Clouded Leopard, King Birendra, Bajrayogini Temple 2 Rupees Nepal Authentic Banknote Money for Jewelry and Collage (Crown) Tantric Buddhism

Clouded Leopard, King Birendra, Bajrayogini Temple 2 Rupees Nepal Authentic Banknote Money for Jewelry and Collage (Plumed Crown) (Tantric Buddhism)

Reverse: Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa); National Coat of Arms

Obverse: King Birendra wearing Royal Plumed Crown. Bajrayogini Temple.
Goddess Bajrayogini.
Lettering: RUPEES TWO

Watermark: Royal Plumed Crown

Features
Issuer Nepal
King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah (1972-2001)
Type Standard banknote
Years 1981-2001
Value 2 Rupees
2 NPR = USD 0.017
Currency Rupee (1932-date)
Composition Paper
Size 114 × 70 mm
Shape Rectangular
Number N# 204590
References P# 29

Wikipedia:
The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), also called the mainland clouded leopard, is a wild cat inhabiting dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas through mainland Southeast Asia into South China. In the early 19th century, a clouded leopard was brought to London from China and described in 1821. It has large dusky-grey blotches and irregular spots and stripes reminiscent of clouds. Its head-and-body length ranges from 68.6 to 108 cm (27.0 to 42.5 in) with a 61 to 91 cm (24 to 36 in) long tail. It uses its tail for balancing when moving in trees and is able to climb down vertical tree trunks head first. It rests in trees during the day and hunts by night on the forest floor.

The clouded leopard is the first cat that genetically diverged 9.32 to 4.47 million years ago from the common ancestor of the pantherine cats. Today, the clouded leopard is locally extinct in Singapore, Taiwan, and possibly Hainan Island and Vietnam. Its total population is suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, with a decreasing population trend, and no single population numbering more than 1,000 adults. It has therefore been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2008. The population is threatened by large–scale deforestation and commercial poaching for the wildlife trade. Its body parts are offered for decoration and clothing, though it is legally protected in most range countries.

The clouded leopard has been kept in zoological gardens since the early 20th century. Captive breeding programs were initiated in the 1980s. In captivity, the clouded leopard has an average lifespan of 11 years.

******

Wikipedia:
Bajrayogini Temple is a Tantrik temple located at Sankhu in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. It is also well known as Bodhisattva's Temple. The temple is actually a sort of temple complex, with the main temple having been built by King Pratap Malla in the sixteenth century. Bajrayogini is a Buddhist tantric deity, she is also conflated with Ugra Tara, a form of the Buddhist dharmapala Ekajati. However, the temple is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus.

The Bajrayogini Temple is situated roughly 20 kilometres northeast of Kathmandu. The area where it is located is often referred to as Gunbaha, which can be roughly translated from Newari as ‘recreational forest place’. The main temple is a three-story high building, which was obviously carefully constructed with the utmost attention to detail. You will likely find a statue of the goddess Bajrayogini in this temple which will feature a red face with three eyes as well as hands, which have the thumb and middle finger carefully, decorated. Ornaments surround her statue.

Mythology
According to a holy book, which was once discovered long ago, the site of the temple was once a forked piece of stone, which spouted fire. This was quite significant when the rest of the world was covered with snow and before long there emerged a five-colored flame, which came to be the volcanic goddess. The goddess ordered that a temple be built on the sight of her emergence and priests have been making use of the nine surrounding caves for centuries to serve this temple ever since. The first priest to serve here was supposedly given superior enlightenment and Bajrayogini is considered to be one of the wisest and strongest gods able to grant this gift. There is a beautiful water tap complete with decorative statue in the area, which dates back to the fourth century. The attraction here is not only the various temples but also the many other interesting temples and caves which surrounding it – some of which are considered to be older than the temple itself. Amongst the caves in the area is a carved double chamber with window attributed to being used by Marpa Lotsawa. Whereas nearby is a tiny chamber built into a small cliff which was where Milarepa was walled in for solitary retreat.

The hill top is accessed by a very long carved stone stairway. The entire site is covered richly with Newari architectural metal work, carved wood details, and ancient artifacts. Including a small stupa claimed to pre-date Buddha Shakyamuni.

