page_title: Swayambhu
hierarchical_section_title: Swayambhu
caption_attribution_description: English: This Swayambhu was found by Lama Jigmed Phuntsok while digging into the foundation of his 1880's house in Baltimore Maryland in 1995 to install a sump pump. Confirmed as an authentic Swayambhu by Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche. Details were painted on recently.
context_page_description: Swayambhu is a Sanskrit word that means "self-manifested", "self-existing", or "that is created by its own accord".
  Often, the word swayambhu is used to describe a self manifested image of a deity, which was not made by human hands, but instead is naturally arisen, or generated by nature.
  The word etymology of swayambhu is 'Svayam' which means 'self' or 'on its own' and 'bhu' which means 'to take birth' or 'arising'. This is applicable to the physical and tangible idols of Gods that we see or to the intangible yet existing God whom we cannot see. For example, the jyotirlingas are considered swayambhu- the idol of Venkateshwara at Tirumala and some other ones are considered Swayambu- which means they are not installed by any person but they exist on their own. The word Swayambhu is also applicable to Gods- for example- Brahma is described as swayambhu in Ramayana, Vishnu is called swayambhu in Matsya purana.
context_section_description: Swayambhu (स्वयम्भू) is a Sanskrit word that means "self-manifested", "self-existing", or "that is created by its own accord". 
  Often, the word swayambhu is used to describe a self manifested image of a deity, which was not made by human hands, but instead is naturally arisen, or generated by nature.
  The word etymology of swayambhu is 'Svayam' (स्वयम्) which means 'self' or 'on its own' and 'bhu' (भू) which means 'to take birth' or 'arising'. This is applicable to the physical and tangible idols of Gods that we see or to the intangible yet existing God whom we cannot see. For example, the jyotirlingas are considered swayambhu- the idol of Venkateshwara at Tirumala and some other ones are considered Swayambu- which means they are not installed by any person but they exist on their own. The word Swayambhu is also applicable to Gods- for example- Brahma is described as swayambhu in Ramayana, Vishnu is called swayambhu in Matsya purana.
caption: Ganesha Swayambhu, Baltimore, MD
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