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Nepal: The reclining Vishnu statue at the Hindu Budhanilkantha Temple, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu Valley (1997)

The Vishnu figure of Budhanilkantha is a 4.5 metre long, intricately carved figure depicting Vishnu sleeping on the ground of the cosmic ocean, on a 'bed' of intertwining snake bodies, which are all part of the eleven-headed giant snake Ananta, 'The Endless One'.<br/><br/>. The figure probably originated in the 7th century and is hewn out of a single piece of rock. According to legend, Budhanilkantha was discovered by a farmer while ploughing his field; the plough snagged on the figure, which was buried underground, and, to the farmers great surprise, the figure began to bleed. Budha means 'mud' and Nila-kantha is 'Blue Throat'; Budhanilkantha is regarded as a manifestation of Vishnu (not to be confused with a better known incarnation of Vishnu as Nilakantha).

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Title: Nepal: The reclining Vishnu statue at the Hindu Budhanilkantha Temple, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu Valley (1997)

Caption: The Vishnu figure of Budhanilkantha is a 4.5 metre long, intricately carved figure depicting Vishnu sleeping on the ground of the cosmic ocean, on a 'bed' of intertwining snake bodies, which are all part of the eleven-headed giant snake Ananta, 'The Endless One'.

. The figure probably originated in the 7th century and is hewn out of a single piece of rock. According to legend, Budhanilkantha was discovered by a farmer while ploughing his field; the plough snagged on the figure, which was buried underground, and, to the farmers great surprise, the figure began to bleed. Budha means 'mud' and Nila-kantha is 'Blue Throat'; Budhanilkantha is regarded as a manifestation of Vishnu (not to be confused with a better known incarnation of Vishnu as Nilakantha).

Credit: Album / Universal Images Group / Rainer Krack / Pictures From History

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Image size: 5035 × 3471 px | 50.0 MB

Print size: 42.6 × 29.4 cm | 1982.3 × 1366.5 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: 1997 • ASIA • ASIAN • BUDHANILAKANTHA • BUDHANILKANTHA TEMPLE • BUDHANILKANTHA • CULT, HINDUISM • DEITY • DIVINITY • GOD • GODHEAD • GODS • HINDU • HINDUISM • HINDUS • KATHMANDU VALLEY • KRACK • LORD VISHNU • NEPAL • NEPALESE • PHOTOGRAPH • RAINER • RELIGION • STATUA • STATUE • STATUES • TEMPERA • TEMPLE • TEMPLES • VISHNU