Bahal · Buddhist
Dau Bahal (Dattanama Mahavihar)
दत्तनाम महाविहार❊दौबहाः
Shakyamuni Buddha·Medieval Malla period·Lalitpur
Dattanama Mahavihar (Dau Bahal) is one of the 18 traditional bahals of Patan, a Buddhist monastery courtyard preserving centuries of Newar heritage.
Dedicated to
Shakyamuni Buddha
Period
Medieval Malla period
Hours
Dawn to dusk
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Patan Old City
Dau Bahal, formally Dattanama Mahavihar, is one of the traditional 18 principal bahals of Patan. The name Dattanama suggests a dedication or offering (datta meaning 'given'), reflecting the Buddhist tradition of dana (generosity) that sustained these monasteries.
The bahal maintains the classic enclosed courtyard plan with a central shrine, surrounded by the residential quarters of its Bajracharya and Shakya sangha. Traditional Vajrayana Buddhist rituals continue to be performed here, connecting the present community to centuries of unbroken practice.
Like its sister bahals, Dau Bahal is tucked into the dense medieval fabric of old Patan, its entrance easy to miss in the narrow lanes. The courtyard preserves traditional Buddhist sculptures and architectural details characteristic of Newar craftsmanship.
Folio III
Nearby Sacred Sites
Places within a short walk that help turn this stop into a small sacred cluster.
Bu Bahal (Yashodhar Mahavihar)
An ancient monastery named after Yashodhara, wife of the Buddha, historically notable as founded by a converted Brahmin reflecting the Valley's fluid religious boundaries.
Ha Bahal (Ratnakar Mahavihar)
Ratnakar Mahavihar (Ha Bahal) is one of Patan's most significant bahals — the official residence of the living Kumari goddess of Patan, with exclusively Vajracharya membership.
Wan Bahal (Bajra Kirti Mahavihar)
Bajra Kirti Mahavihar (Wan Bahal) is one of the 18 principal bahals of Patan, with an inscription dating to 1441 CE confirming its medieval origins.
Si Bahal (Sri Vaccha Mahavihar)
Sri Vaccha Mahavihar (Si Bahal) is one of Patan's 18 principal bahals, housing a Pancharaksa manuscript dated to 1389 CE among its historical treasures.
Su Bahal (Jayamanohara Mahavihar)
Jayamanohara Mahavihar (Su Bahal) is one of Patan's 18 principal bahals — the 'Monastery of Victorious Delight', a tranquil Buddhist courtyard.
Coda
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