Lao Temple: Mural and Burial Stupas

Most of the temples we saw in the Buddhist nation of Laos were noticeably less ornate and decorated than the many I've seen in Thailand. I found them serene and appealing.

The first photo shows you the intricately carved door of a small unassuming neighborhood temple we walked by in Vientiane, the nation's capital. I failed to find out its name (and googling came up empty).

I also regret cutting off the bottom of the door in this photo; my focus back then in 2002 was clearly on the wonderful mural (better seen enlarged) painted directly onto dry stucco. I've learned since that this mural most likely depicts scenes from the ancient Jakata Tales that Buddhist monks tell to develop the moral values of their listeners.

Vientiane, 2002 

Near the temple were a cluster of typical burial stupas. We saw many of these in Laos; around temples, in nature along the road we traveled, and in the gardens of private homes. And yet I was not able to discover any information at all about them.

Upon death, Lao people are generally cremated following Buddhist rituals, and so these would not be graves for bodies in coffins the way we often bury our dead in the West. I conclude, until I learn otherwise, that these funerary stupas are memorials erected for loved ones.

The only view of the entire temple building I photographed was this one from the back.

I am linking with the blogging communities at Monday Mural and Taphophile Tragics.

Pashupatinath Temple Reflected

Kathmandu, Nepal, 2010

This is a very small portion of the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflected in Bagmati River.

For James' Weekend Reflections. Details better seen enlarged.

The Golden Pavillion

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) is the only one of the original main structures remaining on the grounds of Rokuon-ji (Deer Park Temple) in Kyoto. And even this is not really the original. While the pavilion survived centuries of natural disasters, sadly in 1950 a misguided young arsonist monk razed it to the ground. Yet it is a true replica. And it IS grand.
 
In the 13th century this gold-leafed building was the not-so-humble villa of a shogun (general) until his death, when in accordance with his will it was turned into a Zen temple. 

Sitting on the edge of Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond), it offers a perfect reflection for James' Weekend Reflections. This is a photo that's been taken by millions of admiring visitors over the years.

 Kyoto, 2009

As a bonus, I offer this less postcard perfect but more unique reflection of Kinkaku-ji as liquid gold with a purple water iris. 

This last photo is a closeup of the third floor with the gold-leafed bronze phoenix standing over one meter / nearly four feet tall. The bell-shaped windows are in the Chinese Song Dynasty style. The smallest of the three floors, this room was used for tea ceremonies and visits with close friends. 

Each floor was designed in a different style of architecture and had its own function. The ground floor was a reception hall used to welcome visitors and the second floor was for important meetings with honored guests. Simply put, the higher up you got into the building, the more intimate you were with your host, the shogun.

In 1994 this site joined the many historic monuments of ancient Kyoto inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

T is for Temple

This is a rather typical Chinese style Buddhist temple located on the Coastal Road on Manila Bay. Does anyone know its name besides just Chinese Temple?

Manila, 2010

It's up to the letter T over at ABC Wednesday today.

L is for Lamps and Lanterns

Japan has an abundance of beautiful traditional lighting styles. These are just a few styles of lamps and lanterns I captured in Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, more simply known as Kiyomizu Temple.

 Kyoto, 2009

 

Kiyomizu Temple is a World Heritage Site in Kyoto. Dating back to 786, not a single nail was used to build the temple, the brown building you see on the right. The orange buildings on the left were added in 1633. 

ABC Wednesday is up to L and there you'll find more links to people's creative posts using the letter.

Browns in a Buddhist Temple

Earlier this year my friend Deepak in Kathmandu took us to this tiny temple full of little treasures. I was peacefully taking it all in when a group of pilgrims from Tibet arrived to do the rounds of the prayer wheels, a ritual to spread spiritual blessings and invoke good karma in their next life. They seemed not to mind me at all as I continued to photograph as inconspicuously as I could.

Kathmandu, 2010

I don't know what this fearsome looking bronze creature represents, but from its well worn paws I surmise that touching them brings earthly luck.

This Buddhist woman is using her prayer beads to count her mantras, much like a Catholic counts prayers on a rosary.

This post will have too many photos, but I couldn't resist sharing this baby. Here on the motionless prayer wheel you can also see the markings of the most important mantra in Tibetan script, Om mani padme hum:

Each prayer wheel contains a roll of paper inscribed with multiples of this mantra. Spinning the wheels, always clockwise, is believed to have the same effect as saying or thinking the mantra, the aim being to develop compassion and wisdom and to get closer to reaching enlightenment.

Before leaving the temple, each pilgrim rang the bell:

This handsome man was in the temple when I arrived and when I left, perhaps the caretaker. His cap makes me think he is Muslim, and that would not be unusual, as in Nepal, according to Deepak, the two main religions co-exist peacefully and inter-marriage is not rare.

These beautiful browns in a temple join the meme Theme Thursday where today's theme is, you guessed it, BROWN. Click on the link to find links to more beautiful browns. And clicking any photo will enlarge it in a different tab in your browser.