In the heart of Nepal (South Asia), in a mountain valley near the highest Himalayas and the majestic Tibet lies the capital city of the federal republic - Kathmandu. On its outskirts is a village Bodnath, where one of the main religious buildings of Buddhist architecture - 40-meter-high Stupa, after which the place is named. Powerful energy, real and genuine color of Nepal - all this is there in unimaginable quantity. In this article we will try to tell you about this sight, explain the key concepts in an accessible way, tell you about the content of the legends associated with this shrine and much more.
Before we begin the story of Nepal's main Buddhist Stupa, its most recognizable symbol, the Bodnath Stupa, we should make a brief introduction, revealing the main concepts and the importance of this structure. So, what is there to know?
A stupa is a cult structure of Buddhism, usually consisting of a dome in which sacred relics are kept. Some researchers give a more artistic definition of the essence of the Stupa - as a monument supporting the World Peace, as embodiment of Enlightenment, pure and unclouded nature of mind, as a component of the global power network of the Universe.
In Sanskrit, "stupa" is both "hair knots," "top of the head," and "a heap of stone and earth rock." Historians unanimously assert that originally stupas were simple burial mounds and burial places for the body parts of the deceased left after cremation (burning), but with time stupas began to be erected in commemoration of great events (memorial stupas), as a gift (offering), as cultic relics with holy relics.
Every day near the Bodnath Stupa the prayer drums sound, the meditation song of the monks flies, and the melodious ringing of the bells pierces the soul. Every day, day and even night, the pilgrims move in a circle, in the center of which is the Stupa, performing the act of ritual circumambulation (Kora) in a clockwise direction.
Tibetans call the Bodnath Stupa "Yambu Chorten Chenpo", which literally translates as "The Majesty of Kathmandu". Some argue that it is correct to call the shrine "Khasti", which means "Dewdrop". There are many well-founded opinions of researchers as to the century in which the structure was built. What is most surprising: the range of error in their discussions is incredibly wide, because some claim that the Stupa is 2.5 thousand years old, while others say that it is only 1.5 thousand. It is generally accepted to adhere to the latter position, stating that the Stupa was erected in V-VI centuries AD or even a hundred years later, during the reign of the Tibetan Dharma King Trisong Decen.
However, let's leave history to the historians and read what people say about who and when erected the Stupa:
"...A simple woman, Kangma, who was banished from paradise (paradise planets) for misconduct, as an offering to the Buddha in the form of an apology wanted to erect a Stupa. Unfortunately, she had too little money to buy the land she needed. When she came to the raja, he said that with the money she had, he would allow her to purchase land that was equal to the area of a buffalo's hide. The resourceful Kangma cut the hide into long shreds, tied it up, and covered with it the vast area on which Bodnath is now located..."
"...In the fifth century, Raja Mandeva (Lichhavi dynasty) erected the Bodnath Stupa under rather tragic circumstances. At that time there was a terrible weather imbalance in Nepal: it did not rain for almost the whole season, all crops were lost, famine and shortage of water started in the country. Mandeva's father Bishwadev, listening to his astrologer, decided to make a human sacrifice (the condition was that it had to be a good man). Being honest and upright, he chose himself for this purpose, and appointed his son as the executor and tricked him into doing it. Thus Mandeva unknowingly committed the terrible sin of hanging the burden of contempt on himself. The goddess Vajrayogini, in atonement, advised him to build a shrine to the Buddha on the road from Tibet to India. Twelve years of continuous drought lasted for the construction, water for the mortar was taken from the dew collected overnight. When the Bodnath Stupa was completed, the rain poured down and the springs came up with the same strength..."
We told you 2, but there are hundreds of other beautiful legends about this place. Which of them is close to the truth? You judge and decide for yourself.
Symbols and signs of Buddhism seem, at first glance, to be the main structural elements of this cultic structure. The unified concentration of the four elements, the appearance of the universe in the spatial mandala (cf. spheres of habitation of divine beings, the pure land of buddhas) is striking in its energetic message.
It will also be interesting to know that the Bodnath Stupa is a universally recognized symbol of Nepal, a historical site of world value. As a confirmation, the sacred Bodnath Stupa is number 121 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We strongly recommend you to see this place with your own eyes and feel its energy at least once in your life.
The author of the article: Andrey Litvinchuk