Bahal · Buddhist
Si Bahal (Sri Vaccha Mahavihar)
श्री वच्छ महाविहार❊सिबहाः
Shakyamuni Buddha / Pancharaksa·Medieval (manuscript dated 1389 CE)·Lalitpur
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.
Dedicated to
Shakyamuni Buddha / Pancharaksa
Period
Medieval (manuscript dated 1389 CE)
Hours
Dawn to dusk
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Patan Old City
Si Bahal, formally Sri Vaccha Mahavihar, is one of the traditional 18 principal bahals of Patan. The monastery houses a Pancharaksa manuscript dated to Nepal Sambat 509 (1389 CE), one of the important textual treasures preserved in Patan's bahal network.
The Pancharaksa ('Five Protections') is a collection of five Buddhist dharani texts believed to offer protection from various dangers — snakes, fire, water, weapons, and evil spirits. The preservation of such a manuscript for over 600 years speaks to the unbroken religious tradition maintained by Si Bahal's sangha.
The monastery follows the classic Newar vihara courtyard plan and continues to function as a living Buddhist community. Its courtyard contains traditional sculptures and ritual objects, and the resident Bajracharya and Shakya families maintain the Vajrayana ceremonies that have defined bahal life for centuries.
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.
Dau Bahal (Dattanama Mahavihar)
Dattanama Mahavihar (Dau Bahal) is one of the 18 traditional bahals of Patan, a Buddhist monastery courtyard preserving centuries of Newar heritage.
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.
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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