History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c22.s1.7

v1.c22.s1.7

Speaking of the religion of the people, the Newars and other older people of Nepal are mostly Buddhists, though a large minority of the Newars are also Hindus. The higher castes especially the Brahmins and Khatris including the Gurkhas are orthodox Hindus and devout worshippers of Śiva. Indeed the great temple of Paśupati is from ancient times the chief temple of the land and is also famous throughout India. Śiva’s consort Durgā and son Gaṇapati are also favourite deities and have many temples erected to them by devout kingly worshippers. And the wonder is that even the Buddhists are worshippers of Devi. Indeed the Mahāyāna or Tibet Buddhism which is prevalent here is so full of idolatry and superstition and has borrowed so much from Hindu ideas that the Buddhits of Nepal do not scruple to sacrifice cocks, goats, and buffaloes to the terrible Durgā; for this Buddhism has also invented its own goddesses the Tārās who are five in number and who are the wives of five Buddhas (!!!) and have five sons. The Buddhists in Nepal like the Hindus are also flesh-eaters. Of course cows are sacred to both and to kill or maim a cow is as heinous a crime as to kill or maim a human being.