1. Kathmandu, Nepal
In Kathmandu, Nepal stands the Swayambhunath.
Nicknamed the "monkey temple," it is one of the most ancient and holy pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. The holy monkeys that live near the site are considered sacred by many because their ancestors are said to have helped create the outcropping of rock that Swayambhunath rests on.
If you visit, don't worry about missing the monkeys. They are everywhere, and they kinda all want to eat your granola bars. Be warned, though, there are a LOT of stairs.
Try to reach the top without angering the monkeys. Perhaps, when you reach the top the giant golden thunderbolt, or Vajra, will fill you with strength. The Buddha will even fill you with wisdom and compassion. I'd say that's worth the trek up all those stairs, wouldn't you?
2. Jaipur, India
There are monkey shrines all over India.
That is because, in India, they celebrate the Hindu monkey God, Hanuman. Every spring, the Hanuman Jayanti festival is thrown in his honor.
Hanuman's sacred text is then recited. Here's an excerpt:
"Victory to thee, O'Hanuman! Ocean of Wisdom-All
hail to you O'Kapisa!"
The most famous Hanuman site, by far, is the Galtaji Temple near Jaipur.
Like the temple in Nepal, monkeys roam the premises. They are said to be Hanuman's ancestors.
People come from all over, not just to see the monkeys but to bathe in the holy springs of the Galtaji Temple. The springs are fed by natural water from the surrounding mountains. Those who bathe there earn Hanuman's blessing. They also may get to feed peanuts to the monkeys, which is a blessing in its own right.
Have you ever been to the Hanuman festival? I would love to hear about it! The monkey temple is beautiful, don't you think? This definitely goes on the Let's Go There Someday! bucketlist.
3. Lopburi, Thailand
The holy Prang Sam Yot is an ancient Buddhist ruin in Lopburi, Thailand. It is known as Thailand's monkey temple since, you guessed it, monkeys are often found around the area. What is it with monkeys and holy sites?
Nearby, a Buddha sits in repose, seen here holding a couple monkeys.
One of the great things about this monkey temple is that feeding the monkeys is encouraged. Spoiled much?
This is a great place to hang out with monkeys and take in some culture. Bring some fruit with you and the monkeys will be glad you came too.
4. Tokyo, Japan
Japan is thought to be the place where the lore of the three monkeys who see, speak, and hear no evil originate. In fact, Tokyo, Japan is home to the Hie Shrine, one of many Shinto shrines. This shrine happens to be all about the monkeys.
One of the best ways to get to Hie Shrine is through this torii gate. Leading up to the shrine, it will transition you from the temporal to the spiritual.
Shinto shrines are dwellings for Shinto gods. Often, they are accompanied by guardian animal statues. Here, caped Monkey statues guard the area to keep evil spirits at bay. These statues represent the monkey god Masaru. Monkeys are not a common shrine guardian. But at the Hie Shrine, they are said to give those who enter strength to overcome.
Many visitors hang a prayer board on the prayer wall before they go.
Sorry to say it, but you won't see any live monkeys here. For that, you'll have to descend back into the temporal realm and head to one of Japan's amazing monkey parks. Although not sacred, you can still show appreciation for the monkeys by tossing them munchies.
5. Fuzhou, China
China is home to the mythical Monkey King, Sun Wukong. Born from a rock, he's a magical monkey god who outsmarts all his opponents on a quest for eternal life. Every September, China comes alive to celebrate their beloved monkey hero at the Monkey King Festival.
 |
| http://www.singpoli.com/the-monkey-king-journey-to-success/ |
This may seem like fun and games. But rumor has it that in some parts of China, there are those who still worship the monkey king as a deity. In Fuzhou, China, you can allegedly see many holy shrines dedicated to the monkey god.
 |
| http://taoist-sorcery.blogspot.com/2015/08/chinese-monkey-gods-what-you-dont-know.html |
If you are ever in China, stop by Fuzhou and let me know if you find any monkey god shrines. Try to see how many you can find. You could think of it as a monkey god shrine scavenger hunt.
Monkey Madness
Are there more holy monkey destinations than you imagined? There is one thing to keep in mind if you ever do visit any of these sights. Remember that while the monkeys are fun, these places have great significance to many people. Be respectful, and enjoy! Make some monkeys happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment