Go Within

Behind the temples, courtyards and sacred boundaries lies a world of Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta and Buddhist traditions, where each deity carries a role in maintaining cosmic balance. The placement of shrines, guardian deities and sacred spaces reflects the idea of a living mandala or sword in a city where geography and spirituality are connected.

What if Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur were not simply built, but sacredly imagined?

KATHMANDU: Around the historic city are the Ashta Matrikas—the Eight Mother Goddesses, traditionally regarded as guardians of the settlement. Their sacred sites are connected through a larger ritual geography, traditionally associated with the form of a Khadga (a sacred sword).

PATAN: Patan is renowned for its connection with the Dashamahavidyas—the Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses of the Tantric tradition. These manifestations of the Divine Feminine (Shakti) represent cosmic energy and wisdom woven into the city’s rituals. Symbolically associated with a Yantra (sacred diagram) and the Dharma Chakra (sacred wheel), when you walk through Patan, you walk through a sacred map of the Divine Feminine.

BHAKTAPUR: The Nava Durga—the Nine Manifestations of the Divine Mother—guard Bhaktapur through an ancient Tantric network symbolically connected with the Khunda (खुँडा, the sacred weapon of protection). During the famous Nava Durga dance, sacred masked deities emerge into the streets, blessing the people and renewing the bond with their guardians.

A leisurely walk through Pashupati is a journey into the deeper rhythm of life. As the morning sun touches the Bagmati River, the sacred cremation ghats quietly reveal the eternal cycle of existence where farewell, prayer, love and memories meet.

The sound of temple bells blends with chants, flowing water and the movement of life around the sanctuary. Cows wander peacefully, monkeys move through the trees, dogs rest along the pathways, and nature continues its timeless presence.

At Pashupati, life and death are not separated; they exist together, reminding us to pause, reflect and experience the beauty of impermanence.

Beyond Nepal’s famous temples and monasteries exists another spiritual world—one carried through mountains, forests, rivers and generations of ancestral wisdom.

For centuries, Himalayan communities have preserved the tradition of Dhami-Jhankri (shamanic practitioners), who serve as spiritual guides, healers and custodians of ancient knowledge. Their practices are deeply connected with nature, ancestors, sacred rituals, chants, meditation and the belief that harmony between humans and the unseen world is essential for balance.

Shamanism is not a single tradition but a collection of diverse indigenous practices passed through different communities of Nepal. Through rituals, drums, sacred objects and ancestral teachings, shamans continue to carry stories and wisdom that have travelled across generations.

The Moment I Felt the Essence of Shamanic Wisdom: Sometimes, the deepest spiritual journeys do not begin with curiosity—they begin with surrender. When life places us in situations where our strength feels tested, a search for meaning begins.

Sitting with the shaman, I understood that ancient traditions are about relationships with ourselves, nature, and ancestors. When I gently caressed my own hair, I felt a motherly warmth and self-care. When I embraced a tree, I felt a quiet connection with something ancient—touching a living memory of the Earth.

I may not always define my beliefs through a particular name or form of God, but I deeply believe in a power that holds this universe together—a force that created the stars, the mountains, the rivers and the endless mystery of existence.

Different cultures have given this power different names. Some call it God, some call it the Universe, some call it consciousness, energy or the divine. Perhaps the name is not the most important part. What matters is the feeling of connection, the understanding that we are part of something much greater than ourselves.

For me, the ashram has become a place where I experience a deeper connection with myself and the greater force that surrounds us. It is not merely a physical space, but a sanctuary for reflection, learning and inner discovery.

Away from the noise and distractions of everyday life, the ashram allows one to slow down, observe and reconnect with the deeper self. The teachers and masters become guiding forces—helping us discover the wisdom that already exists within us.

Before there were words, there was vibration. Every movement in the universe carries a rhythm—the movement of planets, the flow of rivers, the breath of humans and the silent pulse of nature. Ancient yogic traditions describe this primordial vibration as Nada, the inner and cosmic sound that connects individual consciousness with the greater universe.

The Himalayan singing bowl is considered by practitioners as a bridge between the outer world of sound and the inner world of awareness. When the bowl is gently played, it creates layers of tones and overtones that fill the space, inviting the mind to slow down and enter a state of deep listening.

In the tradition of Nada Yoga, sound is seen as a pathway of meditation. The famous sacred sound Om (Aum) is traditionally regarded as a symbol of the universal vibration from which creation emerges.

The Sacred Rhythm of Seven: The number seven appears in time, nature, and spirit—7 days, 7 musical notes (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni), 7 chakras, and the Saptarishi. Sound meditation tunes the human mind and body into this primordial rhythm.

From the peaceful hills of Kopan Monastery to the ancient whispers of Swayambhunath, the sacred energy of Boudhanath, the meditation caves of Padmasambhava, the blessed land of Namo Buddha and the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini—each destination tells a story, yet carries the same message.

Buddhism is not only about visiting monasteries, lighting lamps or walking around stupas. It is a journey inward—a path to understand the mind, cultivate compassion, practice awareness and transform suffering into wisdom.

The true pilgrimage is not measured by the distance we travel, but by the changes we create within ourselves. A sacred place becomes meaningful when it inspires us to become more peaceful, more conscious and more compassionate.

Nepal is not just a destination for Buddhist heritage; it is an invitation to experience mindfulness, wisdom, and inner transformation.

Just outside the busy rhythm of Kathmandu lies a place where mythology, nature and spirituality meet—Taudaha Lake.

According to legend, when Manjushri Bodhisattva drained the ancient lake of Kathmandu to create human settlement, the serpent king Karkotak Naga found refuge in Taudaha. Even today, standing beside its peaceful waters, the lake resembles the map of Kathmandu Valley.

During migration seasons, birds travel from Siberia to Taudaha, creating a peaceful wetland sanctuary.

A short journey takes you to Pharping: home to Asura Cave, where Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) attained realization, and the revered Hindu Shesh Narayan Temple. Here, Vajrayana Buddhism and Hinduism walk together in seamless harmony.

The moment a child takes the first breath into this world, ancient traditions believe that the sky above carries a unique story.

In Nepal, this story is preserved through Janma Kundali (जन्म कुण्डली)—a traditional birth chart created by studying the position of planets, stars and celestial movements at the exact time and place of birth.

Based on the principles of Vedic astrology (Jyotish Shastra), the birth chart is divided into twelve houses (Bhava), nine planets (Graha), zodiac signs (Rashi) and lunar constellations (Nakshatra), creating a symbolic map of one’s journey.

A Janma Kundali is not only a chart drawn on paper; it is a cultural bridge between humans and the cosmos—a reminder that every individual is born into a unique moment in the vast story of the universe.