Machindranath Temple of Bungamati, Lalitpur

Great calamities such as The Great Quakes of April & May 2015 takes great toll on any civilisation. Justifiably, human casualties receives more consideration, followed by commercial and public infrastructure. Saving for rare cultural and historical monuments perceived in the highest regard by contemporary inhabitants, most of such monuments whose glory days are long gone are left low in the priority list for reconstruction. Despite low aesthetic and cultural significance, their beauty or higher commercial value bestowed by tourism have great powers of attraction. Machindranath Temple of Bungamati might just fit the description.

Once among the highest of all known deities and one of top two pilgrimage sites, Bungamati has now descended to second or more likely third tier of holy and heritage sites. The notion although known before now holds more sway. An accepted fact: the temple and surrounding one’s will be rebuilt as the significance in Newari community is still high and mighty. The concern now is what level of attention, conviction and dedication will be focused there. Will the art works be done with same old level of dedication and perfection? Renovated temples all over Kathmandu are adorned with imperfect and half hearted sculptors.

Machindranath, at some point in the days before modern-day Hinduism and Buddhism, was the most revered God in this part of the world.