Changunarayan Temple

     Narayan, or Vishnu, is the preserver of production of Hinduism. His sanctuary close Changu Village, or Doladri in Sanskrit, is frequently depicted as the most old sanctuary in the Kathmandu Valley. A legend says that once Vishnu in his demonstration of obliterating malevolence slaughtered a Brahmin cleric who had swung to detestable. Such a demonstration was viewed as one of the five most appalling criminal acts. Vishnu examined his deed and meandered here and there on Garuda, the legendary half man, half winged animal structure. When he came to Changu, a recluse by the name of Sudarsana, not perceiving Lord Vishnu, decapitated him. Once guillotined, Vishnu felt remorseful of his transgression. He said that from that point onwards he will live on the slope at Changu, where he was reclaimed for his wrongdoing, and that everybody who comes to love him at Changu upon the arrival of the full moon or on Wednesdays will likewise be absolved. The nitya puja, custom venerating, at Changu Narayan identifies with this legend. The Vishnu picture here is fabricated of two sections, one of the head and the other of the body so that the decapitation ceremony of Vishnu can be recalled amid the puja. 

     In spite of the unbelievable root of the sanctuary, Changu Narayan is accepted to be constructed by Haridatta Varma, who was a Licchavi ruler who ruled around 325 AD a few eras before Manadev I. Narratives say that around then Haridutta had requested the building of four ridge Narayan sanctuaries around the Valley. Alternate sanctuaries are Ichangu Narayan, at the West, Sikhara Narayan, and Lokapalasvamin. The engraving on Garuda Dhwaja, a column that recounts the triumphant Manadev I, raised at the sanctuary in 464 is the most established engraving to have been found in Nepal. The engraving on the column is the first strong confirmation to demonstrate the foundation of the sanctuary, however it shows that the sanctuary remained before that time. As it was the ensemble of the imperial families to offer blessings to the sanctuary, Changu Narayan likewise drew numerous magnificent admirers. Be that as it may, the greater part of the endowments were as reproductions of the sanctuary, which was annihilated commonly by flames and seismic tremors. In 607, King Amsuvarma, who profoundly respected Changu Narayan, supplanted the old sheath that secured the blessed picture and gave an expansive whole of cash to the sanctuary. The sanctuary started to disintegrate into pieces due disregard and was left unrestored until Visva Malla (1548-1560) of Bhaktapur took up the errand. At that point Gangarani of Kathmandu, grandma of Pratap Malla, repaired the sanctuary when it was crushed by a flame. In 1694, the sanctuary again required remaking which was offered by Queen Mother Radhiklaksmi of Kathmandu. She likewise offered other lavishly endowments like a brilliant torana for the sanctuary, a measure of gold and silver equivalent to her own weight, and in addition a statue of herself and her child stooping before the sanctuary behind the Garuda Dhwaja of Manadev I. About that time the leader of the picture of Vishnu was offered by Bhupalendra Malla of Kathmandu when the past one broke amid a puja. A quarter century the development by the Queen Mother Radhiklaksmi, the sanctuary again burst into flames. This time it was Bhaskar Malla (1700-1722) of Kathmandu who revamped the sanctuary and denoted its culmination by resurfacing the top of the sanctuary. 

     In Buddhism, Changu Narayan is venerated as Boddhisattva Avalokiteswara. They trust that Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu, and Takshaka, the ruler of serpents of the Kathmandu Valley, were occupied with a brutal fight. At the point when Garuda called upon Lord Vishnu for help, Takshaka was sure of his risk and petitioned God for Boddhisattva Avalokiteswara. The humane Avalokiteswara halted the fight and conveyed peace to the enemies. Vishnu, embarrassed about his conduct in the fight offered to be Boddhisattva Avalokiteswara's steed and conveyed him to Changu and therefore made the curious symbol of hari Vahan Lokeswora. At Changu Narayan, Boddhisattva Avalokiteswara is demonstrated independently as a stone model behind the sanctuary while Garudasana Narayan, Vishnu on Garuda, is been the venerated picture of the sanctuary. There are two different duplicates of the Garudasana Narayan picture in the sanctuary patio. One was made in tenth century and other in thirteenth century, which were in the long run duplicated in numerous Narayan pictures found around Kathmandu. 

      The sanctuary now covers no less than seventeen hundred years of Nepalese workmanship history. The sanctuary, assembled around the third century, is designed by a percentage of the best specimens of stone, wood, and metal specialty in the Valley. In the expressions of one traveler guide, "When you look upon Changu Narayan, you watch the complete social advancement of the Valley." 

     On the struts of the two-layered Changu Narayan Temple are the ten incarnations in which Narayan pulverized criminals. A 6th century stone statue demonstrates the astronomical type of Vishnu, while another statue reviews his incarnation as a midget when he smashed King Bali. A statue of Vishnu eviscerating Narsingha, a man-lion, is especially intriguing. The Eastern entryways are made of bronze, monsters improve the chimes, and devas and griffins watch out from the dividers and steps. An existence estimated statue of Garuda stoops before the sanctuary. The most loved sight of numerous guests is the statue of Vishnu sitting on the back of his steed.