Bungamati
| Bungamati बुङगमती Bunga:, Amarapur (Old) | |
|---|---|
| Model Village Development Committee | |
  Bungamati Location in Nepal | |
| Coordinates: 27°37′N 85°18′E / 27.62°N 85.30°ECoordinates: 27°37′N 85°18′E / 27.62°N 85.30°E | |
| Country |
 Nepal |
| Zone | Bagmati Zone |
| District | Lalitpur District |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 5,720 |
| Time zone | Nepal Time (UTC+5:45) |
Bungamati lies in Karyabinayak Municipality in Lalitpur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Bungamati or Bunga: (called by local people in Newa: (Nepal Bhasa) language ) or Amarapur (an old name) is a classic Newa: village dating from the 6th century.
The first stele of Amshuverma was found in Bungamati dated sambat 29 or 605 AD where the first mention about Kailashkut Bhavan was found. The stele further shows that Bungamati had already been a famous village for agriculture, livestock and fishing. Bugayumi was name of the village in Lichhavi period and it changed to Bungapattan in Malla period. It is perched on a spur of land overlooking the Bagmati river.
Bungamati is the birthplace of the deity Rato Machhendranath, regarded as the patron of the valley and his large shikhar-style temple in the center of the village square is his home for six months of the year (he spends the rest of his time in Patan). The process of moving him around patan and backward and forward to Bungamati Central to one of the most important annual festivals in the valley.
The chowk around the temple is one of the most beautiful in the valley-here one can see the heart of a functioning Newa: town. In Bungamati the Karya Binayak temple is also one of the most important temples in Nepal, is dedicated to Ganesh, the view is spectacular from the Karya Binayak, surrounding by trees and large bamboos and can look at the Bagmati valley to the foothills.
The Macchindranath Temple:
The central ritual focus of Bungamati is the Temple of Macchindranath. To the villagers, Macchindranath is known by the name “Bungadeya”; the name is derived either after the village founded at the spot where Bhairav howled “bu” (birthplace), or from the word “Bungaa:” meaning “watering place” or “spring” like the explanation of the name of the village and several residents in Bungamati offer the second derivation. Bungadeya has many important mythological, historical and contemporary ritual associations with water.Bungadeya being a primordial rain god, who was later identified with the benevolent Aryavalokiteshvara. Macchindranath is also known by the name of “Karunamaya” meaning an embodiment of love and kindness like a mother figure. While Bungamati Newa: people refer to Macchindranath as Bungadeya, Newah from other parts of the valley use the name Karunamaya to refer to Machendranath. Machendranath’s identity as Padmapani, Lokeshvara, and Aryavalokiteshvara is widely known.
The another important part of historical importance in Bungamati is the living goddess KUMARI. generally people only know there are only three kumaries as kathmandu, patan and bhaktapur but in patan near its area there is also a living goddess kumari in lalitpur bungamati where the god rato machhindra nath and karyabinayak (ganesh) temples are located as having their own importance.
