Muktinath

Muktinath Temple
The temple of Muktinath ('lord of liberation or moksha') during winter months
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism, Buddhism
District	Mustang District
Deity	Vishnu
Features	Tower: Kanaka Vimanam Temple tank: Gandaki River or Chakra Tirtham
Location
Location	Muktinath (Dhawalagiri)
Country	Nepal
Location in Nepal
Geographic coordinates	28°49′01″N 83°52′18″E / 28.816854°N 83.871742°E / 28.816854; 83.871742
Architecture
Type	Pagoda
Elevation	3,762 m (12,343 ft)

Muktinath is an ancient Vishnu temple located in Mustang, Nepal. The temple of Muktinath, known as 'the lord of liberation', is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists whom they worship as an abode of Hindu deity Vishnu and Buddhist deity Avalokiteśvara respectively.^[1][2][3] Located in the Muktinath valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass, it is one of the world's highest temples at an altitude of 3,800 meters. The temple is given a status of one of the 108 Divya Desams of Hinduism and the only Divya Desam located outside India. It is also one of the 51 Shakta pithas, associated with the head of goddess Sati. ^[4] The temple complex is known as Mukti Kshetra, which literally means "the place of liberation (moksha)" and is one of the Char Dham in Nepal.^[1]

Pashupat Kshetra

Ruru Kshetra

Mukti Kshetra

Baraha Kshetra

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Char Dham, Nepal

For Buddhists, Muktinath is an abode of dakinis - goddesses known as Sky Dancers and is considered one of the twenty-four Tantric places. Tibetan Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters" and the murti is revered as a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.^[5]

Muktinath temple is seen as a symbol of religious harmony in Nepal where both the Hindus and Buddhists have been historically worshipping on the same spot, mutually respecting and including each other.^[6]