Binayak Tour (The Four Ganesh Temples)
<strong>The Four Ganesh Temples</strong>
<strong>Ganesh,</strong> the elephant-headed god, is one of the most favoured divinities in Hinduism and is certainly the most favored in the Kathmandu Valley. The god of good luck, who casts aside obstacles is believed to be the son of Shiva & Parvati. The shrew is his vehicle and he especially likes offerings of food. Ganesh has numerous shrines throughout the Valley but four are particularly sacred.
The <strong>Chandra Binayak</strong> is in the middle of the village of Chabahil, 200m behind the Chabahil stupa. This small Ganesh is enshrined amidst rich brass work & is believed to cure diseases and external bodily injuries.
The simple stone Ganesh at the <strong>Surya Binayak </strong>is halfway up the foothills south of Bhaktapur. The path heads uphill to the little shrine, considered able to give the power of speech to young children who are slow to talk.
In a forest preserve between the villages of Bungmati & Khokana lies the <strong>Karya Binayak</strong>. From the road linking the hamlets, a path leads up to a beautiful clearing and the walled compound of the shrine. Here Ganesh is an elephant-shaped stone and is believed to help complete difficult tasks.
Those seeking strength of character go to worship the Ganesh at <strong>Jal Binayak</strong>, just beyond the Chovar Gorge. A beautiful brass shrew faces the massive rock that represents Ganesh in thistriple roofed temple constructed in 1602 AD.
