The religious history of Nepal may be best observed by a comparison with the course of religion in India. It is a story mainly of contrasts. India commenced with Brahmanismand then became Buddhist. Nepal began in the same way, being first Brahmanistic, and was subsequently gathered, with India, into the fold of Buddhism. At this point the analogy ceases. India eventually rejected Buddhism, and would have none of it. Nepal compromised, combined the two cults, and in the broad sense Brahmo-Buddhism is the religion of the State to the present day. But the most striking difference between the two countries is, that whereas the one was overwhelmed by the great wave of Islamwhich swept the peninsula from end to end in the twelfth and following centuries, Nepal was never affected by this great political cataclysm. The storm, raging in the plains of India, was spent ere it reached the natural ramparts of Nepal, and only distant echoes of the Islamic turmoil reached the seclusion of the valley.The realization of this gives the country an added interest. Nepal illustrates, as approximately as time and ordinary circum stances permit, the state of India before Islam had imprinted its indehble mark on almost every aspect of its life. The manners and customs of the people, their religion, arts and industries, the towns and the country, are practically the same as they were ten centuries ago. Unaffected by any foreign influences, undisturbed by the transitions which have taken place in the outer world, Nepal, protected by its natural position, presents an ideal picture of the Middle Ages – the Middle Ages of the East.The story of Nepal is therefore the story of the Newars, and these people have written it profusely on every building of any importance in the valley. Apart from the ancientSanskrit inscriptions with which the country abounds, it is, in its pictorial form, cut in stone or carved in wood, embossed in brass or cast in bronze, painted on plaster or moulded in terra-cotta, on a thousand and one shrines within the borders of the State. But even with this wealth of material the story is not easy to read, and needs some explanation. The national religion of the Newars is Buddhism, and has been so since the cult was first introduced into Nepal, two thousand years ago. But the Newar, like his cousin in the plains of India, found this simple faith unsatisfactory, and yearned for the elaborate ritual and picturesque practices which delight the heart and stimulate the mind of the Hindu worshipper of Vishnu or Shiva. And so, as time went on, the preachings of the Great Teacher gradually drifted into oblivion, and the Newars began to adopt one by one the rites and ceremonies, and even the social distinctions, of the Brahmans. The high standard of doctrine and discipline which marked the character of the Primitive BuddhistChurch in the early history of the State has become modified, and Buddhism as maintained in Nepal has now accepted many of the popular features of Hinduism. The Buddhism of Nepal follows what is known as the Theistic system, which teaches that one universal, all-powerful, and immaterial Spirit has existed from before the commencement of time, and that it will pervade the universe throughout all eternity. This Spirit is God. He is possessed of supreme power, and is endowed with supreme intelligence. He remains, has remained, and ever will remain, in a state of perfect repose.
The religious history of Nepal may be best observed by a comparison with the course of religion in India. It is a story mainly of contrasts. India commenced with Brahmanism and then became Buddhist. Nepal began in the same way, being first Brahmanistic, and was subsequently gathered, with India, into the fold of Buddhism. At this point the analogy ceases. India eventually rejected Buddhism, and would have none of it. Nepal compromised, combined the two cults, and in the broad sense Brahmo-Buddhism is the religion of the State to the present day. But the most striking difference between the two countries is, that whereas the one was overwhelmed by the great wave of Islamwhich swept the peninsula from end to end in the twelfth and following centuries, Nepal was never affected by this great political cataclysm. The storm, raging in the plains of India, was spent ere it reached the natural ramparts of Nepal, and only distant echoes of the Islamic turmoil reached the seclusion of the valley.
The realization of this gives the country an added interest. Nepal illustrates, as approximately as time and ordinary circum stances permit, the state of India before Islam had imprinted its indehble mark on almost every aspect of its life. The manners and customs of the people, their religion, arts and industries, the towns and the country, are practically the same as they were ten centuries ago. Unaffected by any foreign influences, undisturbed by the transitions which have taken place in the outer world, Nepal, protected by its natural position, presents an ideal picture of the Middle Ages – the Middle Ages of the East.
The story of Nepal is therefore the story of the Newars, and these people have written it profusely on every building of any importance in the valley. Apart from the ancient Sanskrit inscriptions with which the country abounds, it is, in its pictorial form, cut in stone or carved in wood, embossed in brass or cast in bronze, painted on plaster or moulded in terra-cotta, on a thousand and one shrines within the borders of the State. But even with this wealth of material the story is not easy to read, and needs some explanation. The national religion of the Newars is Buddhism, and has been so since the cult was first introduced into Nepal, two thousand years ago.
But the Newar, like his cousin in the plains of India, found this simple faith unsatisfactory, and yearned for the elaborate ritual and picturesque practices which delight the heart and stimulate the mind of the Hindu worshipper of Vishnu or Shiva. And so, as time went on, the preachings of the Great Teacher gradually drifted into oblivion, and the Newars began to adopt one by one the rites and ceremonies, and even the social distinctions, of the Brahmans. The high standard of doctrine and discipline which marked the character of the Primitive BuddhistChurch in the early history of the State has become modified, and Buddhism as maintained in Nepal has now accepted many of the popular features of Hinduism. The Buddhism of Nepal follows what is known as the Theistic system, which teaches that one universal, all-powerful, and immaterial Spirit has existed from before the commencement of time, and that it will pervade the universe throughout all eternity. This Spirit is God. He is possessed of supreme power, and is endowed with supreme intelligence. He remains, has remained, and ever will remain, in a state of perfect repose.
