The Sacred Stupa of Boudhanath

The Stupa of Boudhanath (Bodhnath, Bodnath) is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines in Nepal, around which legends and miracles have accumulated for centuries. It is not just an architectural monument, but a living energetic space, filled with mystery and symbolism.

It is one of the holiest sites in Buddhism and among the largest Buddhist temple complexes in the world.

History of Origin

It is believed that the stupa was built in the 5th–6th centuries CE, during the Licchavi dynasty (an ancient royal lineage of Nepal).

According to legend, it was erected by a humble woman — a smoker of incense (in another version, a widow named Shyamavati), who asked the king for permission to build a stupa of clay. The king granted her request, and together with her sons she began the construction.

Later, the stupa was enlarged and became a powerful symbol of Buddhist faith, linked to wisdom and compassion.

In Buddhist tradition, it is said to enshrine the relics of Kashyapa — one of the ancient Buddhas who preceded Gautama Buddha.

The Legend of the Poor Woman

Long ago, when the world was just learning to breathe with the breath of the Buddha, a poor woman lived in the Kathmandu Valley. Though she had nothing, her heart burned with faith. Each day she prayed that the light of wisdom would touch all beings.

One night, the ancient Buddha Kashyapa appeared to her in a dream and said:

— Build a sanctuary where the seed of my compassion may dwell. Let it be a place of awakening for those who seek the Path.

The woman went to the Licchavi king and asked:

— Grant me land, so I may raise a Temple of Light.

The king, amazed at her courage, agreed. With her sons she carried earth and stone, day after day, until a white dome rose up, as if the Earth itself were lifting toward the heavens.

When the dome was complete, monks blessed it, and within were placed the relics of the great Buddha Kashyapa. Then the skies opened, and birds circled the valley, scattering seeds of happiness.

Thus was born the Great Stupa of Boudhanath — its painted eyes of the Buddha gazing in all directions, reminding us:

Nothing is hidden from wisdom, nothing is forgotten by compassion.

Since then, pilgrims have come from far and wide, circling the stupa, turning prayer wheels, each step becoming the sound of a mantra, each glance a touch of eternity.

Symbolism of the Stupa

• The vast white dome symbolizes the Earth.

• The 13 levels above it represent the stages of the path to enlightenment.

• The painted Buddha eyes look in all four directions, signifying awakened consciousness and all-seeing compassion.

• The stupa is encircled by hundreds of prayer wheels and surrounded by monasteries.

Today, Boudhanath is the heart of the Tibetan community in Nepal and a place of pilgrimage for seekers from around the world.

The 108 Prayer Wheels

Around Boudhanath are 108 prayer wheels — not by accident.

The number 108 in Buddhism represents:

• 108 passions (kleshas) binding beings to samsara (the cycle of rebirths). Turning the wheels helps free the mind from these ties.

• 108 volumes of the Kangyur (the collected words of the Buddha).

• 108 movements of the mind (desire, anger, ignorance, and their countless combinations).

• In malas (prayer beads), there are also 108 beads, completing a full cycle of purification.

Each wheel contains sacred mantras (most often Om Mani Padme Hum). Turning the wheels while circumambulating the stupa is believed to multiply the mantras thousands of times.

Thus, 108 wheels symbolize complete purification and wholeness of the path:

• To walk a full circle is to touch every aspect of the mind.

• By turning the wheels, one symbolically releases the 108 obstacles and draws closer to enlightenment.

Legends of Origin

• The Widow with Incense: A poor woman named Shamvarkar (sometimes called Ajima) received permission from the king to build a stupa in honor of the Buddha. Though poor, she laid the foundation with her own hands, and her sons completed the work after her death. Hence, Boudhanath is regarded as a “people’s stupa,” built by an ordinary woman.

• The Four Sons: Her four sons are said to have become the founders of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Thus, Boudhanath is considered a unifying place, where monks of all traditions gather.

• The Gaze of the Buddha: The painted eyes of the stupa are eyes of compassion watching over the world. Legend says that if one gazes into them with a pure heart, they will receive spiritual protection and inner vision.

Miracles and Sacred Stories

✨ Wish Fulfillment
Tibetans believe that if one circumambulates the stupa 108 times while chanting Om Mani Padme Hum, their deepest wish will be fulfilled.

✨ Invisible Light
Pilgrims say that at night the stupa emits a special glow — a sign of the Buddha’s living energy.

✨ Protective Power
In the 2015 earthquake, when many temples were destroyed, Boudhanath was damaged but its dome did not collapse. Monks believe this was proof of its miraculous strength.

✨ Visions and Oracles
Many lamas and practitioners have claimed to see visions of the Buddha, Green Tara, and other deities during meditation at the stupa, receiving direct teachings.

✨ A Place of Power
Yogis say the energy around Boudhanath is so strong that meditation there is many times deeper, accelerating the purification of karma.

✨ Modern Miracles
Even today, thousands of pilgrims and visitors report that touching the stupa or walking its sacred circle brings a feeling of lightness, freedom from worries, and sudden insights.