2 Rupees 1995, Nepal
| in Krause book | Number: 29 |
| Years of issue: | 18.01.1995 - 17.01.2000 |
| Edition: | 130000000 |
| Signatures: | Governor: Mr. Satyendra Pyara Shrestha |
| Serie: | No Serie |
| Specimen of: | 1981 |
| Material: | 100% raw cotton |
| Size (mm): | 114 х 70 |
| Printer: | Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire SA, Colombes |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
The Nepalese crown. Its feature is the plumage of a bird of paradise feathers. Headdress, which is crowned by the royal coat of arms is "Shri Panch" or official crown. It consists entirely of diamonds, pearls, emeralds and rubies. There are certain differences between the crowns, used by His Majesty and similar crowns prime minister.
The King’s head-dress is differenced from that of the Prime Minister by five of these plaques (i.e. circular plaques composed of large diamonds) or “chands”. The back of this crown is ornamented by enormous flatted diamonds about 5/8 of an inch square. It will be seen in the accompanying picture that he too has a bunch of large emeralds, of which the lowest is a gigantic stone of 1,25 inches in length. Behind, His Majesty’s head-dress continues the row of hanging stones, but substitutes for them flatted diamonds, each hung as a pendant to the large square diamond above.
Among the Crown jewels of Nepal is one that deserves a passing mention. It is a knot of large diamonds which belonged to the late Empress Eugénie and was sold in 1886. The jewel, which is 5 inches in length by 1,25 inches in breadth, is composed of diamonds of large size.
Avers:
The engraving on banknote is made from this photo of HM The King of Nepal Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The date of Photo is unknown.
HM The King of Nepal Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह) (28 December 1945, Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal - 1 June 2001, Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal) was the 11th King of Nepal and a South Asian statesman. The eldest son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre. He is the most internationally well-known Nepalese king in modern history. HM The King wears a traditional Nepalese crown.
In center - Bajrayogini temple.
Bajrayogini Temple is a Tantrik temple located at Sankhu in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. It is also well known as Bodhisattva's Temple. This temple is actually a sort of temple complex, with the main temple having being built by King Pratap Malla in the sixteenth century. Bajrayogini is the Hindu goddess of wisdom of which Ugra Tara is the Buddhist equivalent. Thus the temple is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Bajrayogini Temple is situated roughly 20 kilometers 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.
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.
The earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015 had immense effect on Sankhu Village. Almost 99% of houses and monuments collapsed. Bajrayogini temple was no exception. The temple is marked unsafe 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. 
Statue of the Bodhisattva Tara (lower right).
Tara (Sanskrit: तारा, tārā; Tib. སྒྲོལ་མ, Drolma) or Ārya Tārā, also known as Jetsun Dolma (Tibetan language:rje btsun sgrol ma) in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. In Japan she is known as Tara Bosatsu (多羅菩薩), and little-known as Duōluó Púsà (多羅菩薩) in Chinese Buddhism.
Tara is a tantric meditation deity whose practice is used by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism to develop certain inner qualities and understand outer, inner and secret teachings about compassion and emptiness. Tara is actually the generic name for a set of Buddhas or bodhisattvas of similar aspect. These may more properly be understood as different aspects of the same quality, as bodhisattvas are often considered metaphors for Buddhist virtues.
Bodhisattva - in Buddhism, a bodhisattva (Sanskrit: बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva; Pali: बोधिसत्त bodhisatta) is an enlightened (bodhi) being (sattva). Traditionally, a bodhisattva is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. According to Tibetan Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is one of the four sublime states a human can achieve in life (the others being an Arhat, Buddha, or Pratyekabuddha).
Usage of the term bodhisattva has evolved over time. In early Indian Buddhism, for example, the term bodhisattva was primarily used to refer specifically to the Buddha in his former lives. The Jatakas, which are the stories of his lives, depict the various attempts of the bodhisattva to embrace qualities like self-sacrifice and morality. The bodhisattva is a popular subject in Buddhist art.
The coin that appears on the front of the notes is the reverse side of a Nepalese Asarfi (gold coin). The inner circle of the coin indicates Shree Bhawani (Goddess Durga), Asarfi (gold coin), Nepal, and Khadga (the double-edged sword. The outer circle of the coin indicates Shree Shree Shree Gorakha Nath - Typically, Sree or Shree or Sri or Shri is a honorific prefixed with the Indian / Hindu title of respect and esteem. It is an Indian title applied to people and Hindu gods in various languages, derived from Sanskrit. Basically, the coin indicates protection of the people by Shree Bhawani and her Khadga.
The outer circle of the coin is divided into 8 sectors. This is the eight auspicious symbols of Dharma. According to legend, when the Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the deity gave him eight auspicious symbols: the first of the deities, Brahma, appeared before the Buddha with golden Dharmachakra - Wheel of Dharma, heavenly deity Indra brought a white sink for the proclamation of the true doctrine, the earthly deity Stavara - precious vessel full of nectar of immortality, the other deity Buddha brought two goldfish, lotus flower, the banner of victory and precious umbrella [Chemitdorzhiev 2010: 48-49]. All of these eight characters has become a symbol of the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha), indicating a direct relationship with its people's lives. While wisdom teachings of the Buddha can achieve prosperity and happiness, these characters are also called eight characters of luck.
