Kathmandu Valley Cosmological Map – Newar Nepāla Maṇḍala in Rañjanā Script

Hand-painted and historically researched map of the Kathmandu Valley (Nepāla Maṇḍala), the cultural and sacred heartland of the Newar civilization. This map presents the valley as a ritual, political, and cosmological landscape rather than a purely geographic one. Place names are written in Rañjanā script, the classical calligraphic script of Newar Buddhism and Hinduism, historically used for Sanskrit and Newari texts across the Himalayas.

The composition reflects the traditional Newar understanding of the valley as a bounded sacred mandala, structured by rivers, royal cities, temples, and protective deities. Surrounding the central valley are representations of the Aṣṭa-Mātrikās (Eight Mother Goddesses)—Brāhmaṇī, Māheśvarī, Kaumārī, Vaiṣṇavī, Vārāhī, Indrāṇī (Aindrī), Cāmuṇḍā, and Mahālakṣmī—who, in Newar religious geography, guard the cardinal and intercardinal directions of the valley and define its ritual perimeter.

Key monuments depicted include:

Swayambhunath Stupa (Kathmandu)
Perhaps the single most important Newar Buddhist site, associated with the origin myth of the valley as a primordial lake from which the self-arisen (svayambhū) stupa emerged. A shared sacred site for both Newar Buddhists and Hindus.

Pashupatinath Temple (Kathmandu)
One of the holiest Śaiva sites in the Hindu world, central to Newar life-cycle rituals, particularly cremation rites along the Bagmati River. Represents the valley’s deep Shaiva tradition.

Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex)
The political and ceremonial heart of old Kathmandu, including the Taleju Bhawani Temple (state goddess of the Malla kings) and the Kumari Ghar, residence of the Living Goddess—an institution unique to Newar culture.

Patan Durbar Square (Lalitpur)
Renowned for Newar craftsmanship and architecture, including the Krishna Mandir (1637) and Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (Golden Temple). Historically the most overtly Buddhist royal city of the valley.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square
A royal city celebrated for its urban planning, woodcarving, and preservation of traditional Newar festivals. Includes the Nyatapola Temple and the Fifty-Five Window Palace.

Changu Narayan Temple (Bhaktapur District)
The oldest continuously functioning Hindu temple in the valley, dedicated to Vishnu and adorned with Licchavi-period stone carvings linking early Nepalese history to later Newar traditions.

High-quality giclée print available in multiple sizes. The actual detail of the painting exceeds what is visible in online photographs, which have been compressed for display. This piece required extensive historical research, drafting, and manual painting over the course of several weeks.

Prints are sold unframed. If you are interested in purchasing the original painting, or in framing options, please contact me directly.

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