Muktinath () is an ancient Vishnu temple located in Mustang, Nepal. The temple of Muktinath, known as 'the lord of liberation', is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists whom they worship as an abode of Hindu deities Vishnu and Shakti, and Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara respectively.] Located in the Muktinath valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass, it is one of the world's highest temples at an altitude of 3,800 meters.
For Buddhists, Muktinath is an abode of dakinis - goddesses known as Sky Dancers and is considered one of the twenty-four Tantric places. Tibetan Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters" and the murti is revered as a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.
For Hindus, the temple is associated with the worship of Vishnu or Shakti, deities which are considered to have self-manifested at the site. The temple complex is known as Mukti Kshetra, which literally means "the place of liberation (moksha)" and is one of the Char Dham in Nepal. Muktinath is given an eminent status in the Sri Vaishnavism faith, as one of the 108 Divya Desam, or 'holy land', as well as one of the eight most sacred shrines in that tradition, known as the Svayam Vyakta Ksetras or Sthalas.<ref></https://www.trekcurator.com/lower-mustang-muktinath-tour> In Shaktism, as well for non-denominational Hindus, it is also one of the 51 Shakta pithas, associated with the head of goddess Sati.
Muktinath is mentioned in ancient Hindu Vishnu Purana's Gandaki Mahatmya.
Religious significance
Hinduism
Vaishnavism
Muktinath is sacred to the Sri Vaishnava tradition. The deities of Vishnu and his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, are regarded by adherents as offering jivanmukti to devotees, offering the epithet Muktinath to Vishnu. It is praised by Thirumangai Alvar in the compilation of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The river Gandaki, flowing adjacent to the temple, is renowned for carrying a kind of stone called shaligrama. The different patterns of the stone are worshiped as different forms of Vishnu. The colour white is considered as Vasudeva, black as Vishnu, green as Narayana, blue as Krishna, golden yellow & reddish yellow as Narasimha and Vamana in yellow. The stones are found in various shapes with even shapes of the Panchajanya and the Sudarshana Chakra, the attributes of Vishnu. The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Kulasekhara Alvar in one hymn. The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. Many devotees have contributed to it, most prominently the Alvars. Thirumangai Alvar could not reach Muktinath, but sang 10 pasurams from the nearest place, in praise of the deity. Periyalvar sang in praise of Vishnu as "Salagramamudaiya Nambi" (in Tamil : ; meaning "Lord of ").
Shaktism
Muktinath Temple is considered an important place of pilgrimage in Shaktism as one of the Shakta pithas associated with goddess Sati's head (face). The Shakti of Muktinath is addressed as "Gandaki Chandi", and the Bhairav (Shiva) as "Chakrapani".
Muktinath temple complex is also revered as a place on earth to host all five elements (fire, water, sky, earth, and air) from which all material things in the universe are made. The goddess Jwala Mai Temple situated adjacent to the Muktinath Temple is worshipped for its sacred flame fueled by natural gas emanating from the earth.
Buddhism
The temple has been worshipped by Buddhists as an abode of Avalokiteśvara, the Buddha who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. In Tibetan Buddhism, the place is known as "Chumig Gyatsa" (the Hundred Springs) and is venerated as one of the important places related to Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the 24 Tantric (sacred) places of Tibetan Buddhism. The area of the temple is worshipped as a residence of 21 Tara and many Dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers.The nuns of the temple complex are considered to be goddesses called Dakinis and to be the offsprings of the women who were taught by Padmasambhava during his stay in Muktinath. It is believed that Padmasambhava built a statue in his own image before departing from Muktinath to Tibet, which resides in the Mharme Lhakhang Gompa and is tended by these nuns.
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