Janabaha is a majestic temple courtyard located in Kel tole, between Ason and Indra Chowk (Wongha). It is composed of two words in native language. Jana literally means people and Baha means Buddhist Monastery and derives its name from a Sanskrit word Bihara, meaning joy or enchantment and thus is a place of religious bliss. The place is one of the eighteen prominent vihars of the Kathmandu Valley where one of the 4 Lokeshwor (Aryavalokitesvara) is situated.
Janabaha is one of the few baha with a fully fledged storied temple standing in the middle of a courtyard. Inside the courtyard are smaller shrines, chaityas (stupas), and stone pillars representing various deities. The Kanak Chaitya Mahavihar (Janabaha) complex is dotted with more than fifty different chaityas, pillars and other objects of religious significance.
The original Sanskrit name of Janabaha is Kanak Chaitya Mahavihar. Historical evidence points to the existence of this Mahavihar functioning as a Buddhist monastic complex before the practice of worshipping Lord Karunamaya Aryavalokiteshwor started.
The Kanak Chaitya is dedicated to Kanak Muni Buddha, located right in front of the temple of Lord Karunamaya. It is covered in a plain white dome coated with limestone. A small black protuberance at the top is assumed to be the finial of a tone Chaitya hidden inside the dome. The colloquial name of the Kanak Chaitya is “Moo Chiva Dyo” which means the principal deity in the vernacular Nepal Bhasa. Some experts claim it to be at least 2,000 years old.
The Kanak Chaitya of Janabahā is believed to have been built by the Kolis, the descendants of the maternal family of Gautam Buddha, in honor of Kanak Muni Buddha. Historically, the Kolis were driven away from Kapilvastu, migrated to Kathmandu and settled at Janabaha about 2,400 years ago.
Kanak Muni Buddha, a prehistoric Buddha, is noted as the 23rd in a line of primeval Buddhas, preceding the historical Gautam Buddha. Legend goes that Kanak Muni Buddha was born in a Brahmin family during the Dwapar era, he is said to have emerged amidst a golden shower (Kanak=gold in Sanskrit) in Shovawati, now known as Niglihawa in the western Terai of Nepal. This location is located 8km northeast of Kapilvastu, where prince Siddhartha Gautama spent his early life. The Kanak Muni Buddha is believed to have lived for 30,000 years.
The Newa Buddhist people of the Kathmandu valley worship him till date, specially on the eighth day of the lunar calendar (Ashtami), the full moon day (Punhi/Purnima) and the first day of the month as per the solar calendar (Sanlhu/Sankranti).
