List of Mahaviharas of Newar Buddhism


Newar Buddhism is one of the branches of Buddhism. One of the major elements of this branch of Buddhism is Mahavihara or Baha or great monastery. These monasteries have served as centers of learning in Newar Buddhism. These monasteries generally are built as a courtyard surrounded by two storied buildings consisting of halls. Some of these monasteries have been founded as early as fifth to twelfth century Many of these mahaviharas are listed as historical monuments of Nepal. The following is a list of these mahaviharas -
Mahavihara Nepal Bhasa nameLocationFoundedRemarks-
Maitripura MahaviharaKwa Baha Kathmandu ThamelBuilt by Bakbajra who brought Kashisoyambhu from Kashi-
Henakara MahaviharaDhwaka BahaKathmandu7th centuryDamaged in earthquake of 1934-
Hemvarna MahaviharaGan BahaKathmandu-
Ratnaketu MahaviharaNhu BahaKathmandu-
Ratnachaitya MahaviharaJhwa BahaKathmandu-
Gunakar MahaviharaChusya BahaKathmandu-
Suratshree MahaviharaTakshe BahaKathmandu-
Kanakachaitya MahaviharaJana BahaKathmanduAnnual festival held-
Keshchandra Paravarta MahaviharaItum BahaKathmandu1381Known for Keshchandra and Gurumapa -
Ratnakirti MahaviharaMakhan BahaKathmandu-
Mulashree MahaviharaMu bahaKathmandu-
Mantrasiddhi MahaviharaSawal BahaKathmandu-
Rajakirti MahaviharaTe BahaSouth of New Road, Kathmandu5th century AD-
Shreekhanda MahaviharaShikhamu BahaKathmandu-
Brahmachakra MahaviharaOm BahaKathmandu-
Bajrasheel MahaviharaIku BahaKathmandu-
Munisangha MahaviharaMikha BahaKathmandu-
Kirtipunya MahaviharaLagan BahaKathmandu-
Kirtipunya MahaviharaKohitiKathmandu-
Manisingha MahaviharaMusun Baha Kathmandu-
Manisangha MahaviharaMusun Baha Kathmandu-
Vikramashila MahaviharaBhagwan BahaThanbahil, KathmanduVisited by Pandita Atisha Shrijana of Nalanda in 1041, houses Saharsha Prajnaparamita dated 1223 AD-
Hiranya Varna MahaviharKwa BahaLalitpur12th century by Bhaskara Deva VermaHouses Prajnaparamita dated B.S.1282 -
Rudravarna MahaviharaUku BahaLalitpur6th century CE by Shiva Deva
Ratnakar MahaviharaHa BahalLalitpur-
Yasodhar MahaviharaBu BahalLalitpur-
Jyesthavarna MahaviharaTanga Baha LalitpurContains an inscription dated N.S. 245 -
Dharmakirti MahaviharaTa BahaLalitpur-
Dattanama MahaviharaDau BahaLalitpur-
Yempi MahaviharaI BahaLalitpur-
Gunalakshmi MahaviharaDhum BahaLalitpur-
Chakravarna MahaviharaCuka BahaLalitpurFounded by Manadeva I-
Bajrakirti MahaviharaWam BahaLalitpurInscription dates back to N.S.561 -
Rudradeva MahaviharaLalitpur-
Vaishra Varna MahaviharaGuji BahaLalitpurHoused a manuscript dated N.S. 373 -
Mayuravarna MahaviharaBhinche BahaLalitpur-
Jayamanohara MahaviharaSu BahaLalitpur-
Sri Vaccha MahaviharaSi BahaLalitpurHouses a Pancharaksa manuscript dated N.S. 509 -
Baladhar MahaviharaLalitpur-
Akshyashwara MahaviharaThuthu BahiLalitpur-
Raksheshwara MahaviharaKothu BahiLalitpur-
Lokkirti MahaviharaNa BahiLalitpur-
Napichandra MahaviharaDuntu BahiLalitpur-
Gopichandra MahaviharaPintu BahiLalitpur-
Lalitchandra MahaviharaLalitpur-
Saptapur MahaviharaChika BahiLalitpur-
Padmoccha MahaviharaLalitpur-
Rajashree MahaviharaLalitpur-
Manimandap MahaviharaDhapaga BahiLalitpur-
Chandrasurya MahaviharaLalitpur-
Jayashree MahaviharaLalitpur-
Gustala MahaviharaGuita ToleLalitpur-
Lokkirti MahaviharaKinu BahiLalitpur-
Thaveer Patra MahaviharaLalitpur-
Kamukanama MahaviharaKhwayebahiLalitpur-
Itiraja MahaviharaIlyaa BahiLalitpur-
Basuraja MahaviharaLalitpur-
Indravarna MahaviharaInachoBhaktapur-
Jetvarna MahaviharaBhaktapur-
Manjuvarna MahaviharBekhal ToleBhaktapur-
Nritya Mandala MahaviharaPortland, OR, USA2009-