunda.” It is the main source of the Kali Gandaki River and Saligram. Also, it is the starting point of Muktishetra and is related to Guru Rinpoche. In the Tibetan language, Damodar Kunda is also called “Men-Chu.”

There are two holy water ponds in front of Muktinath Temple; Laxmi Kunda and Saraswati Kunda. There is a strong belief, taking a bath in these ponds washed all the “negative karma.”

Mukti Kunda 

Behind the Muktinath Temple, there are 108 water spouts in the shape of a bullhead and arranged in a semicircle with a gap of a foot between them. The water from the Kali Gandaki River flows through the mouths of these 108 bull faces.

According to Hindu Astrology, it is the product of 12 Zodiacs and 9 Planets. Thus, there is a belief that bathing from all these 108 scared taps washes away all our sins and keeps us healthy and prosperous.

However, to take a holy bath here, the individual requires a burning desire as the water is ice cold.  Hindu devotees take baths under the chilled water of 108 waterspouts believing that it brings them salvation.

108 Mukti Dhaaraas

The Jwala Mai Temple is popularly known as the “temple of the eternal flame.” It lies inside the Tibetan-style Dhola Mebar Gompa and stands on the east of the main Muktinath temple. It is built above an underground water stream.

Inside the temple, a small natural gas is continuously produced. This temple has a spring and three eternal flames; a holy flame from the soil, rock, and water fed by natural gas. Hindu follower believes that Lord Brahma made this miracle of fire.

Muktinath is sacred to the Sri Vaishnava tradition. The deities of Vishnu and his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, are regarded by adherents as offering jivanmukti to devotees, offering the epithet Muktinath to Vishnu. It is praised by Thirumangai Alvar in the compilation of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The river Gandaki, flowing adjacent to the temple has a kind of stone called shaligrama. Shaligram (Shila) is a fossilized shell stone. In Hinduism, Shaligrams are the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The different patterns of the stone are worshiped as different forms of Vishnu. The colour white is considered as Vasudeva, black as Vishnu, green as Narayana, blue as Krishna, golden yellow & reddish yellow as Narasimha and Vamana in yellow. The stones are found in various shapes with even shapes of the Panchajanya and the Sudarshana Chakra, the attributes of Vishnu.

Adios till next time😊!