Located in Kathmandu, Nepal, Setu Gumba is a captivating little monastery boasting of beautiful murals and paintings that speak volumes of the grand Buddhist culture. The monastery stands tall on Druk Amitabha Hill, near Swayambhunath Stupa of south-west Kathmandu.
Not just that, it houses statues made of sacred medicinal clay. The Buddhist flags and chants are simply mesmerising.
The monastery houses statues made of sacred medicinal clay. The flags and chants here are captivating.
A closer look at the monastery.
Nuns queue up for Kung Fu practice. Never seen a place so beautiful and the weather so pleasant. Simply, it is heaven on earth.
"Women' role is not confined to kitchen alone. She should be allowed to participate in all activities that men perform. Parents should encourage their daughters to participate in all types of sports and extra-curricular activities", believes Rupa Lhamo, a nun.
The temple where nuns offer prayers for hours during the day. Clicking pictures inside the hall area is restricted. Got to know this after clicking one.
Our lovely protagonist Rupa Lhamo poses before we wind up the shoot for the day.
Swayambhunath temple is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. The complex consists of a stupa, a number of shrines and temples, some even dating back to the Licchavi period.
Though the site is Buddhist, it is worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus.
As per Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with a huge lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as 'Swayambhu', meaning "self-created."
The temple's name Swayambhunath originated from the eternal self-existent flame (svyambhu) over which a stupa was built afterwards.
Kung Fu nuns clean the greased diyas at the temple. Community service is part of their routine. With this, they want to spread the message of cleanliness and hygiene.
"Since childhood, I wanted to become a doctor because I wanted to do something for the community. After I became nun, my dream to serve the community came true", feels Rupa.
Swayambhu temple is also famous for a large number of monkeys thronging it. Be careful with your eatables.
Kung Fu nuns relish refreshment as they take a small break from the service. This monkey is particularly optimistic. It even managed to grab a piece of bread while nuns were busy chatting up with each other.
Heavy stuff for home decor
Only a fit body can delve deeper into the mysteries of the mind. The nuns cycle regularly to keep themselves physically fit. They educate people on the importance of pollution-free environment. They even undertake 'padayatra' (foot march) to spread this message far and wide.
"It is painful to walk long distances barefoot. We even get boils and blisters. Seeing the people following our message makes us forget all our pain. This gives satisfaction," says Rupa Lhamo.
Cycling downhill
At the very first sight, turkeys fell in love with me and started fluttering. They seemed to be posing for this one click. By the way, this is at the monastery where nuns practice Kung Fu.
I kept gazing at the picturesque surroundings. Completely lost, I just did not want to come back.
We got lucky to get some time for boating on the last day of our trip.
As they say, all good things come to an end. Thank you, everyone, for spending time reading my blog.
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