Home > Nepal, Birthplace of Buddha > Swayambhunath Stupa
In the center of the temple, the Swayambhunath Stupa, which is considered one of the most imposing stupas in the world, rises high. One can reach the stupa by going up about 400 steep stone steps. The four sides of the stupa depict Buddha’s eyes of wisdom, which see through all existences.
The third eye is the symbol of Buddha’s insight. In the location where the nose would be, Nepalese numeral “one” which expresses “harmony” is depicted. The 13-tier spire part symbolizes the 13 stages to enlightenment, and the tip has a golden umbrella which represents nirvana. The flags coming out of the spire each has sutras written on them.
Swayambhunath became an important Buddhist holy site by the 13th century, and records say that the stupa became the present day scale in the 14th century. It was once destroyed in the 15th century, but rebuilt afterwards, and by the end of the 20th century Tibetan from China came to live near the stupa.
Mani (prayer) wheels are lined up around the base of the stupa, which pilgrims turn when going around the stupa. Each Mani wheel has a sutra written on it, and it is said that one turn of the Mani wheel has the same blessing as the reciting of one sutra.
On the wall of the second floor of the Nepal-Buddha Pavilion, the Swayambhunath Stupa is depicted in half its original size.
Major Buddhist Temples in Nepal
There is a legend in Nepal that Bodhisattva Manjushri opened up Kathmandu Valley and hence the Swayambhunath Stupa was built.
“A long time ago, Kathmandu Valley at the foot of the Himalayas in which the gods lived, was an enormous lake. One day, a shining figure of Swayambhu (“the Self-created”) appeared on the lotus flower which sprouted from the island in the lake. Manjushri, who found out about this, decided to come to this site despite that she was on her way back to India from China. When Manjushri split open the southern corner of the lake with her sword, all the water drained out, leaving a rich valley of Kathmandu as seen today.
The island became a small hill where Manjushri built a stupa, celebrating Swayambhu, who later will be born as Buddha, as the creator of all things.”
Recent studies have proven that the legend that Kathmandu Valley was once a lake is true. Now some research says that the rich valley land was created by a diastrophism 6,000 years ago, and drained the water from the south side of the lake.