The religious history of Nepal may be best observed by a comparison with the course of religion in India. It is a story mainly of contrasts. India commenced with Brahmanism and then became Buddhist. Nepal began in the same way, being first Brahmanistic, and was subsequently gathered, with India, into the fold of Buddhism. At this point the analogy ceases. India eventually rejected Buddhism, and would have none of it. Nepal compromised, combined the two cults, and in the broad sense Brahmo-Buddhism is the religion of the State to the present day. But the most striking difference between the two countries is, that whereas the one was overwhelmed by the great wave of Islamwhich swept the peninsula from end to end in the twelfth and following centuries, Nepal was never affected by this great political cataclysm. The storm, raging in the plains of India, was spent ere it reached the natural ramparts of Nepal, and only distant echoes of the Islamic turmoil reached the seclusion of the valley.
The realization of this gives the country an added interest. Nepal illustrates, as approximately as time and ordinary circum stances permit, the state of India before Islam had imprinted its indehble mark on almost every aspect of its life. The manners and customs of the people, their religion, arts and industries, the towns and the country, are practically the same as they were ten centuries ago. Unaffected by any foreign influences, undisturbed by the transitions which have taken place in the outer world, Nepal, protected by its natural position, presents an ideal picture of the Middle Ages – the Middle Ages of the East.
The story of Nepal is therefore the story of the Newars, and these people have written it profusely on every building of any importance in the valley. Apart from the ancient Sanskrit inscriptions with which the country abounds, it is, in its pictorial form, cut in stone or carved in wood, embossed in brass or cast in bronze, painted on plaster or moulded in terra-cotta, on a thousand and one shrines within the borders of the State. But even with this wealth of material the story is not easy to read, and needs some explanation. The national religion of the Newars is Buddhism, and has been so since the cult was first introduced into Nepal, two thousand years ago.
But the Newar, like his cousin in the plains of India, found this simple faith unsatisfactory, and yearned for the elaborate ritual and picturesque practices which delight the heart and stimulate the mind of the Hindu worshipper of Vishnu or Shiva. And so, as time went on, the preachings of the Great Teacher gradually drifted into oblivion, and the Newars began to adopt one by one the rites and ceremonies, and even the social distinctions, of the Brahmans. The high standard of doctrine and discipline which marked the character of the Primitive BuddhistChurch in the early history of the State has become modified, and Buddhism as maintained in Nepal has now accepted many of the popular features of Hinduism. The Buddhism of Nepal follows what is known as the Theistic system, which teaches that one universal, all-powerful, and immaterial Spirit has existed from before the commencement of time, and that it will pervade the universe throughout all eternity. This Spirit is God. He is possessed of supreme power, and is endowed with supreme intelligence. He remains, has remained, and ever will remain, in a state of perfect repose.
Due to lack of analytical knowledge, the priests are doing the rituals without knowing the meaning of the recited text. Both the priests and doer of the ritual are ignorant due to lack of the knowledge of Veda recited in the ritual.
Religion and Science ……….”coming from”………”going in” the same or opposite directions? Two different directions with the exact point to truth.
The link drops of the day…
[...]talked about Obama’s plan to improve credit rating[...]…
I will tweet this specific thing last week. I’ll link to your blog.
Due to lack of analytical knowledge, the priests are doing the rituals without knowing the meaning of the recited text. Both the priests and doer of the ritual are ignorant due to lack of the knowledge of Veda recited in the ritual.
hey, your post really aids, today i happen the same problems, and i have no clue on how to solve the issue. thankgod i search google and found your post, it helps me get rid of my trouble. thanks once againone thing, may i paste your article on my blog? i will add the source.regards!
Sage Vyasa could not get the peace because he revised the theoretical message of God and did not memorize the practical aspect of it. He got perfect peace when Bhagavatam was composed in which the practical aspect was described. Gopikas practiced the message of Gita in Toto. The devotion to God should be one way traffic. Krishna married Radha secretly (Gandharva) and left her along with other Gopikas after enjoying them for two years in Rasaleela. No girl will tolerate her husband enjoying other women with her knowledge. The love of Radha to Krishna was not affected by such bad behavior of Krishna. Krishna increased the power of dosage of the test. Krishna left Radha and Gopikas, went to Dwaraka and married 16000 girls. Dwaraka was like a foreign country crossing the sea. If this is the case of the marriage of today, the girl fights against the groom with the help of the courts and women associations. But the behavior of Radha and Gopikas towards Krishna was unimaginable.
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
Valuable information and excellent design you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time into the stuff you post!! Thumbs up!
Good article, I wanted to know if I could link to this blog post on my site. this is an issue
I totally love your blog! Thank you for the post, very informative. wty1d8
for the purpose of gaining perspective to other people. But now I think, why not have a simular thread in each religous sections, as well as the spiritual section. If all goes well, it would be a good glimps of perspective into someone who believes differently then yourself, as well as a thread for anyone to post their story or their thoughts.
This is the reason I keep going to this blog. I can’t believe all the new stuff since the last time!
Due to lack of analytical knowledge, the priests are doing the rituals without knowing the meaning of the recited text. Both the priests and doer of the ritual are ignorant due to lack of the knowledge of Veda recited in the ritual.
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
for the purpose of gaining perspective to other people. But now I think, why not have a simular thread in each religous sections, as well as the spiritual section. If all goes well, it would be a good glimps of perspective into someone who believes differently then yourself, as well as a thread for anyone to post their story or their thoughts.