Bhaktapur - Til Mahadev Marayan Mandir

Hidden behind the buildings on the south side of the square stands another important temple, the entrance to which is through an arch on the west side. The two-storied building is dedicated to Vishnu in the guise of Narayan. Vishnu's bearer Garuda kneels on a column in front flanked by the god's attributes, a conch and chakra.

The image is noteworthy, dating from 1170. The name of the temple derives from a legend according to which the image was once buried beneath a pile of sesame seeds (til). No matter how many seeds were sold, the pile never grew any smaller. In honor of this event the statue is rubbed every year with ghee (liquid butter) and showered with sweets made from sesame seeds.

On certain days the temple, which an inscription claims to be 800 years old, is the setting for the Ihi ceremony, when beautifully decked out young girls are "married" to the god. This ceremony protects women from widowhood, Narayan being immortal. A woman wedded to Narayan is in theory entitled to leave her earthly husband and to enter into another marriage should he die.