Kathmandu Boudhanath Buddhist Stupa, Nepal

Address

Kathmandu Boudhanath Buddhist Stupa Boudhanath Sadak, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal Phone: +977 986-3319626

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Boudha also known as Boudhanath, Khasti Chaitya and Khāsa Chaitya is a stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Located about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu, its massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner and continues to the ancient and smaller stupa of Chabahil named Charumati Stupa (often called “Little Boudhanath”).

Puranic Significance

It was built right after the demise of Lord Buddha during the 5th century AD in the reign of King Manadev (464-505)AD and is the world largest Chhyorten. The stupa was built using many kilograms of gold for decoration. It is believed that the stupa contain the remains of Kassapa Buddha. Legend of the construction of the stupa according to Newar Buddhist mythology: According to the history of Nepal, where the Narayanhiti Palace currently stands, once stood the palace of King Vikramaditya (of the Licchavi kingdom). King Vikramaditya instructed that a dhunge dhara should be built in the southern part of the palace courtyard. When the new dhunge dhara produced no water, the king consulted his astrologers, who suggested that what was needed was a human sacrifice of a male candidate having Battis-Lakshanas, or thirty-two perfections. Only the king himself and his two princes were suitable candidates, so the king decided to sacrifice himself to bring water to the dhunge dhara. According to local mythology, during the sacrifice (performed, at the king’s order by one of his sons), the king’s head flew off, landing at the nearby Sankhu Bajrayogini Temple. The prince, with a regretful heart, decided to go to the top of Bajrayogini and cast off a chicken, determined to construct a stupa where it landed. The hen landed in the place where Boudhanath Stupa currently stands. Because the people at that time were managing to survive the drought by collecting droplets of dew, the place was named Khāsti, a combination of the Nepal Bhasa words for dew (“khas”) and drops (“ti”).

Special Features

Boudha is a very engrossing and spiritual area where devotees walk more than three times a day enchanting holy mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hum ’. During the full moon day, monks are indulged in prayers, singing songs and number of Buddhists comes over the place for visiting. The five most promising elements representing Buddha (earth, air, water, fire and space) are comprised in the Stupas architecture. It is believed that thousands of Buddhas incarnated as Lamas in Boudha stupa and the rays of Bodhisattva entered stupa in the form of song from heaven and was heard in the sky. Due to this reason, Boudha is viewed with great reverence as are Sange, Thange, Duibe, Chorten etc. The main entrance to this holy place is in the north side of the upper platform. Surroundings of Boudha Stupa are streets and narrow alleys where the walls are painted with Buddha images , scripts with vibrant lines.