Budhanilkantha Temple
| Budhanilkantha Temple | |
|---|---|
बूढानीलकण्ठ मन्दिर | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Kathmandu |
| Province | Bagmati |
| Deity | Bhagavan Vishnu / Buddha |
| Festivals | Prabodhini Ekadashi |
| Location | |
| Location | Budanilkantha |
| Country | Nepal |
Interactive map of Budhanilkantha Temple | |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Open Air |
| Length | 5 metres |
Budanilkantha Temple, located in Budhanilkantha, Nepal, (Nepali: बुढानिलकण्ठ मन्दिर; translation: Old Blue Throat) is a Hindu open air temple dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu. Budhanilkantha Temple is also known as the Narayanthan Temple for Hindus, and can be identified by a large reclining statue of Lord Mahavishnu. However In the Buddhist community, the term "Buddhanilkantha" refers to one of the various manifestations of Avalokiteshvara. The name means "Blue-Throated Buddha."
According to local legend, the statue was lost underground for centuries. Farmers were plowing a field at the current Budhanilkantha site when their plough struck stone. As they dug further, they uncovered the massive image of the reclining Vishnu submerged in the ground. Since then, the statue has been revered as a divine revelation rather than a mere archaeological artifact.