2015 earthquake
The earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015 had immense effect on Sankhu city. Bajrayogini temple was no exception. The temple was not marked safe by the engineers. Renovation of the temple is necessary in order to assure safety. The statues of Bajrayogini temple are safely shifted and the temple is supported with wooden planks.

******

Wikipedia:
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (Nepali: वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह) (28 December 1945 – 1 June 2001) was the king of Nepal from 1972 until 2001. As the eldest son of King Mahendra, he reigned until his death by assassination in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre.

.....Democratic era
In 1990, a series of strikes and pro-democracy riots broke out in Nepal. Due to the riots, Birendra lifted the ban on political parties and agreed to become a constitutional monarch in April 1990. He appointed an independent Constitution Recommendation Commission to represent the main opposition factions and to prepare a new constitution to accommodate their demands for political reform. The commission presented him with the draft of the proposed constitution on 10 September 1990. The new constitution would make Birendra head of state of a constitutional monarchy with a system of multiparty democracy. The draft constitution was approved by the Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and his cabinet and so, on 9 November 1990, Birendra promulgated the new constitution transforming Nepal into a constitutional monarchy. Birendra appointed an interim government to pave the way for elections. To head this he chose Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who he had imprisoned for several years. In a discussion on BBC radio, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai spoke of Birendra's impeccable personal manners and courtesy and his equally impeccable role as a constitutional monarch. Birendra, however, could not prevent the Nepalese Civil War, a conflict between Maoist rebels and government forces, which lasted from 1996 until 2006.

Assassination
Birendra and his whole family were gunned down by Crown Prince Dipendra at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001. Almost all of the royal family members were killed in the massacre except Gyanendra Shah, Birendra's younger brother. Dipendra was proclaimed the king but died a few days later of self-inflicted gunshot wounds sustained in the massacre. Consequently, Gyanendra was made the king.

**********

https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/nepal-puts-royal-crown-on-display-1.2290255

Nepal puts royal crown on display:
According to the government, the crown consisted of 730 diamonds, over 2,000 pearls, precious rubies and other gems

Published: October 15, 2018 20:04
Kathmandu:
Nepal on Monday put on display the royal crown used by former kings after 10 years of the abolition of monarchy in the Himalayan country.

Amid a special ceremony in the Narayanhiti Palace Museum in Kathmandu, Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli unveiled the royal crown, one of the most important symbols of monarchy used by kings for hundreds of years.

Nepal exhibited the crown, sceptre, tiara and the sword among other valuable items used by the former royal families, exactly a decade after Nepal was declared a federal republic country, the Himalayan Times reported.

Speaking at the ceremony, Oli said that the crown reflected the change in the political system of Nepal and the rich history of the country.

"We need to preserve and respect our history. The palace museum will be developed as a history museum that not just reflects about monarchy but also different dynasties and periods of Nepal, its culture and diversity."

According to the government, the crown consisted of 730 diamonds, over 2,000 pearls, precious rubies and other gems. The government said it had no estimate of the monetary value of the royal crown as jewellers called it a priceless artefact.

There was also no exact data about when and where the crown was made. The royal palace was converted into a museum after the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy and departure of the last King of the Shah Dynasty Gyanendra Shah from the palace in 2008.

Although the museum was open for the public from 2009, some of the priceless items including the crown were not put on public display for security reasons.

Now, the spectacular crown has been kept inside a special bullet-proof glass box with layers of machinery and human security.

Among the 52 chambers in the palace, only 19 have been opened for public observation so far while the government has expressed its commitment to open up all soon.

https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/nepal-puts-royal-crown-on-display-1.2290255

********

Wikipedia:
Before 2008:
....the coat of arms, generally consist[ed] of a white cow, a green pheasant (Himalayan monal), two Gurkha soldiers (one carrying a kukri and a bow, and the other a rifle), peaks of the Himalayas, two crossed Nepalese flags and kukris, the footprints of Gorakhnath (the guardian deity of the Gurkhas) and the royal headress. ...At the base of the design a red scroll carried the national motto in Sanskrit: जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपी गरीयसी (jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī), which translates as "Mother and Motherland are greater than heaven."

This derives from the phrase:

अपि स्वर्णमयी लंका न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते ।
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ।।

In English:

I care not for Lanka, Lakshmana, even though it be made of gold.
One's mother and one's native land are worth more even than heaven.

It was quoted by Rama when his brother Lakshmana expresses desire to stay back in Lanka.