The unique features of Newar Buddhism and their development - Essay Example

This study will be concentrated on the special features of Newar Buddhism with regard to its organizational structure and major activities of its Sa-gha . In order to outline and evaluate the complex connections among the many important factors, this discussion shall be divided into three parts. A brief historic synopsis will give a general overview of the evolution of Buddhism in Nepal. Then the relevant features of Newar Buddhism, with respect to its own evolution, shall be presented. Finally, in the last part, there will be made an attempt to evaluate the influence of these features on the decline of Newar Buddhism.

The mythology of Nepal reaches far back to countless eons, accounting for the lives of twenty-four previous mortal Buddhas4. According to the myth, the Katmandu Valley was a lake before Mañjuśrī drained it with his sword to make it inhabitable. However, even in more recent times legends have remained difficult to separate from historic facts.5 The first of the five historic periods of the Katmandu Valley lasts until the 5th century AD and includes mythical and semi-mythical dynasties, such as the Gopāla, the Ahīr and the Kirāta6.

At least the Kirāta are known from traditional chronicles, and are said to have ruled the Katmandu Valley during the time of Śākyamuni Buddha. The first major Indian power that recorded in relations to the Katmandu Valley was the early Gupta dynasty (1st – 4th century AD).7 Whereas Ashoka’s earlier visit to Kapilavasu in the 3rd century BC is accepted by historians, his alleged visit to the Katmandu Valley is not. The second period refers to the rule over a small area within the Katmandu Valley by the aristocratic Licchavi family (about 464 – 880 AD), which is known as the first line of Nepalese kings.

8 The Chinese pilgrim Hsüan-tsang recorded that various monasteries (Skt vihāras) existed9 in the 7th century side by side with Hindu temples.