Budhanilkantha Temple, Kathmandu

The Budhanilkantha Temple, situated in Budhanilkantha, is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Mahavishnu, also known as the Narayanthan Temple. It features a prominent reclining statue of Lord Mahavishnu.

Although some people associate Budhanilkantha's name with Gautama Buddha due to its similar pronunciation, this is inaccurate. Despite being named Budhanilkantha, the name does not derive from Buddha; instead, it originates from Sanskrit, meaning 'Old Blue Throat,' a title of Lord Shiva bestowed by the gods after he consumed poison to save the world. The statue within symbolizes Lord Vishnu, one of the 'Trimurtis,' alongside Brahma and Shiva.

Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata mention Samudra Manthan, directly linked to the origin of Gosaikunda. Legend has it that the spring supplying the pond in Budanilkantha temple is connected to Gosaikunda, establishing a direct link to the water source of Lord Shiva. Thus, although the statue is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple's name honors Lord Shiva due to the pond's connection to Gosaikunda, which originated from Shiva's act of consuming poison, giving him a blue throat.

The temple is revered by Hindus as a sacred site, but Buddhists also hold it in high regard, considering the statue to represent Buddha. This reflects the long-standing religious harmony in the region.

The primary statue, carved from a single block of black basalt stone, stands 5 meters tall and rests in the middle of a sunken pool of water measuring 13 meters in length. The statue holds the Sudarshana Chakra, Club, Conch Shell, and a gem in its four hands. Adorned with a crown featuring multiple Kirtimukha images, the statue is believed to be over 1400 years old, making it Nepal's largest stone carving.

The Budhanilkantha Temple attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Haribondhini Ekadashi Mela, held on the 11th day of the Hindu month of Kartika (October–November) annually. This ritual signifies waking Lord Vishnu from his deep slumber. Additionally, a significant fair occurs at the temple area during auspicious Hindu lunar calendar events such as Ekadashis, Harishayani, and Haribodhini, marking Lord Vishnu's four-month sleeping period.