Chiva Chaitya - Respect, Promote, Protect

How a Kathmandu Group Is Protecting and Restoring Their Monuments The ancient monuments are at risk but there's hope for the future This growth has strained every aspect of Kathmandu's infrastructure, including preserving its ancient monuments out in the open, which are now competing for space with new developments and roads. While  well-known monuments  like the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupas are kept in relatively good condition, the same cannot be said for many smaller similar structures. It's not uncommon to see a 1,000-year-old stone structure—called a chiva ,  chaitya ,  or   stupa—falling apart, with bricks and stone carvings missing, plants growing out of them, covered in enamel paint, "fixed" with cement or surrounded by trash. (extract from article by Elen Turner in tripsavvy.com ) Read at  https://www.tripsavvy.com/restoring-ancient-monuments-in-nepal-5194283 We would like to thank Elen for raising this subject. Read at  https://www.trip

 Chiva although being of historical, archeological, social, economical and religious importance to the nation as well as local community, they threatened both from human made causes and natural causes. One of major natural causes being plants growing from inside, specially a plant called 'Ficus Religiosa', if not taken out at early stages will grow with lots of roots and completely destroy monuments. Local community worshiping the Chiva after restoration A Chiva at Dhalko in Kathmandu was in very sorry condition due to plants growing from within, completely deforming the Chiva. The uniqueness of the Chiva is also happen to be few Chivas made of terracotta, otherwise most Chiva are from stone. The challenge was to salvage all the possible bricks and terracotta decorative parts. Traditional lime mortar was used to restore the Chiva. Local indigenous mason and stone carver were used to give the authentic restoration. With the help of local community specially NaniShova Tata, Ward

As each Chiva part depicts some meaning, Gaju-Pinnacle also depicts many meanings from the Buddhist teachings.  A pigeon enjoying the new Pinnacle at Shreegha, Kathmandu The pinnacle consists of multiple parts namely: Harmika-The cube with eyes, Toran- Four symbols of Chakra Bajra, Ratna, Padma and BishwoBajra respective to the four Buddhas on a Chiva. Then on top of that : Triyodasha Bhuwana- depicting 13 stages to enlightenment. On top of that there are three more stages namely: Padmawali, Ushnish Chudamani and RatnaChhatra. Gaju(pinnacle) gives so much meaning and needless to say the importance of each part of the whole of Chiva. An old sketch of Gaju-Pinnacle(source S Bajracharya, Pakanajwo) Shreegha at center of Kathmandu, is a beautiful place with more than 30 Chiva in the courtyard. But due to various reasons many of the Chiva (12) were with missing Gaju-pinnacle. And thus those Chiva were incomplete and the aesthetics of the place was not as it should be. Because of this reason

Chiva damaged from Gorkha Earthquake of 2015 restored at Ason Cleaning After completion There is an ensemble of three Chivas at BodhiChuka, Ason. During the earthquake of 2015 nearby houses fell over those Chivas. And all the three Chivas tumbled and fell down damaging parts like the finial. After the earthquake the community their after clearing the debris could salvage parts of the Chiva. ने सं ११३५ सं वगु त-भुखाचं असं बोधि चुके च्वंगु ३ ग चिभा या द्योने छें दुना ल्हागु जुया च्वन। व ३ग चिभा त  कुतुं वना स्यंगु जुया च्वन। छें दुना ल्हाना च्वंगु चिईके धुंका त्वालय च्वंपिनिसं चिभा यात मुना तगु जुया च्वन। गजु त फुक्क त्वधुगु जुया च्वन। Thus the Chivas needed proper positioning, making of new finial(pinnacle) and fixing properly with correct directions. During the restoring coordination and help was received from local community specially Bikash Ratna Tuladhar Dai. चिभा यात सफा याना मिले जुईक थासे तया गजु न्हुगु दयका ल्ह्वनेगु ज्या जुल। Part of the Chivas, which were not positioned proper

April 18 or Tomorrow Sunday is the 'International Day of Monuments'.  The  International Day for Monuments and Sites   is an  international observance  held on  18 April  each year around the world with different types of activities. अप्रिल १८ -(कन्हे  आईतवार) अन्टर्राष्ट्रिय स्मारक दिवस ख। चिभा चैत्य थें जागु सम्पदा या लागि ज्या याना वया च्वंगु संस्था या फेसबुक पेज Like व पासा पिनित नं Like यायत अनुरोध याना दिसं। थ्व  अन्टर्राष्ट्रिय स्मारक दिवस दिवस कुन्हु चिभा या फोटो post याना दिसं। On this day for Chiva Chaitya, we can: 1) notice a Chiva somewhere and post a photo on your facebook. 2) Ask your friend to like chivachaitya facebook page.  

Chiva at Dhokatwa restoration completed by Chiva Chaitya Organization ढोकात्वा यें-१९ सं च्वंगु चिभा या ल्ह्वनेगु ज्या जुगु दु। Chiva was damaged and many parts were missing and idols(4 of them) were missing probably stolen. चिभा तसकं स्यना च्वंगु व गुलिखे भाग त मदया च्वंगु अबस्था जुया च्वंगु जुल। द्यो पिं नं मदया च्वंगु जुल। (Talking with community about restoration) (After Restoration) The whole process of restoration passed through major 4 stages: preparation, making missing parts, dismantling and restoration. चिभा ल्ह्वनेगु ज्या तयारी, मदुगु भाग दयकेगु, लिकायगु व पुनर्निर्माण या चरण त पार याना ल्ह्वनेगु ज्या जुई। Preparation works : The site visit is done and many rounds of meeting with community, descendants of the establishers, preparing measured drawing of the Chiva, arrangement of finances and arranging required materials are all part of the preparation phase. Architect prepare measured drawings for reference. Photographs from all sides and parts are taken. मु ज्या न्ह्याकेन्ह्