Gorakshanath (also known as Gorakhnath) was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. One legend states that Guru Gorakshanath, the "eternal sage" traditionally associated with Hatha Yoga, has been around for thousands of years watching the welfare of humanity. Other legends ascribe different stories to his birth and the period of his worldly existence, and they vary greatly. The Nath Rahasya, which literally translates as "the mystery of the masters", recounts the birth, work, and death of nine such Naths (masters), and Guru Gorakshanath was the ninth Nath, preceded by his Guru, the eighth Nath, namely, Matsyendranath.
Bhavani is a warlike aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati (Durga). Bhavani means "giver of life" due to the nature or source of creative energy. In addition to its militant mission, it is also known as Karunaswaroopini "filled with grace". Bhavani was the divine patron of the Maratha leader Shivaji, to whom she dedicated her sword.
Parvati (पार्वती) is known as the motherly form of Mother Goddess Gauri Jagadamba, Parvati is another form of Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Maha Devi or Durga, the Great Goddess. Parvati is considered to be a complete incarnation of Adi Parashakti or Goddess Durga, with all other Goddesses being her incarnations or manifestations.
Goddess Durga (दुर्गा), meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible") is the most popular incarnation of Devi and one of the main forms of the Goddess Shakti in the Hindu pantheon. Durga is the original manifested form of Mother Adi-Parashakti. She is Adi-Parashakti herself. The Devi Gita declares her to be the greatest Goddess.
According to legend, Durga lives in the Vindhya mountains, surrounded by eight assistants yogins.
Denominations in numerals are in top right and lower left corners.
Revers:
Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), it is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. The Indian leopard is one of the five big cats found in India, apart from Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard. Indian leopards are distributed all over India, in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and parts of Pakistan.
Nepalese coat of arms from 1962 till 2006 on the right side.
In 1962 a new national emblem was adopted by Constitution of 16 December 1962. It is:
Emblem: The Nepalese plain cut by the river Gandak, on its right bank a white zebu, and on a rock on the sinister a sitting green pheasant (Himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus - Phasianinæ), and a temple and a tree on the dexter and the Himalayas in the distance, all proper.
Crest: Two kukri’s and two national flags in saltire between a crescent and a sun, the footprints of Sri 108 Gorakhnat in chief.
Crown: The Royal Nepalese crown.
Garland: Two branches of flowering rhododendron.
Supporters: A Nepalese soldier on the dexter and an ancient nepalese huntsman on the sinister.
Motto: jnnI jNm.imq SvGaaRdpI GarIysI (Jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī / The mother and the motherland are greater than heaven) in devanagiri script on a red ribbon.
After the Nepalese Civil War and the restoration of the House of Representatives, the Cabinet replaced the existing national emblem on 15 December 2006.
Devanagari is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, does not have distinct letter cases, and is recognisable (along with most other North Indic scripts, with a few exceptions like Gujarati and Oriya) by a horizontal line that runs along the top of full letters.
The footsteps of Guru Gorakshanath 108 (Sri 108 Gorakhna) over the Kukries and flags.
Gorakshanath (also known as Gorakhnath) was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. One legend states that Guru Gorakshanath, the "eternal sage" traditionally associated with Hatha Yoga, has been around for thousands of years watching the welfare of humanity. Other legends ascribe different stories to his birth and the period of his worldly existence, and they vary greatly. The Nath Rahasya, which literally translates as "the mystery of the masters", recounts the birth, work, and death of nine such Naths (masters); and Guru Gorakshanath was the ninth Nath, preceded by his Guru, the eighth Nath, namely, Matsyendranath.
Guru Gorakhnath said "108" means a Brahmn (ब्रह्म), the great cosmic spirit.
The khukuri (Nepali: खुकुरी) is a Nepalese knife with an inwardly curved edge, similar to a machete, used as both a tool and as a weapon in Nepal and neighbouring countries of South Asia. Traditionally it was, and in many cases still is, the basic utility knife of the Nepalese people. It is a characteristic weapon of the Nepalese Army, the Royal Gurkha Rifles and of all Gurkha regiments throughout the world, so much so that many English-speakers refer to the weapon as a "Gurkha blade" or "Gurkha knife". The kukri often appears in Nepalese heraldry and is used in many traditional rituals such as wedding ceremonies.
The Kali Gandaki or Gandaki River (also known as the Narayani in southern Nepal and the Gandak in India) is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. It is also called Krishna Gandaki in Nepal.
The Gurkhas (गोर्खा) are indigenous people of different clans mainly from South Asian country of Nepal. Their name derives from the Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath (8th century). Gurkhas are closely associated with the Khukuri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife and have a well known reputation for their fearless military prowess.
There are Gorkha military units in the Nepalese, British and the Indian army (Gorkhas) enlisted in Nepal.
Denominations in numerals are in lower left and top right corners.
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