PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIONS
Most Nepalis are Hindus or Buddhists. The two religions have coexisted in harmony through the centuries. On May 18, 2006, the Parliament of Nepal declared Nepal a secular country.

The main religions practiced in the country are:
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, and the Bon religion, based on ancestor worship and animism.
Buddha is widely worshiped by Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal. The five Dhyani Buddhas; Vairochana, Akshobhaya, Rathasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi, represent the five basic elements: earth, fire, water, air and ether.

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Buddhist philosophy conceives of these deities as the manifestations of Sunya or absolute emptiness. Mahakaala and Bajrayogini are Vajrayana Buddhist deities worshiped and respected by Hindus as well.

Nepalese Hindus worship the ancient Vedic gods: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer, they are worshiped as the Supreme Hindu Trinity. People pray to the Shiva Linga or the phallic symbol of Shiva at most Shiva temples. Shakti, the dynamic element in Shiva's female counterpart, is highly revered and feared.

Mahadevi, Mahakali, Bhagabati, Ishwari are some of the names given. Kumari, the Goddess, the living virgin, also represents Shakti. Other popular deities are Ganesh for luck, Saraswati for knowledge, Lakshmi for wealth, and Hanuman for protection. Krishna, who is believed to be the human incarnation of Vishnu, is also widely worshipped. Hindu holy scriptures like Bhagavat Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata are widely read in Nepal. The Vedas, the Upanishads and other sacred texts are read by learned experts, Brahmins, on special occasions.

Most Nepalese are Hindu or Buddhist. The two religions have coexisted in harmony through the centuries. On May 18, 2006, the Nepalese Parliament declared Nepal a secular country.