The Pumdikot Shiva

Giant statues are par for the course in the Himalayas. Sometimes it is the Buddha, sometimes Shiva. I’d come to Pumdikot, outside Pokhara, to watch the Annapurna range at sunset. A religious theme park was being constructed at the top of the hill from which I did the sightseeing. At the highest point was a 57 feet high stupa, surmounted by a 51 feet tall statue of Shiva. The sum of the two is 108, which is considered an auspicious number. There were a few tourists here, but most of the visitors were Nepali. I stood at the entrance to the stupa and gazed at this sight when a Nepali lady in bright red walked past me. I thought she would make this a complete picture.

A hundred and eight shivalings run around the stupa, and they are all bathed in water at least once a day. This is called jalabhishek. All this requires a technical area. That is inside this giant damru, a representation of the drum that Shiva is said to carry. I think I haven’t seen a more inventive setting for a door. Have you?