Gujeshwari Mandir

Gujeshwari temple is not my every day or even an every month temple, but once a year, in the Holy Month of Magh, i.e when Swasthani Brata starts. The route remaining same, starting at Gauri Ghat, Kirtaeshwar Temple, Gujeshwari, Pashupatinath and if energy allows finishing the chain of pilgrimage at Chabahil Ganeshthan.

I don't like the idea of how Gujeshwari mandir perched above hill is hidden behind the wall or even houses. It is the most beautiful temple, one of the all-time masterpieces of Hindu Surrealism on top of that its one of 51 Shakti Pithas (holy place of a cosmic power), while non-Hindus are forbidden to enter, they could at least see the temple if the houses were not blocking them. Also, wrecked chortens that line up outside the temple is a complete eyesore.

It would be wonderful to see sketches when King Pratap Malla constructed this temple back in 17th century.

The primary amusement is that this temple doesn't have regular idol rather has a Kalasha (vessel) kept in a sunken pit and containing an odiferous liquid. As mentioned in Shree Swasthani Katha, when Sati Devi's father insults her husband, Lord Shiva, she threw herself onto a fire. Shiva retrieved her corpse, blinded by grief, walked across the world, scattering her parts of the body at 51 sacred places. Gujeshwari is the place where Sati Devi's vagina fell, and the consequence is kalasha worship.
  This cosmic power site is equally sacred to Buddhist, who worship Sati Devi as Vajrayogini, a Powerful Tantric Goddess and also believe that the site to be the seed from with the Swayambhu lotus grew.


Location: Chabahil
Getting There: Walk from Pashupatinath downhill Gorakhnath temple.
                         Alternatively walk along the lane of Gauri Ghat from Chabahil