Guhyeshwari Temple

Guhyeshwari Temple (Nepali: गुह्येश्वरी मन्दिर), also spelled Guheswari or Gujeshwari, is a Hindu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. The temple is also a Shakta pitha and it's about 1km east of Pashupati Kshetra and is located on the southern bank of the Bagmati River.^[1] It is an important pilgrimage destination especially for Tantric worshipers. King Pratap Malla renovated this temple in the 17th century.

The Devi Bhagavata Purana mentions this temple in its list of sacred places of Adishakti and refers to the deity of Nepal as Guhyakali.^[2]

गुह्यकाल्या महास्थानं नेपाले यत्प्रतिष्ठितम्।

The great abode of Śrī Guhya Kālī is established in Nepal

— Devī Bhāgavatam 7th Canto, Chapter 38, Verse 11

The temple's name originates from the Sanskrit words Guhya (secret or hidden) and Ishwari (goddess). In Lalitha Sahasranama the 707th name of the Goddess is mentioned as "Guhyarupini" (Lalita Sahasranama 137th verse: Sarasvati shastramayi, Guhaamba guhyaruupini).^[3]

The daily rituals (nitya pūjā) at the Guhyeśvarī Temple are performed exclusively by a priestly clan from the Newar community, in accordance with the Sarvamnaya Tantra. The temple's regular tantric rites are conducted by the Karmacharya, the traditional Kaula priest. On special occasions and during major ceremonies, Rajopadhyaya Brahmins, who are both Vedic and Kaula priests, perform the Vedic rituals, while the Karmacharya continues to officiate the tantric rites.^[4]

The story of Daksha yagya and Sati's self immolation had immense significance in shaping ancient Sanskrit literature and even had impact on the culture of Nepal. It led to the development of the concept of Shakta pithas, thereby strengthening Shaktism. When Shiva was insulted by his father in law Daksha, his wife Sati Devi was so angry that she jumped into the flames of the yagya. Shiva was grief-stricken and picked up her corpse and began to wander about, as her body parts fell to the earth. There are 51 Shakta pithas which are believed to be enshrined with the presence of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered throughout Aryavartha in sorrow. The 51 Shakta pithas also correspond to 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, Guhyeshwari represent I letter.^[5]

Guhyeshwari Temple marks the spot where Sati's rectum or anal part is said to have fallen.^[6] Each Shakta pitha is dedicated to a Shakti and a Kalabhairava. In Guhyeshwari Temple, the Shakti is Guhyekali and the Bhairava is Kapali. The goddess is worshiped at the centre of the temple in a kalasha that is covered with a layer of silver and gold. The kalasha rests on a stone base which covers an underground natural water spring, from which water oozes out from the edges of the base. The temple stands at the centre of a courtyard and is topped with four gilded nagas that support the finial roof. This temple is revered by Tantric practitioners, and Tantric rites are performed in this temple. The Vishwasorup of goddess Guhyeshwari shows her as a many and different coloured headed goddess with innumerable hands. The temple gets very crowded during Navaratri and Jatra.^[7]

Vajrayana Buddhists consider Guhyeshwari to be sacred to Vajrayogini in the form of Vajravarahi and to be the location of root of the mythical lotus upon which Swayambhunath stupa rests, which is also the umbilical cord that nurtures Kathmandu. In Tibetan language, the place is called Pag-mo Ngal-chu (Varahi's womb fluid). The water which flows from the spring in the well of the temple is believed to be vaginal discharge, likely amniotic fluid, or waters of Vajravarahi.^[8]