Thiru Salagramam (Muktinath) Sri Moorthy Perumal Temple – Nepal

Address

Thiru Salagramam (Muktinath) Sri Moorthy Perumal Temple – Thiru Salagramam,Muktinath , Nepal – 33100

Diety

Moorthy Perumal Ammam: Devi Naachiyaar

Introduction

Muktinath is a Vishnu temple, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. It is located in Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass in Mustang, Nepal. It is one of the world’s highest temples (altitude 3,800 m). Within Hinduism, it is known as Mukti Kshetra, which literally means the ‘place of liberation’ (moksh) and is one of the Char Dham in Nepal. This temple is considered to be 106th among the available 108 Divya Desam (premium temples) considered sacred by the Sri Vaishnava sect. Its ancient name in Sri Vaishnava literature is Thiru Saligramam. The Gandaki river near by is considered the only source of the Saligram shila, considered to be the naturally available form of Sriman. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa, which is sometimes mistakenly called Muktinath. Tower: Kanaka Vimanam Temple tank: Gandaki River or Chakra Theertham

Puranic Significance

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition states that Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, meditated at Muktinath on his way to Tibet. This temple is praised by many saints of the Hindu tradition. Scripts narrating the temple’s importance are available in Vishnu Purana with the Gandaki Mahathmya.The waterway downstream from Muktinath along Kali Gandaki is the source of the Silas or Shaligrams that are required to establish a temple of Vishnu. It is considered to be one of the holiest places of pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhists. It has 108 water springs, a number that carries great significance in Hindu philosophy. As an example of the mystery surrounding the number 108, Hindu astrology mentions 12 zodiacs (or Rashi) and 9 planets (or Graha), giving a total of 108 combinations. 27 lunar mansions (or Nakshatras) are divided into four quarters (or Padas) each giving a combination of 108 Padas in total.

Special Features

The central shrine of Sri Muktinath is considered by Hindu Vaishnavas to be one of the eight most-sacred shrines, known as Svayam Vyakta Ksetras. The others are Srirangam, Srimushnam, Tirupati, Naimisharanya, Thotadri, Pushkar and Badrinath. The temple is small. The murti is gold and the size of a man. The prakaram (outer courtyard) has 108 bull faces through which water is poured. The sacred water that flows in 108 pipes around the temple complex denotes the sacred Pushkarini waters (Temple Tanks) from the 108 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams, where devotees take their sacred bath even in freezing temperatures.

Festivals

This Temple is opened all through the year however particularly in Ram navami, Rishitarpaniand Bijay Dashami hundreds of Hindu devotees congregate here to rejoice the festivals