A Glossary of Himalayan Buddhism (An Old and Rare Book)

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Why Buddhism?

Politically our country Nepal may appear an insignificant geographical stretch intervening two giant countries. Even economically the country has not been able to do any major achievement to prove its own capability. But the country can boast to have retained most vivid example of religious cultures since the historical times. Buddhism is one such culture which has been preserved more or less intact in this country to exemplify the real zeal of the people in spiritual and cultural traditions.

Though our country has awakened academically, the vast subject of socio-cultural-spiritual study and advanced research is certainly missing. Regarding the advanced and scrutinised study of Nepali Buddhism, the book proposes an ambitious programme.

A Buddhist Centre

A Buddhist centre in Nepal has become a necessity because nowhere in the world such an institution has been known to exist to coordinate among the Buddhist peoples of many countries and research institutions dedicated to this cause. I propose to establish a Buddhist centre to work for the said object. This book may be taken as a first step towards the realisation of the dream of establishing a Buddhist centre.

Hereafter, the author proposes to produce the following works on Nepali Buddhism:

1. Sources to Nepal Buddhism

2. Buddhist Sculptures of Nepal

3. Buddhist Inscriptions

4. Buddhist Shrines

5. Buddhist Biharas

6. Buddhist Rituals

7. Buddhist Kings of Nepal

8. Buddhist Education

9. Buddhist Geography

10. Buddhist People

11. Chronology of Buddhist Sects

12. Buddhist Literature

13. Buddhist Tantra

14. Yoga of the Buddhists

15. Lamaism in Nepal

After completing these works, I hope to produce works related to Buddhist literature, literature philosophical aspects and Buddhism in various countries. I will need vast resources to complete these works. Hence a request to all lovers of the subject to come forward to cooperate is made here.

In this work I have collected only those references on Nepali Buddhism which are legendary in form. Only here and there the readers will find other types of references which are known from different sources. Therefore, this volume contains a preliminary study of Nepal Buddhism.

Buddhism vs Hinduism

Sanatanist Hindus find the extension of the original Vedic Hinduism in Buddhism and take Buddha as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. They put forward some medieval instances where the Lord is described as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In his Dasha Avatara Stotram Shankaracharya has included Lord Buddha among Lord Vishnu's incarnations. A 12th century poet Jaya Deva devoted to Vaishnavism also refers to the same fact. Another famous poet and critic Kshemendra has given a separate chapter on Lord Buddha as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu in his work, Dash Avatara.

But in Nepal, Buddhism stands in a little different position. The Buddhism followed by the Newars appears more influenced by Shaivism. This fact may be found exampled in the cult of Ashta Vaitaragas according to which the eight famous Shivaligas of the Nepal Valley are also identified as Bodhisattwas. Lord Pashupati himself is taken as the Naga Lokeshwara by the Buddhists. Other numerous instances support the above stated view. Newar Buddhists worship in Shaivite and Vaishnavite shrines and do not differentiate them from their own religion. But at the same time they have maintained obscure Buddhist rituals to prove that the religion still stands distinct.